The 10 Most Common Types of Flies in the U.S.

Housefly

Known as a total nuisance in and around the home, the Musca domestica Linnaeus, more commonly known as the housefly, is the most widespread, bi-winged insect in the United States.

What they look like

Typically from one-eighth to one-quarter inch long, the housefly features a hairy, oval thorax bearing black stripes, a yellowish-gray abdomen and two glossy gossamer wings that extend beyond the torso. Their most prominent feature? Their big, bulging red eyes.

Where to find them

The housefly inhabits a wide range of climates and environments, from tropical to arid and urban to rural, all around the world.

What to do if you see one

Apart from vigorously swatting or shooing them away, we recommend setting up traps to keep houseflies from disrupting your fun and cutting down on the potential spread of food-borne diseases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Each housefly can easily carry more than one million bacteria on its body. Some of the disease-causing agents transmitted by houseflies to humans are Shigella spp. (dysentery and diarrhea = shigellosis), Salmonella spp. (typhoid fever), Escherichia coli, (traveler’s diarrhea) and Vibrio cholera (cholera).”

How to prevent them

Attracted to most organic matter from food to feces, hungry houseflies have been known to travel up to 20 miles for a good meal. Removing trash frequently and sealing garbage cans and compost bins goes a long way.

Did you know? The taste receptors of a housefly are in their feet, which are 10 million times more sensitive to sugar than the human tongue.

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