Scientific Name of Housefly: Classification, Facts and Life Cycle

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The scientific name of housefly is Musca Domestica. Houseflies are from the order Diptera and genus Musca. The average adult housefly size is almost 0.7 cm and its wingspan measures about 1.5 cm. Whereas, the male house fly has a wing size smaller than their female counterparts. 

Key Terms: Phylum, Kingdom, Mammalia, Musca Domestica, Diptera, Maggots


Scientific Name of Housefly 

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The scientific name of housefly is Musca Domestica. Houseflies are known to belong to the order Diptera and genus Musca. The average adult housefly size is almost 0.7 cm, and its wingspan is about 1.5 cm. Male houseflies generally have a wing size smaller than females.

Housefly Diagram

Housefly Diagram

Houseflies have a certain head structure with an almost flat conical back, with the front part convex in shape. Male houseflies typically have compound eyes that help them detect color spectrums invisible to the human eye. Houseflies are able to sense very subtle movements.

Facts about Houseflies

  • Egg: Larvae
  • Behaviour in group: Solitary
  • Gestation Period: 1 day
  • Diet: Omnivore

Scientific Classification of Housefly 

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Houseflies can be further classified into:

Type Parameters
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Diptera
Family Muscidae
Section Schizophora
Genus Musca

Life Cycle of Hosefly 

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The life cycle of a housefly includes:

  • Egg Stage: A female housefly can lay about 150 eggs in a batch. Over the course of a few days, it can lay around five to six batches of eggs. They usually look for dark, damp areas to lay eggs in, such as compost, manure and more.
  • Hatching Stage: Within only a day, the houseflies hatch into a larvae form, also called maggots. Maggots are white, legless insects which feed on the egg-laying site for about five days.
  • Pupa Stage: Fly pupae are like butterfly cocoons. The tough, brown shells protect the inactive, gradually developing flies. 
  • Adult Stage: Within six days, the pupae develop legs and wings, thus developing fully. Within a period of three to four days, the grown houseflies become capable of reproduction.

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Previous Year Questions 

  1. Small mammals and birds are rarely found in polar regions … (KCET 2021)
  2. A sedentary sea anemone gets attached … (NEET 2013)
  3. Which of the following is not an attribute of a population … (NEET 2020)
  4. Which one of the following is oviparous?... (NEET 2015)
  5. Read the statements given below and identify the incorrect statement… (KCET 2012)
  6. Edaphology is… (KCET 2007)
  7. The process of growth is maximum during … (NEET 2020)
  8. Which one of the following statements about certain given animals is correct?... (NEET 2010)
  9. A biologist studied the population of rats in a barn … (NEET 2013)
  10. Which of the following taxonomic categories of housefly is… (KEAM)
  11. The zoological name of Indian buffalo is … (COMEDK UGET 2005)
  12. Bladderworm/cysticercus is the larval stage of… (NEET 1991)
  13. Which of the following organisms possesses characteristics of a plant and an animal? (NEET 1995)

Things to Remember

  • The scientific name of housefly is Musca Domestica.
  • Houseflies typically belong to the order Diptera and its genus Musca.
  • The life cycle of houseflies consists of four stages, typically the egg stage, hatching stage, pupa stage and the adult stage. 
  • Houseflies are omnivores in nature and can detect color spectrums the human eye cannot.

Sample Questions 

Ques. What is the scientific name of housefly? [1 mark]

Ans. The scientific name of housefly is Musca Domestica.

Ques. Which phylum do houseflies belong to? [1 mark]

Ans. The phylum houseflies belong to is Arthropoda.

Ques. Where do houseflies generally lay eggs? [1 mark]

Ans. Houseflies typically look for dark and damp places to lay their eggs. For example, manure.

Ques. What is the gestation period of houseflies? [1 mark]

Ans. The gestation period of houseflies is one day.

Ques. Write a short note on the hatching stage of houseflies. [2 marks]

Ans. The hatching stage comes after the egg stage. After female houseflies lay eggs, the houseflies hatch into a larvae form, also called maggots within only one day. Maggots are white, legless insects that generally feed on the egg-laying site for about five days.

Ques. What is the order of houseflies, as per Taxonomy? [1 mark]

Ans. Houseflies are from the order Diptera.

Ques. What is the average lifespan of houseflies? [1 mark]

Ans. The average lifespan of houseflies is 28 days.

Ques. What is the infraclass of housefly? [1 mark]

Ans. Neoptera is the infraclass of housefly.

Ques. What are Mandibles and Proboscis? [2 marks]

Ans. The mandibles which are found in housefly are generally known as vestigial organs whereas, the other mouthparts with the tube-like structures are often termed as proboscis.


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