creatures called maggots (Fig. 1b). Maggots lack definite heads, eyes,antennae or legs. Their bodies pointed at their front end and gradually widen at the rear.
They feed on the material in which they find themselves. There are three larval molts. Mature larvae stop feeding and burrow, oval object within which the larva changes into an adult house fly. Adults mate one to two days after emerging from their pupal cases. The life cycle, from egg to adult, may take as little as one week, but normally requires three weeks for completion. House flies normally live about 2 1/2 weeks during the summer, but they can, at lower temperatures, survive up to three months. Some overwinter outdoors in protected location or in crevices in buildings. Flies normally stay within 1/2-2 miles of their point of origin, but have been known to travel as far as 20 miles to food and ovipositional sites.