The house fly, Musca domestica L., is a worldwide pest of
agricultural and public health importance that has plagued
humans throughout recorded history (West, 1951). The ability
of the fly to develop in a vast array of patchily distributed
and ephemeral organic larval substrates has enabled it to
exploit virtually any area inhabited by humans and their
associated animals. Adult flies pose nuisance problems to
farm workers and neighboring residents. More importantly,
the habit of adult flies to defecate and regurgitate on animal
and human food led to the early recognition of their role as
vectors of human and animal pathogens, especially those
responsible for enteric diseases (Howard, 1911). Recent
concerns about food-borne human illnesses have led to
increased documentation of the role of flies in spreading