The entirehouse fly lifespan revolves around breeding near and feeding on dead and decomposing matter. House fly Infestations begin as flies inhabit, mate, and lay eggs in and around feeding grounds. Large numbers of clustering or swarming flies typically indicates an infestation, which can only be eradicated by removing feeding and breeding grounds. After hatching, house fly larvae feed on their immediate environment, which typically consists of moist feces, rotting animal corpses, or decaying organic materials. Residents routinely find that flies invade their dumpsters, garbage cans, and compost piles.
A female fly lays between 75 and 100 eggs at a time on several occasions during its short two- to three-day adult lifespan. Flies mature to adulthood within nine to 12 days after quickly moving through the larval and pupal stages. Due to the many eggs female flies lay at once, large populations of flies seem to develop overnight, especially when decaying matter goes unnoticed by humans for weeks at a time. When faced with a large infestation of house flies, consult a professional pest control service before the situation gets out of hand.