Musca autumnalis, the face fly or autumn housefly, is a pest of cattle and horses. The face fly is similar to the closely related housefly but is slightly larger, averaging about 7–8 mm long and grey in colour with four dark stripes on the thorax, with a grey-black patterned abdomen.

Face fly eggs (left) with distinctive brown respiratory stalks are inserted stalk up in dung pat surface. First instars (right) hatch and burrow deeper into the dung.

Face flies are one of the most difficult pasture pests to control. They are on cattle only for short periods of time during the day and stay mostly on the head, which is difficult to treat with insecticides. Face flies use an abrasive sponging mouthpart to stimulate tear flow from the eyes.

Face flies (Musca autumnalis) are pests of pastured livestock animals such as beef cattle, heifers, and horses. As adults, females use their sponging proboscis with teeth to feed and scrape at wounds and around moist-mucus membranes of an animal’s face.

The face fly is nearly identical in appearance to the house fly. They lay their eggs in cow manure. They are often seen on cows, they also are frequently seen in windowsills and light fixtures during warm days in winter.

Oct 12, 2023 · Adult females feed on secretions from mucus membranes on cattle & horse faces, and on blood of wounds caused by horse fly & deer fly bites

Jul 24, 2021 · Face flies, Musca autumnalis, (also called the "autumn fly") is a non-biting fly species native to Europe and Asia. It was introduced in North America during the last century. Face flies are widely distributed in the regions of the Northern hemisphere with moderate climate.

Face flies have been in the U.S. only since 1951 but they have become one of the toughest pasture flies to manage. Female face flies lay their eggs in fresh cattle droppings. The life cycle takes about 2 weeks during the summer, and adult flies live 2 to 4 weeks.

Face flies are serious pests of cattle and may overwinter in homes or invade them during the summer. They closely resemble the common housefly, and only an expert can tell them apart. Overwintering face flies have habits similar to cluster flies and control procedures are similar.

Sep 11, 2023 · Explore Face Fly, slightly larger than house flies, marked by grey bodies and distinct thorax stripes. Breed in fresh cattle manure.