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.

Adults are gray to black, with four dark, longitudinal lines on the thorax, slightly hairy bodies, and a single pair of membranous wings. They have red compound eyes, set farther apart in the slightly larger female. The female housefly usually mates only once and stores the sperm for later use.

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.

Oct 27, 2021 · Native to Europe and Central Asia, face flies (Musca autumnalis De Geer, Diptera: Muscidae) were unintentionally introduced into North America and became pests of pastured beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses.

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.

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.

Oct 12, 2023 · Usually 12-20 days depending on temperature (1); eggs and larvae develop in fresh (not crusted over) cattle dung; adults often overwinter in homes and other structures near pastures. In the summer, these flies feed on cattle; adult males feed on nectar.

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.

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.

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