Flies are born through a complete metamorphosis, a process involving four distinct stages: egg, larva (maggot), pupa, and adult.
Here's a breakdown of the fly life cycle:
-
Egg Stage: The life cycle begins when a female fly lays eggs. Female house flies can lay between 75 and 150 eggs at a time, and up to six batches in their lifetime. These eggs are often laid in decaying organic matter, such as garbage, feces, or rotting food, as this provides a food source for the developing larvae.
-
Larva (Maggot) Stage: The eggs hatch into larvae, commonly known as maggots. Maggots are legless and worm-like. Their primary function is to eat and grow. They molt (shed their skin) several times as they increase in size. This stage can last from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the species of fly and environmental conditions like temperature and food availability.
-
Pupa Stage: Once the larva has reached its full size, it enters the pupa stage. The larva's skin hardens and forms a protective shell called a puparium. Inside this puparium, the maggot undergoes a complete transformation into an adult fly. This process takes several days to weeks.
-
Adult Stage: Finally, the adult fly emerges from the puparium. The newly emerged fly is initially soft and pale but quickly hardens and darkens. The adult fly is now able to reproduce and continue the life cycle. The average lifespan of an adult house fly is about 28 days.
Therefore, a fly isn't "born flying," but rather develops through distinct stages until it emerges from its pupal case as a fully formed, winged adult.
