Musca facts for kids
- This page refers to the genus of flies; for the constellation, see Musca (constellation)
Quick facts for kids Musca |
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| Musca domestica (housefly) | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Muscidae
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| Subfamily: |
Muscinae
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| Genus: |
Musca
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| Type species | |
| Musca domestica |
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Musca is a group of flies that includes some very common insects you might see every day. The most famous one is Musca domestica, which is the ordinary housefly. Another well-known type is Musca autumnalis, also called the face fly.
These flies are part of a larger family of insects known as Muscidae. This family includes many different kinds of flies, but Musca is special because it contains some of the most widespread and well-known species.
Contents
What are Musca Flies?
Musca flies are insects with two wings. They belong to the order Diptera, which means "two wings." They are found all over the world, from cities to farms.
These flies are usually small to medium-sized. They have compound eyes, which means their eyes are made up of many tiny lenses. This helps them see in many directions at once. They also have a special mouthpart called a proboscis, which they use to suck up liquids.
Common Types of Musca Flies
The Musca genus includes several important species:
- Musca domestica: This is the common housefly. It's found almost everywhere people live. Houseflies are known for buzzing around homes and can be a bit annoying.
- Musca autumnalis: This fly is often called the face fly or autumn housefly. It's common in rural areas and can be seen around the faces of animals like cattle.
Life Cycle of Musca Flies
Like many insects, Musca flies go through a complete metamorphosis. This means they have four main stages in their life: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Eggs and Larvae
Female Musca flies lay their tiny, white eggs in warm, moist places. These places are often rich in decaying organic matter, like garbage, manure, or compost piles. A single female can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime.
After about a day, the eggs hatch into larvae. These larvae are often called maggots. Maggots are pale, worm-like creatures without legs. They spend their time eating and growing rapidly. They shed their skin several times as they grow bigger.
Pupa and Adult Flies
Once the maggots are fully grown, they change into pupae. The pupa stage is a resting stage. The maggot's skin hardens and turns dark, forming a protective case. Inside this case, the fly transforms from a larva into an adult.
This pupa stage can last for a few days to several weeks, depending on the temperature. When the transformation is complete, the adult fly breaks out of the pupal case. The adult fly then lives for about 15 to 30 days, during which it mates and lays eggs, starting the cycle all over again.
Importance of Musca Flies
While houseflies can be a nuisance, Musca flies play a role in the environment. They are decomposers, meaning they help break down dead plants and animals. This helps recycle nutrients back into the soil.
However, because they often land on decaying matter and then on food, houseflies can sometimes spread germs. This is why it's important to keep food covered and maintain good hygiene.
Images for kids
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Musca (as Apis) can be seen in the upper right of this extract from Bayer's Uranometria of 1603
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The Coalsack Nebula can be seen as the large, dark region near the top of the photo. It extends into the northeast of Musca. The vertical dark column in the lower right of the image is the Dark Doodad Nebula.
See also
In Spanish: Musca para niños
