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Face Fly

Although face flies are non-biting creatures, their feeding habits make them troubling to cattle. Face flies feed on the secretions produced by the eyes and noses of large animals. Beyond irritating cattle, this behavior also can result in the transmission of diseases. Affected animals often hide in dark places, produce less milk and lose weight. Face flies may also inflict pinkeye upon the animal and can transmit eye worms to both cattle and horses.

Face fly eggs are yellow, white or translucent in color. Each egg measures approximately three millimeters in length and 1/2-millimeter wide. Two ridges are located along their sides. When face flies enter the larval stage, they resemble yellow maggots. Adult face flies measure between six and eight millimeters in length and appear similar to house flies. Their mouthparts are commonly blunt when compared to other fly species. Both males and females have gray thoraxes with four dark brown stripes. Abdomen colors vary between genders: male face flies are brown or orange with black bases and dorsal stripes, while females are primarily black with orange bases.

Female face flies only lay their eggs in the manure of grass-fed cattle. They prefer manure that is 10 to 15 minutes old and avoid other feces. Eggs hatch within manure and larvae develop under a crust of the manure. Upon maturity, face fly larvae crawl into soil close to the manure in order to complete the pupal stage. After a week or so, adult flies emerge above the soil. Complete life cycle of face flies requires approximately two weeks.

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