Fly Life

Photo of a house fly

House Fly (Musca Domestia)

  • Non-biting fly; measures 6 to 9 millimeters
  • Most abundant insect associated with cattle but causes the least amount of harm
  • May cause ear flapping, head shaking, or pen avoidance
  • Larvae grow in virtually all substrates including feed, manure, and vegetation
Photo of a stable fly

Stable Fly (stomoxys calcitrans)

  • Nuisance blood-feeding fly; measures  6 to 8 millimeters
  • interrupts cattle’s normal feeding and resting activities
  • Larvae grow in wet manure mixed with soil, straw, bedding material, silage, or grain
photo of a face fly

Face Fly (musca autumnalis)

  • Non-biting fly; measures 6-8 millimeteres
  • Direct transmitters of pinkeye in cattle
  • Larvae grow in freshly deposited cattle manure
photo of a horn fly

Horn Fly (haematobia irritans)

  • Blood- feeding fly; measures 4 to 5 millimeters
  • Stays on cattle after feeding
  • Moves to the underside of cattle during rain and hot temperatures
  • Carries diseases that decrease weight gain and lower milk production
  • Larvae grow in cattle manure (does best in grass manure of pastured cattle)