Muscidae (Housefly family)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Phylum: Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Holometabola > Panorpida > Antliophora > Diptera (flies) > Brachycera > Muscomorpha > Eremoneura > Cyclorrapha > Schizophora > Muscoidea

Musca domestica (Housefly) feeding on sweetmelon [photo Hamish Robertson ©]

This family contains a number of species of medical and veterinary importance, including the Housefly Musca domestica, and the Stablefly Stomoxys calcitrans (looks like a housefly but has a hard, sharp proboscis for penetrating vertebrates and sucking their blood). 

There are about 44 genera and 364 species in southern Africa (Barraclough & Londt 1985).

Publications

• Barraclough, D.A. & Londt, J.G.H. 1985. Order Diptera. In: Insects of southern Africa (eds C.H. Scholtz & E. Holm). Butterworths, Durban.