Horn fly

Stable fly

Face fly

House fly

Location

adults usually in open pastures; generally on host animal

adults common in confined facilities and also in open pastures

adults outdoors, usually on host animal around eyes and muzzle; in buildings during fall and winter

adults common in confined facilities and buildings

Behaviour

both sexes bite (not man)

both sexes bite (including man)

does not bite

does not bite

Biology

breeds only in fresh cattle dung

breeds in dung and decaying organic matter

breeds only in fresh cattle dung

breeds in dung and decaying organic matter

Adult

4-5 mm long; gray with 2 dark stripes on thorax, abdomen with diffuse marks; extended piercing proboscis and long palps

5-8 mm long; gray with 4 dark stripes on thorax, abdomen with dark spots; long slender piercing proboscis and short palps

7-8 mm long; gray with 4 dark stripes on thorax, abdomen dark gray-black in female, orange at sides in male; fleshy mouthparts; eyes almost touching in male

5-8 mm long; gray with 4 dark stripes on thorax, abdomen yellowish at sides; fleshy mouthparts; eyes well separated in male

Egg

without terminal respiratory horn

without terminal respiratory horn

with terminal respiratory horn

without terminal respiratory horn

Larva (3rd instar) and Puparium

2 narrowly separated D- shaped posterior spiracles; puparium brown

2 widely separated subtriangular- shaped posterior spiracles; puparium brown

2 narrowly to moderately separated nearly circular D-shaped posterior spiracles; puparium whitish

2 moderately separated nearly circular D-shaped posterior spiracles; puparium brown