Musca sorbens
Bazaar fly | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Muscidae |
Tribe: | Muscini |
Genus: | Musca |
Species: | M. sorbens
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Binomial name | |
Musca sorbens Wiedemann, 1830
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Musca sorbens, the bazaar fly or eye-seeking fly, is a close relative of, and very similar in appearance to, the
Distribution
Bazaar flies are found in parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific Ocean region. The flies need temperatures between about 16 to 40 °C (61 to 104 °F), with 28 °C (82 °F) being optimal, and a humidity level of over 85%. Bazaar flies are more abundant at low and medium altitudes. They may be more abundant in winter, spring and autumn, or summer depending on rainfall patterns, competition for dung, and predation.[2]
Life cycle
After mating, female bazaar flies seek out suitable places to lay their eggs. Bazaar flies are most attracted to human
The bazaar fly is a prolific species: theoretically, if all its progeny survived, a single female bazaar fly kept at 28 °C (82 °F) could produce 17.8 million offspring within 11 weeks.[4] The quality of the emerging adult flies (as measured by head breadth) is better from human faeces than from those of any other animal; these larger flies are likely to be more fecund and have longer lives, thus producing more offspring.[3]
Relationship with humans
This fly lives in close proximity to humans; it probably coevolved with humans in Africa, spreading with them to other parts of Africa and Asia. It is not found in the Americas.[4] Bazaar flies are a nuisance, disturbing people at leisure and at work, but they are principally disliked because of their habit of settling on people's faces (particularly around the eyes) and on sweaty skin, seeking out bodily secretions and suppurating wounds.[citation needed]
The bazaar fly is a
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-70928-6.
- PMID 26817815.
- ^ S2CID 34760396.
- ^ a b Emerson, Paul. "Excreta, Flies and Trachoma". WELL Factsheet. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- PMID 10748893.
- ^ Boyd, Kierstan (14 October 2015). "What is trachoma?". American Academy of Ophthalmology. Retrieved 28 September 2017.