How Do Flies Reproduce?

Flies reproduce quickly and efficiently. It takes about a week or less to complete the entire life cycle. After hatching, larvae develop dark, hard outer shells. They stay in a pupa case for three to six days before they can begin to develop legs and wings. After emerging from the pupa, female flies are ready to breed.

The average lifespan of adult flies is about 15 days, but they can live for two months or more. The temperature of their home environment affects how long they live. In cooler environments, flies will live longer. Female flies must eat before copulating. They need a source of protein to survive. Manure is not a good source of protein.

In order to reproduce, a female fly lays hundreds of eggs. Each egg develops into a fly within a few days. If food is available, millions of flies can appear in a short period of time. In addition to egg laying, some flies give birth to live maggots. Fortunately, eating a fly egg will not harm you.

A single pair of house flies produces approximately 191,010,000 million eggs. The females lay the eggs a week after mating. These eggs will develop into larvae, maggots, and pupae, and eventually become adult flies.