Livestock-pests
Guides
Fanniidae
lesser house flies, little house flies
Fanniidae is a small family of true flies comprising approximately 285 species in five genera. Adults are medium-sized to small with predominantly dark body and leg coloration. Males form characteristic dancing swarms beneath trees, while females are more retiring. Larvae possess flattened bodies with prominent lateral protuberances and develop as scavengers in decaying organic matter. The family is primarily distributed in the Holarctic and temperate Neotropical realms, with limited representation in other biogeographic regions.
Muscidae
House Flies and Allies, House Flies, Stable Flies
Muscidae is a family of flies in the superfamily Muscoidea containing nearly 4,000 described species across over 100 genera. The family exhibits diverse feeding strategies: adults may be predatory, hematophagous, saprophagous, or feed on plant and animal exudates including sugar, sweat, tears, and blood. Larvae develop in varied habitats including decaying vegetation, soil, carrion, and freshwater. While some species are synanthropic and of medical importance, most species are not associated with human habitation.