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How Long Does the Average Housefly Live?

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The housefly (Musca domestica) can quickly cause problems in a household – not because of its life expectancy, but because of its ability to reproduce quickly. During its short existence, the female housefly can lay up to six batches of eggs with each batch containing as many as 500 eggs. Most houseflies live less than two months but during that time a single mating pair can generate up to 3,000 new flies.

Life Cycle of a Housefly

While some houseflies can live up to two months, their average life expectancy is between 15 and 30 days. Unfortunately, living in the warmth and having access to food as these insects do in a home extends their longevity. Because they do not live long, they complete their life cycle quickly. Eggs can hatch in less than 24 hours and newborns tend to complete both the larval and pupal stages of development in less than 10 days.