Andy Montoya
Flies are attracted to buildings due to the heat and odours they emit. They feed on decaying organic material, including meat, vegetables, fruit, faeces, and nectar from flowers. They are also known to infest human food, such as meat and cheese, and their larvae can cause myiasis, a condition characterised by vertigo, nausea, and stomach pain. Interestingly, some cultures, like Sardinia and England, have historically embraced the presence of fly larvae in cheese, considering it a delicacy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fly type | Cheese fly, or cheese skipper |
| Fly size | 5 mm long |
| Fly colour | Dark |
| Larvae colour | White or cream, with black mouthparts |
| Larvae size | 9-10 mm long, 1 mm wide, 13 segments |
| Larvae leaping ability | 10-12 cm |
| Foods they like | Meat, cheese, and carrion |
| Foods the female lays eggs on | Meat and cheese |
| Foods the larvae infest | Meat, fish, and cheese |
| Places they infest | Buildings, especially where food is consumed or prepared |
| Places they lay eggs | Near food, e.g. on muslin cloths or cured meat wrappers |
| Conditions that attract them | Heat and odours |
| Conditions that deter them | Cold temperatures |
| Related health risks | Enteric myiasis |
| Pest control methods | Space showers, hazing, sanitation, essential oils, microbiome regulation |
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What You'll Learn
- Cheese fly larvae are cylindrical, white or cream, and 9-10mm long
- Female cheese flies lay eggs on meat and cheese, which hatch into burrowing larvae
- Cheese flies are considered pests in the meat and cheese industries
- Flies are attracted to buildings due to heat and odours
- In some cultures, cheese with maggots is considered a delicacy
Cheese fly larvae are cylindrical, white or cream, and 9-10mm long
Cheese fly larvae, or maggots, are cylindrical, white or cream, and 9-10mm long. They are the offspring of the cheese fly, a 5mm long, dark, sparkling fly found all over the world. The female cheese fly lays her eggs on cured meats and cheeses, and the resulting larvae are difficult to detect until they are large enough to disperse. The larvae are drawn to foods they can leak their acidic stomach juices onto and regurgitate. They are detritivores, feeding on protein-rich sources such as meat, cheese, and carrion. They also feed on organic decaying material such as fruit, vegetables, and animal and plant secretions.
Cheese fly larvae are sometimes consumed by humans, either accidentally or, in some cultures, intentionally. Casu marzu, a Sardinian cheese, is famous for containing live cheese fly larvae. In some cases, the larvae are consumed by accident, as they can tunnel deep into food and are difficult to detect. If ingested, the larvae can survive in the digestive tract of humans and other warm-blooded animals, potentially causing a condition known as enteric myiasis, which is characterised by vertigo, severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
To prevent a cheese fly infestation, it is important to keep cheese covered at all times, using netting or cheesecloth. Properly storing and disposing of food, as well as cleaning areas where food is consumed or prepared, can also help reduce the likelihood and severity of a fly infestation. Freezing cheese can kill the larvae, but it does not kill the eggs.
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Female cheese flies lay eggs on meat and cheese, which hatch into burrowing larvae
Female cheese flies (Piophila casei) are considered pests in the meat and cheese industries. They lay their eggs on meats and cheeses, which hatch into burrowing larvae. These larvae are known to infest cured meats, smoked or salted fish, cheeses, and carrion. They are cylindrical and can appear white or cream, with black mouthparts. When fully grown, they are 9–10 mm long, 1 mm wide, and have 13 segments. They are detritivores, feeding on protein-rich sources, including meats, cheeses, and carrion. They seek out dark, dry areas for pupation, which lasts around 12 days. Adult larvae can overwinter before pupation.
The introduction of larvae into food products is not always accidental. On the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, the larvae are intentionally introduced into pecorino sardo cheese to produce the traditional delicacy casu martzu. In the past, English Stilton was also served with mites or maggots, and in Italy, maggot-infested cheese is considered a delicacy.
Myiasis is a condition caused by the ingestion of fly eggs or larvae. It can cause intestinal myiasis in humans if the female cheese fly lays its eggs on meat or fruit. It can also occur when eggs or larvae are accidentally swallowed with food or water. Myiasis can also occur in open wounds, with the larvae feeding on live or necrotic tissue. The principal control method for myiasis-inducing flies involves insecticide applications in the environment where the target livestock is kept.
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Cheese flies are considered pests in the meat and cheese industries
Cheese flies, or Piophila casei, are considered pests in the meat and cheese industries. They are a species of fly from the family Piophilidae, whose larvae are known to infest cured meats, smoked or salted fish, cheeses, and carrion.
Female cheese flies lay eggs on meats and cheeses, which, when hatched, produce burrowing larvae that are difficult to detect in food products until they grow large enough to disperse. These larvae, or cheese maggots, are detritivores, feeding on protein-rich sources such as meats, cheeses, and carrion. They seek out dark, dry areas for pupation, which lasts around 12 days. In cases where unrefrigerated meats and cheeses are infested, the larvae can be ingested and emerge as adults in the host's alimentary tract, causing enteric myiasis.
The adult cheese fly is a small species, about 4-5mm long, with a metallic black bronze body and two pale yellow iridescent wings. The larvae are cylindrical and can appear white or cream, with black mouthparts. When fully grown, they are about 9-10mm long and 1mm wide. They are known as "cheese skippers" due to their ability to leap up to 10-12cm when disturbed by hooking their mouths into a surface and flinging themselves forward.
To prevent the oviposition and larval infestation of P. casei in cured meats and cheeses, research suggests using certain plant essential oils, such as Mentha canadensis, or regulating the microbiome in food processing facilities to remove the microbial symbionts of P. casei.
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Flies are attracted to buildings due to heat and odours
Flies are a common problem for many people, and they can be a source of great frustration. The insects are attracted to buildings due to a combination of heat and odours.
Flies are attracted to heat, and they will breed faster in warmer environments. The heat radiated by buildings draws flies in, and the subsequent warm indoor temperatures help them breed. Fly eggs require warm conditions to develop into larvae, with temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and above providing the perfect environment for them to thrive.
Odours are another factor that entices flies. They are attracted to the smell of food, especially organic decaying matter such as fruit, vegetables, meat, and animal and plant secretions. Garbage, particularly uncovered garbage cans, provides flies with an ideal breeding habitat, as food items ferment quickly in warm conditions. In addition, damaged food products, such as rotting meat, can quickly lead to a fly infestation.
Flies are also drawn to the odour of animal carcasses, which can result in an infestation inside or outside a property. Bird droppings are another preferred breeding ground for some fly species, especially those of common pest birds like pigeons.
To prevent flies from being attracted to buildings, it is essential to properly store and dispose of food and regularly clean areas where food is consumed or prepared. Keeping garbage cans covered and clean and removing indoor and outdoor trash frequently can help reduce fly numbers.
In addition, sealing off entry points, such as doors and windows, can be effective in preventing flies from entering the building.
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In some cultures, cheese with maggots is considered a delicacy
Flies, especially female cheese flies, are attracted to cheese. They lay their eggs on the cheese, which, when hatched, produce burrowing larvae that are hard to detect until they grow large enough. These larvae, or maggots, feed on the cheese, breaking down its fats and making the texture very soft.
The consumption of Casu Marzu does come with some risks. The larvae can survive the stomach acid and remain in the intestine, leading to a condition called pseudomyiasis. However, no cases of pseudomyiasis have been linked to the cheese. The larvae may also carry harmful microorganisms that could cause infections. As a result, selling Casu Marzu is illegal, and it is considered unsafe to eat when the maggots are dead. Those who do not wish to ingest the maggots may place the cheese in a sealed paper bag, starving the maggots of oxygen and killing them before consumption.
Interestingly, English Stilton cheese was once also produced with maggots, as noted by Daniel Defoe in his 1724 work "A Tour thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain". He described how the cheese was "brought to the table with the mites or maggots round it, so thick that they bring a spoon with them for you to eat the mites with, as you do the cheese."
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, flies are attracted to cheese. The cheese fly, or cheese skipper, is a fly that is attracted to cheese and other human food such as dried or prepared meat and fish.
Cheese flies are sparkling, dark flies that are 5 mm (0.2 in) long and found all over the world. They are best known for their dangerous hatchlings that live in human food.
Cheese fly hatchlings, or larvae, are cylindrical and can appear white or cream, with black mouthparts. They are about 9–10 mm (0.35–0.4 in) long and 1 mm (0.039 in) wide when fully grown.
Cheese flies are attracted to cheese because it provides a good environment for their hatchlings to grow and feed. The larvae feed on protein-rich sources, including meats, cheeses, and carrion.
To prevent a cheese fly infestation, it is important to properly store and dispose of food and clean the areas where food is consumed or prepared. Keeping your cheese covered at all times, using netting or cheesecloth, can also help deter cheese flies.
