/oss/taxonomy/term/2307/all en /oss/article/history-general-science/how-come-you-never-see-baby-housefly <p>Simple. Because baby houseflies don’t exist. A little backgrounder on the flies’ reproductive cycle can clear up this apparent conundrum. Within a week of mating, a doggie-style activity lasting from a few seconds to several minutes, not unlike humans, a female fly will lay an average of 120 eggs. Nice warm manure is preferred. Then in roughly 12 days, the eggs develop into larvae, then into maggots, and then into pupae from which flies emerge fully grown. That’s why you will never see a baby fly!</p> Fri, 16 Jul 2021 22:03:34 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8787 at /oss /oss/article/history-you-asked/why-do-you-never-see-baby-housefly <p>Because baby houseflies don’t exist. A little backgrounder on the flies’ reproductive cycle can clear up this seeming conundrum. Within a week of mating, a doggie-style activity lasting from a few seconds to several minutes (not unlike humans), a female fly will lay an average of 120 eggs. She prefers to deposit her potential offspring in nice warm manure. Then in roughly 12 days the eggs develop into larvae, then into maggots, and then into pupae from which flies emerge fully grown. That’s why you will never see a baby fly!</p> Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:26:56 +0000 Joe Schwarcz 1584 at /oss