Life cycle of a fly
Eggs
- present in clumps of up to 300
- laying to hatching takes 1 day
Larva - 1st instar
- initially feeds on fluid exuded from the body
- migrates into body
- hatching to first moult takes 1 day
Larva - 2nd instar
- moves around in maggot mass
- first moult to second moult takes 1 day
Larva - 3rd instar
- still moves in mass
- greatly increases in size
- second moult to pre-pupa takes 2 days
Pre-pupa
- migrates away from the corpse seeking a suitable pupation site, (usually in soil)
- does not feed
- transforms into pupa
- pre-pupa to pupa takes 4 days
Pupa
- resides within puparium
- undergoes transformation from larval body form adult fly
- does not feed
- pupa to emergence takes 10 days
Adult fly
- mates on emergence from pupa
- feeds on protein from body fluids
- lays eggs on corpse
- emergence to egg laying takes 2 days
These development times are generalised. They vary depending on the species and the temperature.
Further information
- Flies
- Maggots
- Pupa and Pre-pupae
- Development times of particular fly species - in hours
- Development times of Lucilia sericata at different temperatures
- Use insect evidence to estimate time of death
Copyright © Australian Museum 2003
