Similar in appearance to the house fly but smaller
Lifecycle
Only last 2-5 weeks
Eggs are inserted into the excrement of large animals (especially grazing animals)
Eggs usually hatch within a day and the larvae usually leave the feeding medium to pupate in adjacent soil
Habits
Adults seek large animals, including humans, and remain on and around them for hours at a time being attracted to sweat, tears, saliva and in cases of grazing animals, faeces
Transmit eye infections to humans and livestock and may also transmit other enteric diseases to humans