Face fly is an annoying pest for livestock. Groups of adult face flies feed on the fluid around the eyes, noses, and mouths of livestock, especially cattle. They also feed on blood from the wounds that other flies make on cattle. Face flies do not bite and are not known to carry germs that cause human diseases. But they can transmit diseases to horses, donkeys, and cattle. The face fly looks like the common house fly, but the two insects differ in their habits.
The female face fly lays eggs in fresh cow manure. Face fly larvae (maggots) develop faster than house fly larvae. Mature face fly larvae are yellowish instead of white, but otherwise resemble house fly maggots. Face flies hibernate in barns, houses, and other shelters.
The first known face flies in North America were discovered in Nova Scotia in 1952. They probably came from Europe. The flies soon spread throughout most of the United States.
