Fly eggs on food look like tiny white grains, like rice but far smaller, about 1 mm long, laid in tight clusters. A fly lays its eggs on uncovered food, and in hot weather they hatch within a day into small maggots. If you find them on food, throw the food away.
What do fly eggs look like?
- Colour: white or cream.
- Size: about 1 mm; to the eye they are tiny white specks.
- Shape: slightly elongated, like a very small grain of rice.
- Arrangement: clusters of dozens of eggs stuck together.
- After hatching: small white maggots that move.
Where do flies lay eggs?
- Uncovered meat, chicken and fish, the favourite of blow flies.
- Cooked food left out of the fridge.
- Fermenting or spoiled fruit and vegetables.
- Rubbish and food scraps.
- Wet pet food.
Fly eggs on meat
Uncovered meat attracts flies more than anything:
- A fly lays dozens of eggs in minutes.
- It places them in folds and moist edges.
- In hot weather they hatch within 8 to 24 hours.
Are fly eggs harmful if eaten?
- The eggs themselves usually cause no harm; the stomach deals with them.
- The problem is that the fly is contaminated and carries bacteria to food from rubbish and drains.
- So all the food counts as contaminated, not just where the eggs are.
- If diarrhoea, vomiting or fever follow, see a doctor.
How long do fly eggs take to hatch?
| Weather | Hatching time |
|---|---|
| Hot | 8 to 12 hours |
| Mild | About a day |
| Cold or refrigerated | Much slower, or stops |
How to protect food from fly eggs
- Always cover food; do not leave it open even for minutes.
- Refrigerate food quickly, especially meat.
- Close the bin and take rubbish out daily.
- Fit screens on kitchen windows.
- Hang sticky ribbons or place a light trap away from the food preparation area.
- Treat breeding sites such as bins with a larval growth regulator.
Products from Orkida
- Catchmaster sticky ribbons for flying insects
- ProCatch ELITE sticky light trap
- Peroxy Larf insect growth regulator for larvae
Fly egg FAQs
Does cooking kill fly eggs?
High heat kills them, but the food is still contaminated by the fly itself, so it is better to throw it away.
How many eggs does a fly lay?
A house fly lays 75 to 150 eggs at a time and repeats this several times in its life.
Does every fly that lands on food lay eggs?
No. A fly needs time and a moist spot to lay, but landing alone contaminates the food.