Houseflies are attracted to moisture and often lay their eggs in or near water sources. The housefly species *Musca domestica* is known for its ability to lay its eggs on the surface of standing or stagnant water, such as puddles, birdbaths, or even toilets.
The female housefly uses a special ovipositor to deposit her eggs. The ovipositor is a tube-like structure that allows the fly to pierce through or attach to a suitable substrate. In the case of water, the female fly will carefully place her eggs on the water's surface. The eggs are usually white or yellowish and can be seen floating on the water.
The eggs will hatch into larvae, also known as maggots, which live and feed in the water. Maggots are small, worm-like creatures with a segmented body and are well-adapted to an aquatic environment. They breathe through specialized respiratory tubes called spiracles, which enable them to extract oxygen from the water. Maggots feed on organic matter and bacteria present in the water, helping decompose organic material.
After several stages of growth, the larvae will pupate and eventually emerge as adult houseflies. The entire life cycle of a housefly, from egg to adult, can take around 10 to 30 days, depending on environmental conditions.
While houseflies laying eggs on water is a natural occurrence, it can be a nuisance and unhygienic, especially in areas where standing water accumulates and becomes a breeding ground for houseflies. To reduce housefly populations, it is important to eliminate or minimize water sources where the flies can lay their eggs, and to practice proper sanitation and waste disposal.