The life cycle of Ophyra is about the same duration as for the house fly. At 27°C (80°F), the egg develops into an adult in 14 days, with eggs hatching in 12 hours, larval development in 5 days, pupal development in 4 days, and a 4-day preoviposition period.
Typically about 300 eggs are laid by a female in her lifetime.
The two major species associated with confined animal facilities in the United States are Ophyra leucostoma (Wiedemann) [= Ophyra ignava (Harris)] and Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann).
Ophyra aenescens has yellow or reddish-yellow palps while O. leucostoma has black palps. The males of leucostoma have long setae on the hind tibia, while the setae are short in aenescens.
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