What Do House Flies Eat?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 08, 2023

House flies eat things such as decaying matter and feces. They also feed on garbage, spoiled meat and rotting fruits.

Common house flies are a nuisance and according to Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, they can transmit over 65 different diseases to humans and animals. The flying insects rarely grow larger than 1/4 of an inch long and they can only ingest liquids. To turn decaying matter and solid food into a liquefied state, they throw saliva up on the food source. The saliva then liquefies the food so that the flies can suck it up using their proboscis.