How do houseflies and their larvae feed and breed around decaying materials?

Houseflies (Musca domestica) and their larvae are highly adapted to thrive in environments containing decaying organic waste, such as garbage, manure, and carrion.12

Breeding Habits

Female houseflies instinctively select sites for egg-laying that provide immediate food sources for their offspring. Using a specialized, telescopic ovipositor, the female pushes her eggs into crevices or between membranes within decaying organic material. A single female can produce between 600 and 1,000 eggs in her lifetime, typically depositing them in batches of over 100. These eggs hatch rapidly, often within 12 to 24 hours.31

Feeding Behavior

• Adults: Houseflies possess sponging or lapping mouthparts, which they use to feed on various substances, including human food, drink, feces, and decomposing matter. Because they lack biting mouthparts, they cannot pierce skin; instead, they move between these materials, often carrying microorganisms on their feet that can transmit diseases.12
• Larvae (Maggots): The larvae, known as maggots, lack a complex head capsule and instead use mouth hooks to feed on decaying organic matter. They are physiologically diverse and voracious, often consuming animal matter or waste. In forensic contexts, different waves of maggots are observed to feed on carcasses in a specific sequence as decomposition progresses.4