Houseflies identified as Musca domestica is a true insect with a body divided into a head, thorax and abdomen. It has the normal six legs configuration for insects and a pair of wings for flying. The housefly is one of the most common and widespread insects found almost everywhere on earth.

Life cycle:
A housefly is among those insects that undergo a complete four stage transformation during their life time. Starting as an egg layed cloe to a food source, in about 24 hours, the eggs hatch in to a larva, the legless grub we call maggots. After eating of the organic matter around it for a while, the larva transforms into a chrysalis known as a pupa and then to an adult housefly.

Reproduction:
After emerging from its chrysalis, a female housefly needs only 4 to 6 days to mature, and can lay up to 900 to 1000 eggs in her lifetime, laying between 75 to 150 eggs per batch, and can have 6 to 9 batches in her lifetime.

Lifespan:
If conditions are favourable, an dult housefly may live for 2 months but they typically live for 15-30 days. During which they eat a wide range of substances including decaying matter like garbage and feces, animal waste, blood and sugary substances from fruit.

Senses:
With compound eyes having up to 4,000 lenses for detecting movement and changes in light, a nearly 360° field of view and a quick responce time making it hard to swat them. They have taste receptors on their feet and mouthparts, with smell receptors, detecting odors like sugar and decay

Disease transmission:
The housefly is the primary vectors for over 100 life threatening diseases, including typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, salmonella, E. coli and more.

Control measures_:
Houseflies are a nuisance and can pose serious health risks. To manage the population Houseflies:
- Eliminate food sources and waste
- Use traps like sticky tapes or bait traps
- Install window screens and door nets
- Apply insecticides or biological control agents

Housefly Sample

_{Housefly Sample from pixabay}

What we need when drawing a housefly?

For this housefly, I needed a simple but comfortable table and the materials here listed below.

Item	Qty	Description
A drawing guide	1	to look and draw
Galaxy A15	1	Capturing the steps
Plain drawing Paper	1	used as a canvas
HB/2 Pencil	1	for sketching
An Eraser	1	for cleaning errors
Colour pencils	1	for colouring

This time i needed diffrent shades of gray, and orange, the pencil took care of the black.

The Procedure

Step 1 [Preparing the Canvas]

I had to cut my drawing paper to size as shown in the picture below.

I started the drawing with my username on the plain paper, followed by the fly's head, thorax and abdomen.

Step 2

Next came its wings and the erasing of some guidelines sections.

Step 3

Now I have added its leggs and lines on the wings that will guide the shading.

Step 4 [Shading ]

Addind some pencil shading and using diffrent shades of gray and orange to show light and shadows.

Step 5 [Finishing]

Time for a selfie

It's time once again, for another selfie with my drawing. I will love to have the following Steemians participate in this drawing contest @edukan, @bela90 and @Luciouselucy.

Media Credit

Graphics by	@manuelhooks
Captured with	Galaxy A15
Edited with	Phone App

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