Houseflies are annoying pests that can quickly ruin an outdoor or indoor event. They carry some of the most destructive diseases, including anthrax, typhoid fever, dysentery and conjunctivitis. Yet, despite all their flaws, they do have a purpose in this world — more than just keeping manufacturers of flyswatters and fly sprays in business. Houseflies can be used to estimate the time of death. Although a number of fly species will visit a corpse, houseflies are one of the first to visit a corpse after death. Any eggs they lay will hatch between 8 to 24 hours later. The maggots then become pupae, followed by adults, within three to six days. By looking at the age of the houseflies on the body, forensic scientists can estimate how long it has been dead.
