The Cheeseskipper has sudden, snapping movements fo the body, which may cause them
to jump or "skip" as much as 10 inches.
This fly is found throughout the United States and is an important pest
of cheese and meats.
The adult fly feeds on juices from breeding sources , living the short
time needed to mate and lay eggs.
Eggs are laid on the surface of moldy cheese or purtrid meat.
Around 140 eggs are laid on a food source.
The larvae avoid light and will burrow into the breeding material.
After the larvae mature, they leave the breeding material and look for
a dry, dark place to pupate.
Under most conditions, the cheese skipper larvae complete their development
in about five days. It takes as little as 15 days for this fly to develop
from egg to mature adult.
Under adverse breeding conditions,
Cheese Skippers can transmit diseases to humans because the fly and
lavae breed on decaying organic matter.
Persons who eat foods containing the larvae of cheese skippers may experience
intestinal irritation.
