When a fly buzzes around your kitchen , it feels like it’s been there forever. But the truth is far from that. The average lifespan of a fly is short—very short. Yet, within those brief days, it manages to disrupt, reproduce, and even play a role in the ecosystem. Instead of just asking "how long do flies live?" , let’s flip the perspective: what makes their short lives so impactful—and what can humans learn from them? ⏳ The Fleeting Life of a Fly: More Than Just Days Most of us assume that flies live for a day or two. But according to National Geographic and entomologists from Cornell University , the average lifespan of a housefly (Musca domestica) is about 15 to 30 days . Under optimal conditions, some can even live up to 2 months . Still, this isn't a static number. How long flies live depends heavily on temperature, food access, and their stage in the lifecycle. A fly begins as an egg, becomes a larva (or maggot), then a pupa, and finally an adult. Interestin...