Adults are about 6.0–14.0 mm depending on the species. The thorax is grey with 3 dark longitudinal stripes. The abdomen is light grey and spotted like a checkerboard. They have bright red eyes. 

Female flesh flies do not lay eggs. The eggs hatch inside the female and they lay live young directly on food sources. Females can lay 20 to 40 larvae, and about 300 per season.

Larvae are 10.0–22.00 mm in length before pupation. They are white to slightly yellow and relatively larger than the larvae of other fly species. 

Pupae are reddish-orange to dark brown as they age.

Life Cycle

2–4 weeks.