The Brown Fly does not have teeth or a stinger. Their mouths absorb food like a sponge. They can only eat liquids, but they can turn many solid foods into liquid by spitting or vomiting on it. Their tongues are shaped like straws, so they can suck up their food. They eat any wet or decaying matter, but they are particularly attracted to pet waste because the odour is strong, and it is easy for them to find.
The Brown Fly tend to stay within a few km of where they were born but will travel up to 20 km to find food. They breed in garbage cans, compost heaps, and pet areas. These insects have been known to carry over 100 different kinds of disease-causing germs.