Role of prestomal teeth in feeding of the house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera; Muscidae).

Ultrastructural studies of the mouthparts of Musca domestica L. show that the fly's prestomal teeth are more damaging to host tissues than considered previously. When fed on tissue culture or pig cornea, SEM revealed that M. domestica were able to tear and suck up cells. This process occurs so rapidly, and so few cells are involved, that the damage is not perceptible to the naked eye. Except for the prestomal teeth, the mouthparts have few other structures which can inflict the damage observed.