Flies
Blow Flies, Bottle Flies
Calliphora spp., Phaenicia spp.
Description: Adults are wholly or partially metallic blue, green or a dull brassy color. Sometimes they are black. They are 1/8 inch to 5/8 inch long. Mature larvae (maggots) are pale yellow to white, 3/8-7/8 inch long, eyeless and legless. This fly can sometimes be heard buzzing if caught in a window area.
Life Cycles: egg » larva » pupa » adult
Where to Look: The larvae usually are found in meat or animal carcasses, but they may be found in animal excrement, decaying vegetation or garbage. Check garbage areas and dumpsters for decayed or fermented food. Eggs are laid in these items and maggots develop there. A sudden emergence of adults indoors often is associated with a dead animal located within the structure.
Cluster Fly
Pollenia rudis
Description: Cluster fly adults are dark gray and the color doesn’t look metallic. The thorax lacks stripes. They have numerous short, yellowish hairs. The adults are about 3/8 inch long. They are similar to and slightly larger than a house fly. Wings overlap at the tips while the fly is at rest.
Life Cycles: egg » larva » pupa » adult
Where to Look: Cluster fly adults usually can be found at windows, crawling on panes and frames, or around lamps. They often enter structures to overwinter. They usually occupy attics (ceiling plenums) and wall voids on the southern sides of the structure – where it is warmed by the sun. Clusters of flies emerge inside in early spring.
Drain Flies, Moth Flies, Filter Flies
Psychoda spp.
Description: Adults vary in color from yellowish-gray to brownish-gray to black, depending on the species. They are approximately 1/8 inch long. These small, delicate, fuzzy flies are covered with dark, tiny hairs on the wings body. The wings are held roof-like over the body. Most wings veins are parallel.
Life Cycles: egg » larva » pupa » adult
Where to Look: These flies are found in areas of high moisture – in and around drains, septic systems, grease traps and other areas containing very moist organic solid. Adults are attracted to the gelatinous mass that develops in these areas to lay eggs. Larvae feed on algae, bacteria, fungi and the sludge in the film. Infestations could indicate a cracked or damaged sewer pipe or a dry drain trap.
Fruit Fly, Vinegar Fly
Drosophila spp.
Description: Adults flies are dull tan to brownish-yellow to brownish-black. They usually have bright red eyes and are about 1/8 inch. Mature larvae are pale, legless maggots, 1/4 – 3/8 inch long.
Life Cycles: egg » larva » pupa » adult
Where to Look: These flies breed in rotting vegetables, sugary residues left in soft drink or beer bottles and cans, condensate pans under refrigerator/humidifiers, drains, garbage disposals, bottoms of garbage receptacles or any container or crevice that hold organic material.
Fungus Gnats Family
Sciaridae, Bradysia spp.
Description: Adults are black, brown or yellowish and occasionally brighter colored. The wings usually are smoke colored or patterned. The files are approximately 1/8 inch long. They are slender to moderately robust. They are long-legged, mosquitos-like flies.
Life Cycles: egg » larva » pupa » adult
Where to Look: Adults are found near larval food material, such as moist soil with fungi and decaying organic matter. Indoors, they are almost always associated with atriums and soil of overwatered potted plants. They also may be found around water leaks or water-soaked materials capable of growing fungi. Outdoors, they are found in mulched areas and associated soil, accumulations of dead leaves, old pallets, compost piles, etc.
House Fly
Musca domestica
Description: Adult flies are dull gray with four narrow stripes running the length of the thorax. They are about 1/4 inch long. There is no pale spot behind the head. Mature larvae (maggots) are cream-colors with a pointed head and blunt tail bearing two dark spots (spiracles). Fully grown larvae are 1/4-3/8 inch long.
Life Cycles: egg » larva » pupa » adult
Where to Look: Flies feed on a great variety of foods ranging from excrement to human food. Almost exclusively, breeding occurs outdoors in garbage areas, dumpsters, agricultural barns, fermenting lawn clippings and any other area associated with garbage or excrement. They can transfer disease-causing organisms through mechanical transport and via their feces and regurgitations. Females seek warm, moist areas that contain material with sufficient food for larval development (e.g., dumpsters) to lay eggs.
Phorid Flies, Humpbacked Flies, Scuttle Flies
Family Phoridae
Description: Adult flies are brown, black or yellowish and about 1/6 inch long. They have humped back. The first segment of the third pair of legs is expanded and flattened. The wings have strong, heavy veins in the costal (front) area. These flies tend to run about on surfaces in an erratic manner instead of immediately flying when disturbed.
Life Cycles: egg » larva » pupa » adult
Where to Look: Fly eggs are deposited on or near surfaces of decaying organic matter including dung, vertebrate and invertebrate carrion, fungi and decaying plant material. They are found near drains, dirty mops or garbage containers, in cracks and underneath kitchen equipment. Adults also can be found on flowers or on moist, decaying material. These flies can breed many feet underground and persistant problems indoors often are due to leaking sewage lines under building foundations.