Fly Control

House flies are usually gray in appearance and display four black stripes on their thorax. Adult house flies are about 1/8-1/4” (4 to 7.5 mm) long. They have slightly hairy bodies, a single pair of wings, and compound red eyes, which contain thousands of individual lenses that allow them to have wider vision. Female house flies are usually larger than males. House flies do not have teeth or a stinger. House fly eggs resemble small grains of rice. The eggs hatch into larvae, also known as maggots, which range in size from about ¼-3/8” (7-10 mm) long. Maggots are cream-colored with a greasy appearance. When entering the pupal stage, maggots develop dark, hard outer shells, legs, and wings, ultimately emerging as full-grown adult flies.

Fruit flies are attracted to and eat rotting food. They especially like fruits and vegetables as well as fermenting liquids like beer, liquor, and wine. Fruit flies are also attracted to and sometimes breed in dark, moist, and unsanitary environments like drains, garbage disposals, and trash bins where rotting produce materials may collect. Because they reproduce very quickly, fruit fly extermination can be difficult. Female fruit flies can lay around 500 eggs, which can hatch in as little as 24 hours. Similar to other fly species, fruit flies have a four-stage life cycle, which can be completed in as little as a week in ideal conditions.

Drain flies are often associated with drains and are common at sewage treatment facilities. They are weak fliers and often appear to be jumping or hopping. Flight and mating activities normally occur in the evening hours when they are attracted to lights. Each female can produce around 100 eggs and under optimum conditions, development can be completed in about 2 weeks. Drain flies may be found around bathrooms or kitchen sinks. They are common around wet areas and can even breed in sink and bathroom drain traps, in spite of the hot water, soap, and other debris that flow through them.

Blow flies are slightly larger than true house flies, and the bodies of many are metallic blue or green. Blow and Bottle flies are found worldwide, occurring in almost every place occupied by people. The name blow fly comes from the rotting animal carcasses' bloated condition that their larvae, known as maggots, infest. Blow flies are one of the most common flies found around dead animals.

Cluster flies look like House Flies but are slightly larger and more sluggish in their movements. Their name "cluster" fly comes from their habit of forming clusters before hibernating over the winter. They are also called "attic flies," because of their habit of clustering in the attics. They appear on sunny, warm days during late fall, winter, or early spring days.