Little House Flies and Latrine Flies

Biology:
These flies usually appear in the early spring before the house fly has become numerous. These species are smaller that the house fly, more slender in appearance and the fourth vein extends directly to the edge of the wing instead of curving sharply upward as in the house fly. Eggs are laid in animal excrement and decaying vegetation and sometime in vats in cheese plants. The little house fly is frequently seen hovering in midair or darting about in the middle of a room. It differs from the house in that it is found throughout the house and very seldom on a spread table. This species lays it eggs on decaying vegetable matter and excrement, particularly of chickens, human, horses and cows. The larvae emerge in about 24 hours and may be recognized as a flattened, spiny organism about 6 mm long when full-grown. The pupal period lasts about 7 days under favorable conditions. The complete life cycle last 15 to 30 days. The Latrine fly, is very similar to the little house fly, but the latrine fly adult is slightly larger. Its biology and habits are also the same.

Control Measures :

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Flesh Flies

Biology:

As a group, flesh flies occur throughout most areas of the world although species distribution varies. Flesh flies are found in urban and rural communities but fortunately, are relatively uncommon in houses or restaurants. They breed in excrement, decaying vegetable matter and animal flesh or meat. Though they can carry leprosy bacilli, flesh flies usually are not problems as disease carriers or even as nuisances and pose little threat to human welfare or to livestock. Some species can cause intestinal pseudomyiasis in humans who consume food contaminated with larvae. Flesh flies are medium to large sized flies and usually have three dark thoracic stripes and mottled abdomens. Many of the common species have a red tip on the abdomen. Though some species may be smaller than house flies, most flesh flies are about 1/3 to 1/2 inch long.
Flesh flies retain their eggs within the body of the female until they are ready to hatch, The larvae are deposited directly onto the food, the immature will be eating. The life cycle for the common species can be completed in eight to 21 days. The preferred breeding media around residences are decayed flesh, spoiling meat, and manure. Usually garbage can meat scraps and dog food left outside are abundant sources of flesh fly breeding. Flesh flies can breed in dead rodents and birds in attics or wall voids of houses.
Adult flies do not bite but feed on a wide range of liquid substances. Most larvae infest wounds, carrion or excrement. The larvae of some species of flesh flies are beneficial in that they prey on eggs, nymphs or larvae of more harmful insects. Lesser house fly and blow fly larvae, and grasshopper nymphs are common hosts of flesh flies.
Flesh fly life histories vary wit species and location. They over winter as pupae in temperate climates. Rarely very numerous. the flies emerge In spring and mate. Eggs are laid only under very unusual circumstances. As a rule, eggs hatch within the body of the adult. Females of most species deposit 20 to 40 larvae directly onto the host or substitute. As many as 325 larvae have been known to be born by a single female. Flesh fly maggots feed for three or four days and develop though three instars. Soon afterward, these mature maggots enter the pupae stage. Adult flies emerge in ten to 14 days and the life cycle is repeated. Several generations are produced each. year. Flesh flies rarely require chemical control. The burial or destruction of carcasses, manure heaps and mounds of decaying organic matter eliminates many favorable breeding sites. Proper treatment of wounds also helps to prevent flesh fly harm to animals

Control Measures:

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Blow Flies

Biology:

Blow Fly, any of a large family of flies known for the habit of the larvae, or immature flies of, infesting animal carcasses. They are found worldwide, occurring nearly every place inhabited by people. Blow flies are slightly larger than true house flies, and the bodies of many are metallic blue or green in color. Worldwide, there are about 1200 species of blow flies, and in North America there are 80. In many areas such as the American Southwest, blow flies are the most common type of flies found in and around houses and other human habitations.
Blow flies range in length from 7 to 16 mm (0.28 to 0.63 in); they have robust bodies and wide heads. The name blow fly comes from the bloated condition of the rotting animal carcasses that their larvae, known as maggots, infest. The most frequent species found under these conditions is the common blow fly. Adult blow flies feed primarily on flower nectar, plant sap, and other sugary materials. The female blow fly typically lays her eggs on the body of a recently killed animal. The eggs hatch quickly and the maggots then feed on the decaying tissues.
In warm weather, some species can complete their larval growth within a week. They then burrow into the soil and pupate, to emerge later as adult flies. Blow flies play an essential role in nature by decomposing dead tissue. The cluster fly species of blow fly is an exception: its larvae prey on earthworms.
Blow flies have played a role in medicine: species such as the green bottle fly and the black blow fly were once commonly used to clean open wounds in humans because the maggots tend to feed only on decayed tissue. Some blow fly species, such as the screw worm fly, lay their eggs on living animals. The maggots then feed on the animal's healthy tissue. Because blow flies routinely move between dead animals or dung and human habitats, they may transmit disease organisms to people, including the bacteria that cause dysentery, typhus, and cholera.

Control Measures:

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Drain Flies

Also called moth flies, sewer flies or filter flies these true flies have bodies and wings covered with numerous hairs. If crushed they leave a powdery smudge

Drain flies, or moth flies, can be found in moist, highly organic debris areas such as sink drains, sewage treatment facilities, storm drains, dung and rotten vegetation.

Adults range in size from 1/16 to ¼ inch . They may be yellow to brown /black in color.

During daylight, they will often be found resting on walls near drains.

Adult female drain /moth flies most often lay their eggs in masses on the surface of gelatinous film found in drains and sewers.

They may also breed in moist, shady areas outdoors such as under potted plants, in bird feeders and baths, in moss, in clogged roof gutters, under air conditioners, in thick mulch, or on wet ground areas.

The larvae feed on decaying material that collects in drains. In natural settings, moth fly larvae feed on decaying plants and animals. Most moth flies are harmless to humans, though they may transmit bacteria and other microorganisms from their breeding sites to areas where people are. Moth flies do not bite. Adults live about two weeks

Control

Finding the sources of breeding and eliminating them is the best control.

Floor drains, overflow cuts in sinks and tubs, sump pump pits and sewers can accumulate organic matter but often do not receive enough water to flush the waste down the drain.

They may be common in laundry and floor drains, toilet and shower drains.

 

The drain/moth fly larvae feed on the sides of the drain and in the drain trap if there is an accumulation of organic debris there. You can check it by placing some tape over the opening (leave some opening for air flow). If you find these flies stuck to the tape , you have discovered the source.

Pouring bleach down the drain is not effective. A bacterial digester like  DF 5000 DRAIN CLEANER may be used to break up the organic debris.

Re-grouting tiles to prevent water seepage into walls will stop breeding in those sites. If found in rotting vegetable matter, the source should be destroyed.

Clean dirty garbage containers, wet lint under the washing machine, and even standing water in containers under houseplant pots. Outside the home, inspect air conditioners, bird baths, shallow stagnant pools of water and sewage treatment facilities upwind as adult flies will travel with the wind.

If adults do not disappear within a week further treatments or looking for other breeding sources is needed .

To control the adult flies flying in the air a pyrethrum aerosol like V TECH MIST would be helpful in spraying the adult flies.

This aerosol is metered and can be used in a automatic dispense unit like AUTOMATIC AEROSOL DISPENSER or hand held.

 

Drain Fly Kit

We have the DF 5000 Drain Cleaner and the V One Aerosol in one kit called the Drain Fly Kit.

Fruit Flies

Size: (3mm)

Key Identification:

Biology and Habits:

Recommended Control Measures

Fruit flies are small about 1/8-inch in length including the wings.

Key Identification:

• A key identifying character is its bright red eyes.
• The Fruit fly is about one third the size of the house or filth fly.

Color:

• Body color is usually a light yellow to tan color.

Biology and Habits:

• The fruit flies comprise several different species belonging to the genus Drosophila. The most common species encountered in homes and other structures is D.melanogaster. Fruit flies are also identified as pomace flies or vinegar flies. These pests can be found throughout the world, in homes, food processing plants, warehouses, grocery stores, wineries, restaurants and other structures.


• Populations tend to be greatest in late summer and early fall as they infest fruits during the harvest season.


• Fruit flies are among the smallest flies found in homes.
  


• With the end of the summer season, many homeowners often encounter fruit flies in and about their kitchens and near garbage storage areas.


• They are generally found hovering around decaying vegetation and overripe fruit.
  Fruit flies most often are found hovering around overly ripe fruit.
  Fermenting materials, such as leftover beer or soft drinks, also are a favorite food of these flies.
  These pesky insects are often found in the kitchen, especially when vegetable or fruit materials are present after major home canning efforts.


• Occasionally, pomace flies, similar in appearance to fruit flies, may infest the home. The source of a pomace fly problem is often standing water like a forgotten mop pail or an open sewer drain.


• Because it frequents such unsanitary areas, it could potentially carry disease-causing bacteria onto food products.


• Like all flies, fruit flies develop by complete metamorphosis.
  Eggs are laid near or on top of attractants (fermenting materials) such as beverages, decaying fruit and vegetable matter, garbage or slime in drains.
  They are attracted to any area where moisture has accumulated including mops and wet rags. The larvae emerge from the eggs and feed near the surface of the fermenting material for 5-6 days.


• This surface-feeding characteristic of the larvae is significant in that damaged or over-ripened portions of fruits and vegetables can be cut away without having to discard the remainder for fear of retaining any developing larvae.
  However eating the larvae can cause intestinal discomfort and diarrhea.
  For this reason, health professionals and sanitarians are concerned when these flies are found infesting facilities where food is prepared, processed, or served.


• Newly-emerged adults are attracted to lights, but egg laying females will not leave fermenting materials. The larvae then crawl to drier areas of the food source or even out of the food source to pupate. Under ideal conditions, the life cycle from egg to adult can be completed in as little as eight days.
  Life cycle from egg to adult is approximately 10 days.

Recommended Control Measures :

Exclusion and Sanitation, Insecticides, Traps, and Aerosols

1. Exclusion and Sanitation:

• Sanitation is the first measure of defense, even though there are various traps and sprays that are used to kill flies, it is necessary to eliminate the source in order to eliminate them.

• The key to controlling these infestations is to locate and eliminate their breeding sources.

  Whenever possible, food and materials on which the flies can lay their eggs must be removed, destroyed, as a breeding medium, or isolated from the egg-laying adult.

  Killing adult flies will reduce infestation, but elimination of breeding areas is necessary for good management.

• A space spray V ONE AEROSOL

  (Pyrethrin spray) can be used as a quick kill, reducing populations of flying insects.

• Garbage cans and dumpsters should have tight-fitting lids and be cleaned regularly.

• Drainage will often aid control, getting rid of extra moisture.

• Openings of buildings should be tightly screened with screen.

• The fruit fly larvae may feed on the sides of the drain and in the drain trap if there is an accumulation of organic debris there. You can check it by placing some tape over the opening (leave some opening for air flow). If you find these flies stuck to the tape , you have discovered the source.

• Pouring bleach down the drain is not effective.
  A bacterial digester like    DF 5000 may be used to break up the organic debris.

  
  Gentrol Aerosol is an aerosol insect growth regulator to use to kill fruit fly eggs and discourage immature fly development.
  Gentrol can be applied into drains, under appliances, floor mats, around plants, dumpsters, etc.

• . Re-grouting tiles to prevent water seepage into walls will stop breeding in those sites. If found in rotting vegetable matter, the source should be destroyed.

• Clean dirty garbage containers, wet lint under the washing machine, and even standing water in containers under houseplant pots. Outside the home, inspect air conditioners, bird baths, shallow stagnant pools of water and sewage treatment facilities upwind as adult flies will travel with the wind.

2. Insecticides : Residual and Contract

DEMON WP  or   Cyper WP  are wettable powders, mixed with water to spray exterior surfaces where flies would land, sprayed once a month.

We also carry fogging material and professional fogger equipment:
FOGGING MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT

3.Trapping : 960 Vector Fruit Fly Trap

960 VECTOR FRUIT FLY TRAP

4. Aerosols

Pyrethrin contact aerosols would be:

V ONE AEROSOL

 V MIST METERED AEROSOL /  AUTOMATIC AIR GUARD DISPENSER   is an automatic dispenser to be used with the the V Mist Metered Aerosol.
The V Mist Metered aerosol will last 30 days.

Gentrol Aerosol is an aerosol insect growth regulator to use to kill fruit fly eggs and discourage immature fly development.
Gentrol can be applied into drains, under appliances, floor mats, around plants, dumpsters, etc.

IDENTIFYING THE CLUSTER FLY

They average between 1/4 to 3/8 inch long. They are dark gray, never metallic blue or green. When crushed, they give off an odor like buckwheat honey. Cluster flies closely resemble house flies, but they are usually larger and have a yellowish sheen on the thorax.




BIOLOGY AND HABITS

They are parasites of earthworms and breed outdoors in lawns and fields during the spring and summer. You can find them almost everywhere in the United States and Canada, except for the Southern states bordering the Gulf of Mexico.

Females lay their eggs in cracks in the soil, which hatch in three days. The larvae use earthworms as a food source. The larvae feed for about 22 days. After that, they go into the pupae stage, which lasts 11-14 days before emerging as adults. Adult flies feed on flowers. There are about four generations hatched per summer.

When fall approaches, they begin to enter structures in large numbers. Problems with cluster flies begin in late August as they move to winter quarters to over-winter. They are seeking warm sites with protective cracks for shelter, crawling back as far as they can get. It is important to consider treatment before this happens.

They have been known to squeeze around the edges of windows that are weather-proofed. As the number of flies attracted to the building increases, large clusters of flies huddle inside wall voids, attics, and false ceilings. Most infestations occur in the upper regions of a buildings, such as the attics of homes. In multi-story buildings, they can be found in the upper two or three floors, and almost always of the south and west sides of the buildings.

If you have unseasonably warm weather in the late fall or winter, they may emerge thinking it is spring, going for the warmer air outside. They fly very slowly when they just wake up. They are strongly attracted to light, so they are usually found around windows. At night they are attracted to lamps.

INSPECTION

Check around windows for live or dead flies. If you can find the voids in which they are over-wintering, you can treat the voids with a dust or aerosol, but that is not an easy task. In most cases, the voids can't be located.

To locate the voids, start with an inspection of cracks and crevices on the southern and western exterior walls. Usually the only accessible voids are the attics, crawls paces and false ceilings.

CONTROL MEASURES:

Cluster fly problems can be partially prevented, but after the fall little can be done. All of those currently found within the home had infiltrated walls months ago.
A "mini-vac" is the best control of the individual flies that are currently present.

If this is not successful an aerosol like CB-80 pryethrum contact aerosol can be used. Spray lightly and repeat spray as needed.

An alternate would be electronic fly traps such as:

COMMERCIAL FLY TRAP-FT 30

INSECTALITE 18 WATT PROFESSIONAL FLY TRAP  and the  INSECTALITE 30 WATT PROFESSIONAL FLY TRAP

Biology:

This fly belongs to a family of small to moderately large flies. People are often alarmed by midges since they resemble mosquitoes. However, they differ from mosquitoes in that the wings are not scaled and the mouthparts are short and not adapted for biting. Adult midges are slender, usually less than 5 mm long with long, slender legs and wings. Midges lay their eggs on water. The larvae are usually aquatic, are found in quiet water such as lakes, ponds, reservoirs and tanks, and are bottom feeders. Polluted water apparently favors their growth and development. In the summer, eggs will hatch in about 3 days and larvae will reach adulthood in about 4 weeks. During peak emergence, large numbers of midges fly into residential and industrial areas causing annoyance and damage. They are attracted to lights at night and thousands will rest on the outside of buildings and will enter homes through the slightest crack. They fly into people's eyes, ears and mouths and are sometimes inhaled. Everything is contaminated by midges.

Control:
Tney are rarely a problem in a balanced aquatic community.

Pollution of water, where algae grows, providing food for the larvae to feed on, results in high populations.
Fogging Materials may provide temporary relief, when proper water management is not available.

Midge invasions may also be reduced by avoiding the use of outdoor lighting to the greatest possible extent.

For those midges that are still able to find their way indoors, the residual insecticide an aerosol and fogging treatments as described in House Fly Control would apply.

Sand Flies, No-See-Ums, Punkies

Biology:

Biting Midges,""no-see-ums," "punkies," or "sand flies" - They are very small flies (about 1/25-1/10) inch long whose small but bladelike mouthparts make a painful wound out of proportion to its tiny size. Welts and lesions from the bite may last for days. The larvae of various species breed in a wide variety of damp or wet places high in organic matter. Most are attracted to lights. One vicious biter breeds along the Atlantic coast in salt marshes and wet soil. Another species, found in mountainous areas, feeds in the evening and night hours and is small enough to pass through ordinary screens. These are important pests along coastal and mountainous areas and can seriously interfere with outdoor activities.