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Spaerocerid Fly Identification

Size: 1/8-inch
Color: Black
On these flies, the first segment of the tarsi is enlarged compared to the other segments. The tarsi are the last five segments of the legs.

 

 

 

Spaerocerid Biology and Habits

The Spaerocerid flies are also called "dung flies"because they may breed in animal manure. Sphaerocerid flies belong to a large family of flies known as Sphaeroceridae which contains 241 species in North America.

These fliea are very common in poultry houses breeding in chicken feces.

There are a few species that feed in any decaying organic matter, meaning that they can be found in the same areas, such as Phorid flies and Fruit flies. The biology and habits are much the same as these other small flies.

 

 

Inspecting Spaerocerid Infestations

• Look for decaying or fermenting organic matter. Check fruits and vegetables stored outside of refrigeration.
  Trash containers or dumpsters which are not cleaned regularly might be one such source. Inspect underneath and behind large appliances.
• Decaying organic matter may be trapped in cracks of kitchen equipment (where it meets the floor). Because many food handling establishments and food processing facilities use water hoses to wash down the floor on a consistent basis, floor debris may be caught in the small cracks and start to ferment.
  Use a knife to scrape at the bottom on the equipment, to inspect the debris and the presence of live larvae.
• Inspect floor drains. It may be breeding site, although this fly is usually not found there.
  The Drain fly, Phorid fly , and Fruit Fly may also be breeding there. These small flies : Sphaerocerid, Drain, Phorid, and Fruit Flies are often found breeding in the super thin layer or film of debris that naturally accumulates in pipes, traps and drains.
• Floor and sink drains can then be treated with bio drain gels such as Invade Bio Drain Treatment: Invade Bio Drain Treatment Gel.

 

 

 

 

Spaerocerid Fly Control

• Finding and removing all breeding sources of Spaaerocerid Flies is the first and best method of elimination.
• Floor drains need to regularly cleaned, not only for Spaerocerid Flies but the other small flies. Bleach and hot water are not adequate to remove breeding sources. Floor and sink drains can be treated with bio drain gels such as Invade Bio Drain Treatment: Invade Bio Drain Treatment Gel , as a component of Integrated Pest Management.
• If these flies are found breeding in crawlspaces or inside walls, the breeding source needs to be removed and dried completely.
• After the breeding sources have been removed, you may use a space spray (ULV) non-residual, pyrethrin treatments to kill the remaining adult flies.
• We have pyrethrin and other fogging material and foggers, as well as, hand held pyrethrin aerosols, such as CB 80, PT 565, V One or PI Contact Aerosols.