What are small flies?
Small flies are all generally less than ¼ of an inch in length, and can be found swarming around food and drain areas. Small flies have short life cycles (egg to adult) that in the right conditions can be finished in about 8-10 days. Small flies are generally considered nuisance pests and don’t carry as many diseases as larger filth flies do.
What do small flies look like?
There are many species of small flies that can infest homes and businesses, four of the most common species include the:
Fruit Fly
Fruit flies are often found in kitchen areas feeding and feed on overripe or decaying fruits and vegetables. Adults grow only to be about 1/8th of an inch in length. Fruit flies have reddish eyes, a tan thorax, and a grayish abdomen.
Phorid Fly
Phorid flies are very small and grow to be about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in length. They have a distinctive “humpbacked” appearance when looking from the side and can be black, brown, or yellow in color. They have two dark veins in the front of the wing, the rest of the veins in the wing are lighter in color.
Moth Fly
Moth flies have an overall fuzzy appearance- due to their hairy wings and long fuzzy antennae. Moth flies are delicate, have a broadly oval shape, are brown to black in color, and can grow to be 1/8th to 3/16th of an inch in length. Moth flies are very weak fliers and can often be found resting on walls and other surfaces.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats adults grow to be about 1/8th of an inch in length and have a long slender body, long legs, and long antennae. They have smoky colored wings and have grayish-black bodies. These tiny flies can become very problematic in greenhouses.
Are small flies dangerous?
Small flies are generally not considered to be dangerous and do not usually carry diseases that can make people ill. They can invade homes, and businesses, especially food processing facilities, in very large numbers and can be very difficult to control and eliminate.
Phorid flies are an exception. This type of fly frequents unsanitary places and can carry dangerous bacteria on their bodies that contaminate food and make people ill. They are common problems in morgues, mortuaries, and in hospitals.
Why do I have a small fly problem?
Small flies are attracted to moist decaying organic materials that they use to lay their eggs on, and that their larvae feed on once they hatch. Small flies are commonly found around decaying vegetables and fruits, drains, garbage areas, and near fermenting liquids like beer or wine.
Small flies can enter into your home through open windows, screens, and gaps found around windows and doors. They also can be introduced into your home accidentally through products like fruits and vegetables that are purchased from grocery stores or farm stands.
Can I do it myself?
No, DIY pest control for small flies is not recommended; controlling these pest can be a difficult and frustrating task. Pesticides that can be purchased at hardware and other big box stores are often ineffective and can be dangerous to people and pets if they are not mixed, used, or placed properly. Also, small flies are often associated with food and DIY pesticides should never be used in kitchen and food prep areas.
How soon can you get here?
Schendel understands just how stressful pest problems can be for home and business owners. We are committed to helping our customers control and eliminate pest problems as quickly as possible, and in most instances Schendel’s experts are able to respond to service requests the same day or very next day.
Is the treatment safe?
Yes, our treatment methods are safe for use around people, pets, and plants. Our technicians use the least amount of material possible to solve your pest problem whether that is using natural products, baits, or conventional products.
Schendel follows very strict guidelines, and all of our conventional products are EPA registered, further ensuring the safety of their use.
How much does it cost?
All of our pest services are priced standardly. Pricing may be dependent on the size of your home and numbers of treatments that are required to solve your specific pest problem. We are able to provide our customers with FREE quotes; and our technicians are dedicated to making sure that you are aware of any changes to the price of your service before treatment begins.
We take pride in communicating openly and honestly with our customers ensuring that there are no surprises for you during the billing process.
How can I prevent small flies in the future?
Preventing small fly infestations can be difficult; having a year-round pest control plan in place will help to control small flies and other common household pests. Other things that you can do around your home to help prevent problems with small flies include:
- Regularly removing garbage from the inside of your home.
- Storing outside garbage cans away from the exterior of your home, making sure they have tight fitting lids.
- Caulking gaps found around exterior windows and doors; installing door sweeps.
- Replacing damaged screens; not leaving windows or doors open for long periods of time.
- Maintaining drains, regularly cleaning drain areas.
- Inspecting fruits and vegetables for signs of small fly activity before purchasing.
- Storing food in the refrigerator or in sealed containers in your pantry.
