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The Table Summary of Flies will help you identify
flies that are nuissance pests in residential and commercial buildings.
In fly control management, it is important to locate the breeding
source , and understand habits and biology.
Overview of Flies
Flies have affected humans and their welfare for thousands of
years. In the Bible, the Hebrew term for the devil, Beelzebub, is translated
as "Lord of the Flies." They are not only a nuissance, they transmit diseases
and can cause an allergic reaction in many people.
One of the things that separate Flies ( Diptera) from other flying insects
are their wings. Flies are the only insects that have only two. All other
insects have four wings. Flies and mosquitoes belong to the order Diptera(means
two wings). They have one pair of functional wings, with the hind pair(knobbed)
serving as balancing organ.
The adult fly does not have a mandible, but mouthparts for sucking, piercing
and sucking. Some larvae are legless and dirty white in color, many are
called "maggots". There are over 100,000 species of flies in the world.
The common house fly is categorized as a filth fly because they breed
in garbage, rotten food and manure. All flies have four life stages: egg,
larvae, pupae and adult. From egg to adult may only take 10 days. Many
generations of flies will be produced in a short span of time. Control
is therefore ongoing and elimination of breeding sources is a critical
measure of fly management. The larvae not only feed but have a different
habitat than the adult fly.
Table Summary of Flies
| Table Summary
of Flies |
Management Methods |
| Insect |
Identifying Characteristics |
Preferred Host Material |
Adult Ocurrence |
Life Cycle |
Chemical & Traps |
Other |
| House Fly |
1/4 inch long: dul gray with 4 stripes
on thorax; 4th wing vein sharpley angled |
Animal waste, gargage, and other decaying
organic matter |
Most abundant later summer and early
fall |
7-45 days |
Residual and contact sprays;baits,
traps; lavacides |
Sanitation, exclusion, habitat destruction |
| Flesh Flies |
2 to 3 times larger thatn house fly:
gray and black checkboard patternon abdomen |
Garbage, manure, and animal carcasses |
Common in warm months |
2-4 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays, traps
|
Sanitation and habitat destruction |
| Blow Flies |
About twice as large as house fly;
metallic blue or green color |
Animal carcasses, garbage, and manure |
Spring and Summer |
2-4 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays,traps |
Sanitation and habitat destruction |
| Fruit Flies |
1/8th inch long; yellowish brown;hover
around ripe or decaying fruits and vegetables |
Decaying fruits fruits and vegetables;garbage |
Most abundant in late summer and early
fall |
1 to 2 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays, traps |
Sanitation and habitat destruction |
| Fungus
Gnats |
Fungus gnats are tiny, most are less
than 1/16 of an inch, although some may be larger. |
The larvae feed on fungus growing
in the soil and moist organic matter. |
Most abundant in warm and moist conditions
|
2-3 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays, traps |
Remove contaminated soil, breeding
sites |
| Cheese
Skipper |
Black, shiny, with bronze tints |
Moist sources: overripe and moldy
cheese, ham. |
Most abundant in warm and moist conditions
|
2-3 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays |
Sanitation and habitat destruction |
| Phorid
Flies |
Superficially resemble fruit flies,
but are more humpbacked |
Decaying vegetation and animal matter |
Most abundant in warmer months |
1-2 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays,drain
cleaners |
Sanitation,habitat destruction, and
moisture control |
| Moth/Dran
Flies |
1/8 inch long; body and wings densely
covered with long hairs |
Decaying organic matter, especially
around drains and sewers |
More common in warm months |
2-3 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays,drain
cleaners |
Sanitation,habitat destruction, and
moisture control |
| Sparaerocierid
Flies |
1/8-inch; black |
Decaying organic matter, especially
moist animal manure |
More common in warm months |
2-3 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays,drain
cleaners |
Sanitation,habitat destruction, and
moisture control |
| Stable Flies |
1/4-inch;long, pointed proboscis |
decaying hay, straw, fermenting weeds,
grass and sea weeds |
More common in warm months,after a
rain |
3-4 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays,traps |
Sanitation,habitat destruction, and
moisture control |
| Cluster Fly |
Superficailly resemble house fly but
is slightly larger and more sluggish in its movements |
They are parasites of earthworms and
breed outdoors in lawns and fields |
Abundant in spring and fall |
4-6 weeks |
Residual and contact sprays |
Screening and caulking around eavesm,
windows, etc. |
Click Here for More Information : SMALL
FLIES
Many small flies(<1/4"th) are found in food prep areas and may carry
disease causing organisms.
The five spiecies listed below are the most common of the small fly.
FILTH FLIES
"Filth flies" such as the house fly can be nuisance pests, but may be
potentially harmful to humans and animals. The habits of filth flies favor
the spread of bacteria and other disease-causing organisms.
Filth flies often feed and lay eggs on garbage, manure and carrion before
contaminating human foods and food preparation surfaces by landing on
them.
House flies,
for example, can spread diseases such as food poisoning and dysentery.
House Fly, Blow
Fly and Bottle Fly, Soldier Fly, Flesh
Fly
NUISANCE FLIES AND BITING FLIES
Nuisance flies include Cluster
Flies, Face
Flies, Stable
Flies, Horse and Deer Flies, and Mosquitoes
Many commonly found flies found around the home are a nuisance and or bite.
As with many flies, these flies breed on decaying organin matter and animal wastes. They may transmit bacteria and viruses to humans.
Flies such as stable flies or horse flies (sometimes called "biting flies")
feed on mammalian blood and can give a painful bite.
Nuisance and biting flies include Cluster
Flies(don't bite), Face Flies, Sand Flies("no-see'ums"),Stable Flies,
Horse and Deer Flies, and Mosquitoes
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