Flies

Fruit Flies

Fruit flies get their common name from their small size and fondness of some fruits. Small fruit flies are nuisance pests, but may transmit diseases. Fruit flies only live for 8-10 days. In that time, females lay around 500 eggs, using rotting fruit or vegetables as their nest.

• Size: 1/8"
• Shape: Small, oval
• Color: Tan
• Legs: 6
• Wings: Yes
• Antenna: Yes
• Common Name: Fruit fly
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Diptera
• Family: Drosophilidae
• Species: Drosophila melanogaster

Diet:

Fruit flies feed on decaying fruits and vegetables.

Habitat:

Fruit flies are commonly found in homes, restaurants and other facilities where food is processed. They are especially attracted to garbage that has just been sitting around.

Impact:

Fruit flies are found in unsanitary conditions like garbage dumps and trashcans. When they are around, humans can become very sick.

Prevention:

• Keep your home clean.
• Remove kitchen trash every day and keep kitchen counters clean.
• Immediately remove rotting food from your home.

House Flies

These pests get their name from being the most common fly found around homes. Adult House flies can grow to one-quarter of an inch long and usually live between 15 and 25 days. House flies taste with their feet, which are 10 million times more sensitive to sugar than the human tongue!

• Size: 1/4"
• Shape: Small, oval
• Color: Dark grey
• Legs: 6
• Wings: Yes
• Antenna: Yes
• Common Name: House fly
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Diptera
• Family: Muscidae
• Species: Muscadomestica

Diet:

Flies do not have teeth or a stinger. Their mouths absorb food like a sponge. They can only eat liquids but they can turn many solid foods into a liquid through spitting or vomiting on it. Their tongues are shaped like straws so they can suck up their food. They eat any wet or decaying matter, but they are particularly attracted to pet waste because the odor is strong and it is easy for them to find.

Habitat:

House flies tend to stay within 1-2 miles of where they were born but will travel up to 20 miles to find food. They breed in garbage cans, compost heaps and pet areas.

Impact:

These insects have been known to carry over 100 different kinds of disease causing germs.

Prevention:

• Keep you homes clean.
• Remove trash regularly and seal your garbage cans.
• Clean up pet waste immediately.
• Use fine mesh screens on doors and windows to prevent flies from getting into your home.

Phoroid Flies

Fruit flies get their common name from their small size and fondness of some fruits. Small fruit flies are nuisance pests, but may transmit diseases. Fruit flies only live for 8-10 days. In that time, females lay around 500 eggs, using rotting fruit or vegetables as their nest.

• Size: 1/8"
• Shape: Small, oval
• Color: Tan
• Legs: 6
• Wings: Yes
• Antenna: Yes
• Common Name: Fruit fly
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Diptera
• Family: Drosophilidae
• Species: Drosophila melanogaster

Diet:

Fruit flies feed on decaying fruits and vegetables.

Habitat:

Fruit flies are commonly found in homes, restaurants and other facilities where food is processed. They are especially attracted to garbage that has just been sitting around.

Impact:

Fruit flies are found in unsanitary conditions like garbage dumps and trashcans. When they are around, humans can become very sick.

Prevention:

• Keep your home clean.
• Remove kitchen trash every day and keep kitchen counters clean.
• Immediately remove rotting food from your home.