Different Types of Flies in North America

House Fly

Musca domestica

Gray with 4 black stripes, 1/8-1/4" long, red compound eyes. Feeds on human food, garbage, pet waste. Carries 100+ pathogens including salmonella and E. coli. Lives 15-25 days.

Fruit Fly

Vinegar Fly

Less than 1/8", light brown with bright red eyes. Feeds on rotting fruits, vegetables, fermenting liquids. Female lays up to 500 eggs. Lifecycle completes in as little as a week.

Drain Fly

Moth Fly / Sewage Fly

Tan body, tent-like wings. Breeds in sewage beds, septic tanks, drains. Weak fliers found crawling on walls. Lays 30-100 eggs. May indicate clogged drains.

Bluebottle Fly

Blow Fly

Metallic blue color. Attracted to dead animals, pet feces. Carries typhoid, tuberculosis, E. coli. Large numbers indoors may indicate animal carcass in walls/attic.

Cluster Fly

Attic Fly

Dark grey-olive. Congregates in large numbers to hibernate in winter. Enters homes seeking shelter in attics and wall voids. Swarms toward windows in spring.

Phorid Fly

Humpbacked Fly

Distinctive hump on thorax. Mistaken for fruit flies. Found near moisture (bathrooms, kitchens). May indicate clogged drains or damaged sewer lines.

Fungus Gnats

Small, dark flies infesting potting mixes for houseplants. Thrive in high organic matter. Overwatering increases development. Mostly a nuisance. Control by letting soil dry between waterings.

Flesh Fly

Sarcophagidae

Larger than house flies. Light grey thorax with 3 dark stripes, checkerboard abdomen. Lays eggs in decaying meat. Rarely seen in houses or restaurants.

Mosquito

Uses long, thin proboscis to suck blood. Transmits malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, West Nile virus. Breeds in standing water. Most active at dawn and dusk.

Horse Fly

Gray/black, 10-30mm long with large green/purple eyes. Painful bites from tearing mouthparts. Females feed on blood aggressively. Found near water. Active on hot, sunny days.

Deer Fly

Blood-sucking insects found near aquatic habitats. Bites often result in visible bleeding wounds. Can cause allergic reactions. West coast species can transmit deer fly fever.

Black Fly

Buffalo Gnat / Turkey Gnat

1-5mm, black body. Only females bite. Bites cause swelling, rashes, headache, nausea, fever. Breeds exclusively in running water.

Biting Midges

No-See-Ums

Tiny (less than 1/8"), significant pest in coastal areas. Bites cause welts and intense itching. Can transmit bluetongue virus to livestock.

Sand Fly

3/8-1/2" long, pale grey. Found on beaches, riverbanks, wetlands. Active at night. Bites can transmit sand fly fever. Avoid outdoors during evening hours.

Stable Fly

Resembles house fly but has pointed beak for piercing skin. Primarily a livestock pest. Carries pathogens causing bovine anaplasmosis, equine infectious anemia.

Sanitation

• Regularly remove trash
• Keep counters clean
• Dispose of food properly
• Stay on top of pet waste removal

Seal Access Points

• Tight-fitting screens on doors/windows
• Seal cracks around windows and soffits
• Cover ventilation openings
• Complete sealing by end of August

Eliminate Breeding Sites

• Refrigerate fruit for a week
• Rinse beverage containers
• Use trash cans with lids
• Clean drains with bristled brush

Fruit Fly Traps

Jar with paper cone over top. Use cider vinegar, red wine, or mashed banana/beer mixture as bait. Commercial traps also available.

House Fly Traps

Attracted to sugar/yeast-based baits. Sticky fly paper strips effective. Blow flies prefer protein-based baits.

Light Traps

Wavelengths attractive to flies capture them on sticky surface or electrocute them. Do not use near food prep areas due to contamination risk.