What do phorid flies look like?
- Phorid flies are known as “humpbacked” flies because of their appearance with a larger thorax and a very small head.
- They are tan, brownish or black and small in size at 1/64-1/4 inch in length.
What are the habits of phorid flies?
- Typically, breeding sites include end-stage organic matter, foodstuffs, broken-down food residues in trash cans, deposits of decaying organic matter in cracks and crevices, and drain pipes.
- Development can also occur in a broad range of other sites, including grease traps, over-watered potted plants, unused/broken garbage disposals, compost collection areas, around dirty mops, grease traps, and animal cages.
- Females deposit eggs in batches of up to 20 and a complete life cycle can occur in as little as 14-37 days.
What kind of damage is caused by phorid flies?
- Because of the fact that phorid flies breed in decomposing organic matter and other unsanitary environments, phorids will likely spread bacteria to other surfaces.
- The potential for rapid growth in undetected, hidden breeding sites may lead to large nuisance populations in a short period of time.
What should I look for in searching for phorid fly sources?
- Any end-stage organic material that stays consistently moist.
- Cracks and crevices between kitchen tiles, wet floor mops, and organic deposits in drain pipes are all possible breeding sites.
How to Control and Kill Phorid Flies:
- The “source” or breeding sites must be identified and subsequently eliminated in order to successfully control phorid fly populations.
- Scrub and remove all organic matter debris—even small deposits in cracks and crevices.
- Unusual breeding sites, such as dirty mops should also be cleaned and hung to dry to disrupt the phorid fly life cycle.
- Broken sewer lines below grade (if implicated) may also need to be fixed to achieve control
At Innotech Pest Management, we know that dealing with phorid flies is a messy job. If you need assistance identifying, analyzing and treating these infestations, contact our team to schedule an evaluation and estimate to evaluate and resolve your problem.
