1. Household Flies: Biology, Behavior, and Control
Dr. Richard M. Houseman
Department of Entomology
University of Missouri

2. Flies Order Diptera Complete Metamorphosis Motivation Have two wings
110,000 species worldwide
Aquatic and terrestrial
Medically important
Complete Metamorphosis
Egg, maggot, pupa, adult
Motivation
Food, light, sex, temperature

3. Fly Development Life Cycle Egg Larva Pupa Adult Feeding Growing
-Mating

4. Fly IPM Inspection Identification Mechanical (exclusion, traps)
Cultural (sanitation)
Chemical (baits, aerosols)

5. Fly Identification Three groups Small flies Filth flies Nuisance flies
Less than ¼” in length
Various breeding sites
Filth flies
Infest indoors
Nuisance flies
Invade from outdoors

6. Small Flies

7. Fruit Fly Drosophila spp. Several species 1/8 inch long Tan in color
Red eyes

8. Fruit fly
Drosophila sp.

9. Fruit Fly Life Cycle 7-10 days Eggs laid on fruit
About 500 eggs per female
Hatch after hrs
Larvae feed on fermenting sugars
5-6 days
Pupate in drier areas near food

10. Fruit Fly Breeding sites Inspection Ripened fruits and vegetables
Moist organic matter in cracks, crevices
Mops, Drains
Garbage
Inspection
Often multiple breeding sites
Adults not always near breeding sites

11. Phorid Fly Megacelia scalaris 1/10 inch long Arched thorax Dark brown
No red eyes
Humpbacked fly
Phoridae

12. Humpbacked fly
Phoridae

13. Phorid Fly Life Cycle 14-37 days Eggs laid on surface of DOM
40 eggs over 12 hr period
Hatch after 24 hrs
Larvae feed on moist DOM
9-16 days
Pupate in dry areas close to food

14. Phorid Flies Various Breeding Sites Decomposing plants or animals
Organically enriched soil under slab
Dirty floor drains, disposals, drip pans
Trash containers
Crevices at base of kitchen equipment
Potted plants, terrariums
Feces
Cadavers

15. Phorid Flies Inspections Need to be very thorough
Often multiple breeding sites
Masking tape method for drains and slabs

16. Moth Fly Psychoda alternata 1/8 inch long Pointed, hairy wings
Long, drooping
antennae
Moth fly
Psychoda sp.

17. Moth Fly Life Cycle 8-24 days
Eggs laid on gelatinous lining or moist DOM
eggs per female
Hatch after 48 hrs
Larvae feed on algae, bacteria, sludge in gelatinous film
Utilize breathing tube
10-15 days
Pupate for short period

18. Moth fly
Psychoda sp.

19. Moth Fly Breeding sites Gelatinous organic matter
Sink/sewer drains, sump pumps
Shower pans
Porta potties
Mops, brooms
Crawlspaces
Sewers/sewage treatment nearby

20. Moth Fly Inspections Strongly attracted to light
Masking tape method for drains
Check spider webs in crawlspaces
Drill holes in wall behind shower pan (light)

21. Mosquito Culicidae Thin bodies Long mouthparts Scales on wing veins
Culex sp.

22. Mosquito Life Cycle Eggs laid singly or in rafts
Hundreds of eggs per female
Female generally needs blood to make eggs
Larvae live suspended from water surface
Breathe through air tube on rear end
Move about by wiggling
Feed on algae, bacteria, organic debris
Pupae breathe through horns on head

23. Mosquito larvae
Culicidae

24. Mosquito larvae
Culicidae

25. Mosquito Breeding Sites Inspections Ponds, lakes, ditches
Culverts, manholes
Bird baths, gutters
Pots, cans, buckets, other containers
Old tires
Inspections
Breeding sites for larvae
Vegetation around structure for adults

26. Filth Flies

27. House fly Musca domestica ¼ inch long Dull gray
4 dark stripes on thorax
Sponging
mouthparts

28. House fly
Musca domestica

29. House Fly Life Cycle 6-10 days Eggs laid on fresh feces or garbage
eggs per female
Larvae burrow into food material to feed
6-8 days
May migrate several hundred feet from feeding site
Pupate for short period

30. House fly
Musca domestica

31. House fly Breeding sites Inspections Wet garbage Manure Rotting grains
Focus outdoors primarily
Pet manure areas
Trash bins, decaying fruits/vegetables

32. Blow Fly
Calliphora
Phormia
¼ inch long
Metallic colors

33. Green bottle fly
Calliphora erythrocephala

34. Blow Fly Life Cycle 4-12 days Eggs laid on carcasses, feces, garbage
180 eggs per time (2400 total)
Hatch after 8 hrs
Larvae burrow into food material
Feed for 2-7 days
Crawl short distance from food
Burrow into soil to pupate
Pupate for 2-5 days

35. Green bottle fly
Calliphora erythrocephala

36. Green bottle fly
Calliphora erythrocephala

37. Blow Fly Breeding Sites Inspections Dead animals Feces Garbage
Focus outdoors primarily
Dead animals, trash, feces
Indoors usually result of dead rodent
180+ flies from a single dead mouse

38. Nuisance Flies

39. Cluster Fly Pollenia rudis 3/8 inch long
Golden/yellow hairs on the top of the thorax
Buckwheat honey odor

40. Cluster fly
Pollenia rudis

41. Cluster Fly Life Cycle 25-36 days (Four generations)
Eggs laid in cracks in soil surface
One egg at a time
Larvae locate earthworm
Burrow into worm
Feed for days
Exit earthworm to pupate
Pupate for days

42. Cluster Fly Breeding Sites Inspections Lawns and pastures
Locate exterior cracks/crevices
South/west surfaces best
Inspect attics/wall voids

43. Crane Fly Tipulidae Large flies Gangly looking Very long legs
Mosquito-like
Crane fly
Tipulidae

44. Crane Fly Breeding Sites Inspections
Damp habitats with abundant vegetation
Inspections
Usually considered occasional invaders
Open doors/windows likely source
Pose no threat indoors
No treatment recommended

45. Midge
Chironomidae
1/4 inch
Mosquitoe-like
No long
mouthparts

46. Midge Life Cycle Breeding sites Inspections
Larvae live in bottom of still water
Breeding sites
Pools, puddles, ponds
Inspections
Strongly attracted to lights
Look inside light fixtures, windowsills

47. Fly Control Sanitation Exclusion Baits Breeding site elimination
Reduce ability to gain entry
Baits
Food-based
Sex-based

48. Flies Feeding Food is the MOST important motivation
Odors very attractive
Detect over large distances
Locate mates at feeding sites
FEEDING and BREEDING sites

49. Flies Sanitation critical Regularly empty/wash trash cans
Use tightly sealed trash cans
Regularly clean drains
Regular rotation of fresh fruits/veggies

50. Flies Temperature Important attractant at short distances
Prefer low 80’s
Enter from outside during hot days
Attracted to warm walls when cold comes
Exclusion critical

51. Flies Light Sex Many flies are diurnal
UV Usually used to lure into a trap
Not all species attracted equally to UV light
Invaders very attracted
Infesters not attracted as much
Placement is critical
Sex
Males to female pheromones
Used to lure into traps

52. Contact Info:
Dr. Richard M. Houseman
Department of Entomology
1-87 Agriculture Bldg
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO