Say goodbye to those pesky flies
Phorid flies are tiny pests that you may find in your home. Seeing one or two might not be a big deal, but a full-blown infestation can become a nuisance and even harm your health. If you’re wondering why there are so many phorid flies in your home and how to get rid of them, look no further. Here are six steps to eliminate an infestation and protect your home.
Phorid flies are drawn to moist environments where decaying organic matter exists. In your home, phorid flies can breed in your plumbing, drains, trash receptacles, garbage disposal, crawl spaces, walls, potted plants, rotten food, and underneath your appliances. In some cases, the presence of phorid flies may indicate that an animal has died somewhere in the foundations of your home.
Phorid flies are often mistaken for fruit flies because of their seemingly similar appearance. Both fly species are about ⅛ inches long and brown in color. However, the phorid fly is unique in its humped back shape.
While unnoticeable to the naked eye, you can distinguish a phorid fly by its behavior. Known as scuttle flies, these erratic creatures will run across surfaces instead of flying. Additionally, unlike fruit flies, phorid flies do not have red eyes and have a distinct wing pattern, with heavy veins near the front and parallel veins running across the wing.
Consider the following methods to remove phorid flies, including hiring a professional pest control company for help.
The first step to getting rid of phorid flies is to find out where they’re coming from. Carefully inspect every area of your home where standing water and organic matter may be found. Common breeding sites for phorid flies include kitchens, food storage areas, underneath or in between appliances, bathrooms, garbage disposals, drains, plumbing, trash receptacles, indoor plants, and cleaning closets.
In severe cases, phorid flies may be coming from a decaying animal carcass in your walls, a crawl space, or the attic. When searching your home, look out for phorid fly larvae and pupae. Larvae are cream colored and cylindrical in shape. Pupae are oval-shaped and around 4mm in length.
Maintaining the cleanliness of your entire home is the best way to get rid of phorid flies and prevent another infestation. Regularly clean areas of your home where food and liquid quickly accumulate, including kitchen sinks, floors, countertops, and appliances.
Don’t forget about moist, hard-to-reach areas that can easily hide food crumbs and spilled liquids. Additionally, throw away food waste, rotten food, and keep trash bins tidy. Proper sanitation helps to eliminate breeding sites and stop severe infestations from developing.
Drains are a hub for moist, decaying matter, which make them a perfect spot for phorid flies to lay their eggs. To combat this issue, it’s important to regularly clean your drains of any debris. You should only need a scrub brush and a quality drain cleaner. Some prefer to clean a drain without chemicals by using household ingredients like baking soda and white vinegar.
Leaky pipes and other plumbing issues can result in excessive moisture, creating a prominent breeding ground for phorid flies. It’s absolutely vital to address any plumbing issues if you want to get rid of these pests once and for all. For serious issues, it’s always best to hire a plumbing pro.
Placing sticky traps in heavily affected areas of your home can help to capture adult phorid flies. Traps can also alert you to locations in your home in which breeding activity is the heaviest. You can also try your hand at making DIY traps with ingredients already in your home, such as apple cider vinegar and dish soap.
While liquid pesticides can kill adult phorid flies, keep in mind that the use of pesticides alone will not get rid of an infestation. The best way to eliminate a phorid fly infestation is to identify and remove any food sources and resolve moisture issues.
If you’re unable to get rid of phorid flies with DIY methods, you can never go wrong hiring a pest control professional. Pest control experts are highly skilled at identifying breeding sites and devising an effective treatment plan.
Once phorid flies find their way into your home, it can be extremely difficult to get rid of them. By taking preventative measures, you can lower the chance of a costly, bothersome infestation.
Keep your home clean: Phorid flies are attracted to areas with decaying organic matter, so regularly clean spaces in your home with food and liquids, including your garbage cans, dishwasher, refrigerator, sinks, bathtubs, drains, and other appliances.
Check your produce: Inspect your produce carefully before bringing it into your home and then wash it very well before storing it.
Dispose of rotting food: Check your pantry regularly and dispose of any rotting food.
Seal potential entryways: You can also seal any small holes and cracks in your doors, windows, drains, and pipes to stop phorid flies from entering that way.
If you’ve had little to no success getting rid of phorid flies on your own, it’s time to call in a local bug control company before the infestation gets out of hand. A pest control pro can assess your unique situation and quickly locate the infestation’s source. Depending on the location of the infestation, your pro may need to remove the floor or pipes to effectively treat the infestation.
Pest control costs anywhere from $50 to $500, depending on the type of pest, severity of infestation, and the type of treatment used. While some DIY measures may be somewhat effective at eliminating phorid flies, hiring a pro if your budget allows can bring you peace of mind.
No, phorid flies do not bite humans or animals. However, they can still be harmful to humans. Since phorid flies feed on decaying organic matter and are found in unsanitary conditions, they can transmit disease organisms onto foods and food preparation surfaces. If you suspect that your home has a phorid fly infestation, protect your health by taking immediate action to eliminate it.
You’ll find that phorid fly larvae breed in moist, decaying, organic matter. When trying to locate a breeding site, thoroughly inspect the following places in your home: drain pipes, trash cans, garbage disposal, pet waste, rotting produce, plants, compost bins, and even under appliances like the stove and refrigerator where moist food may have dropped. It’s also possible for a breeding site to form inside of a wall, crawl space, or under your home’s foundation.
Even with professional pest control and taking your own drastic measures to eliminate a phorid fly infestation, it can be difficult to get rid of these pests for good. If you find that phorid flies keep appearing in your home, it’s very likely that you have a persistent source of moisture such as a drain leak or a cracked sewer. Another culprit could be a decaying animal carcass in your home’s foundations.
