There are thousands of species of flies in the world whose larvae aid in decomposing various organic materials. Others are parasitic to various plant, animal and insect species. We will be discussing some of the flies that are considered indoor pests.

Most fly species, like most insects, are on the lower end of the food chain. Therefore, when they invade our home or business, there are no substantial number of predators to control their numbers and their numbers can grow exponentially. The key to effective fly control is to eliminate breeding medium and to eliminate random intruders, before they can get a foothold.

Bottle Flies and Blow Flies – have a metallic sheen which can be green, blue, black or bronze. These species normally breed in fecal material, rotting meat or fish and garbage. They can also be identified by their loud buzzing sound as they fly close.

House Flies – are probably the most familiar fly. Eliminating manure in a barn environment, most of the House Flies people see will probably be breeding in pet droppings and rotting vegetable matter around our home or business. Those people or businesses with pets should make sure pet waste is disposed of promptly or this and other species will get out of hand quickly.

Phorid Flies – or "Drain Flies" are those little flies that some people think are Fruit Flies, but usually are not. Fruit Flies have easily noted red eyes and are not nearly as common, unless you work in a fruit market. Phorid Flies are much more common and can breed in any damp organic material. This covers a large range of sites, even something as common as damp plasterboard, overwatered plants and drains. Again, with how quickly they breed, the number of offspring and the absence of predators, their numbers can grow in a hurry. There are many other flies that look similar to the Phorid Fly and breed in similar locations. Viewing a sample under a microscope is the only way to specifically identify the species and pin point the probable breeding medium.

Cluster Flies—are primarily late fall through early spring pests. These flies enter the wall voids of buildings to hibernate or overwinter. While inside they do not eat or mate. But, as their name implies, there sometimes can be quite an infestation. They are much larger than the House Flies. They normally enter the interior of the home or building on sunny days, as the combination of the sun and the artificial heat of the building seems like Spring. Rooms on the southern side of the building are usually the most affected.