Types Of Flies NY Residents Deal With

Common Flies In New York

Few pests can drive humans crazy as flies can. When we're outside, they are biting our skin and leaving itchy red welts. When we're inside, they are spreading illness and filling the air with swarms of tiny dots. They crawl on our food. They crawl on our television and computer screens. And, they even crawl directly on us. Here are some of the common flies that plague New York residents.

Inside Flies Of New York State

House Fly (Musca domestica)

Also referred to as the common house fly, these insects live roughly 28 days, depending on environmental conditions. These are gray flies that are usually less than 7 mm in length. Their most notable characteristic is the presence of three black stripes on the gray coloring of their thorax. House flies are a problem for any manufactured structure where food is produced and garbage is disposed of. They are linked to over 65 diseases that impact humans, including salmonella, dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, and more. In restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses that need these insects managed, Insect Light Traps and sticky traps are most often used alongside a sanitation plan.

Fruit Fly (Drosophilidae Spp.)

At about ⅛ of an inch long, a single fruit fly isn't much to look at. But these flies breed extremely fast. It doesn't take long for a single fruit fly to turn into a cloud of irritating little pests. Their bright red eyes can distinguish fruit flies. When these flies take root in a structure, they can be tough to control. It is vital to put fruit inside the fridge, put dishes in a sink full of soapy water, keep trash fully sealed, clean surfaces, and address breeding sites.

Phorid Fly (Brachycera Spp.)

While these flies look like fruit flies, they are not managed the same way. Phorid flies are a drain fly that creates a breeding site inside drains and other places with moist, rotting, organic material.

Fungus Fly (Sciaridae Spp.)

These tiny black flies are usually a soil-infesting plant pest, but they can also present an issue in a home that has sweet organic material available. If you find these flies in your home, you can suck them up with a vacuum to reduce their numbers or find them hanging out on your walls and squishing them. But, to stop an infestation, all food sources will need to be secured.

Outside Flies Of New York State

Mosquitoes

This insect species needs no description. We are all too familiar with what mosquitoes look like and how they can spread dangerous and life-altering diseases. What you may not know is that mosquito populations can be reduced by reducing areas of stagnant water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water, and it doesn't take much water for them to do it. All it takes is a clogged or obstructed gutter or a toy left in the yard during a rainstorm.

Horse Fly (Tabanidae Spp.)

These are large black or gray flies with bright green eyes. Female horse flies feed on blood and inflict a painful bite. Males do not have the mouthparts needed for blood-feeding, so they live on a diet of nectar and pollen. Horse flies are common pests in wooded areas.

Deer Fly (Chrysops Spp.)

Deer flies are in the genus of horse-flies (Tabanidae) and are similar in all the ways that count. They are most often found in wetland areas, forests, and bogs, but they can be pests around homes with moist soil.

Stable Fly (Muscidae Spp.)

These flies look similar to the housefly but are smaller and lighter in color. As their name indicates, stable flies are a common pest around stables, barns, and corrals.

Gnats or Black Flies

If you live near a river, stream, bog, swamp, or wetland, you are likely to have these flies visiting your home. They are also abundant in forests that are prone to having moist soil and are a common pest for those who camp or spend time at a log cabin. While not directly linked to the spread of illness, these flies plague humans and animals by lacerating the skin and sucking blood.

Contact Parkway Pest Services

If you're dealing with flies on your New York property, Parkway Pest Services can help you develop a pest management plan to reduce fly populations, breeding sites and control adult flies inside and around your property. Reach out to us for more information or to schedule an inspection for your home or business.