Numerous fly species frequently appear within central Texas homes where their presence is usually nothing more than a nuisance. Flies may invade homes inadvertently, and some species, such as cluster flies, face flies and fruit flies, invade homes during the fall and winter seasons in order to establish warm shelter where they can overwinter. Most fly species that are common pests of homes are capable of reproducing within structures. For example, house flies, vinegar flies, fruit flies, phorid flies, drain flies and blow flies deposit their eggs on decaying organic matter that can be found indoors. These sources of decaying organic matter include rotting foods, drain buildup, excrement and dead animals. These flies are aptly known as “filth flies” due to their habit of breeding on microbe-rich organic matter. Naturally, filth flies acquire a variety of disease-causing microorganisms from these sources of filth, and they spread these germs to indoor surfaces. This makes filth flies mechanical disease vectors.
Blowflies are slightly larger than house flies and they are easy to recognize due to their metallic coloring and the somewhat noisy buzzing sound they produce. The black blowfly and several species of bluebottle blowflies frequently invade Texas homes where they may reproduce if conditions are just right. More often than not, however, blowflies invade homes during the cooler months for the sole purpose of establishing warm shelter for the winter, but they are also known for being attracted to the odor of gas and rotting animal carcasses. In fact, blowflies are well known for laying eggs on decaying rodent carcasses that collect within wall voids, attic spaces and beneath floorboards.
Several species of “small fruit flies,” or “vinegar flies,” as they are also known, breed on overripe fruit, and they are commonly found within homes during the late summer and fall seasons due to their habit of breeding on crop fruits that are moved indoors. In addition to overripe fruits, adult vinegar flies deposit their eggs on fermenting materials like yeast, which is why they are commonly found congregating around beer cans and wine bottles in recycle bins. Keeping homes well sanitized and free of rotting organic matter will help to prevent filth fly infestations.
Have fly pests ever established a reproductive infestation within your home?
