Flies
Overview
Flies are considered to be some of the most highly evolved insects known to man. They rely heavily on sight for survival and are
generally extremely sensitive to movement.
Most fly species are more of a nuisance than a pest, however flies such as mosquitoes, which feed on blood, can also cause
painful skin reactions when they bite and can also transmit infectious diseases.
Fly Species
There are an estimated 240,000 species of fly, with the common house fly regarded as being one of the most widely distributed
animals on the planet. Of course, not all species are found within the UK, however some of the most common types of fly you
may encounter are listed below.
- Bluebottles
- Cluster Flies
- Filter Flies
- Fruit Flies
- House Flies
- Mosquitoes
Click on the links to the left to find out more on individual UK species.
</h1><p><h3>Key Features</h3><p>Blow flies <i>(Calliphora vomitoria)</i>, or "Bluebottles" as they are more commonly called are large flies with very large red eyes, and bristly metallic-blue bodies. Blue bottles have an acute sense of smell, enabling them to locate recently dead carrion on which to lay their eggs. The larvae of bluebottles (maggots)are very popular with fishermen, often dyed in different colours, as bait. Maggots have often been used in medicine, to clean up infected wounds, only eating the dead tissue, whilst leaving the living flesh to heal!<p><h3>Biology</h3><p>Female blowflies lay many eggs on an animal carcass, which hatch quickly and the larvae burrow into the corpse, eating furiously. When fully grown, the larvae are 18mm in length, leaving the food source in order to pupate.<p>Blowfly pupae (also sometimes used as fisherman’s bait) hatch in 1 - 2 weeks, with the adult fly fully developed and ready to feed on decaying organic matter such as faeces, rotting organic material, and meat.<p>Adult Blowflies feed by vomiting up enzymes onto a food substrate, allowing digestion to take place, before sucking the mixture up via their proboscis.<p><h3>Distribution</h3><p>Found worldwide, often in association with human activity. Perform a valuable natural function in rapidly consuming rotting animal carcasses.<p><h3>Significance</h3><p>Responsible for the transmission of serious disease, spoilage of food, nuisance. May be a severe problem in abattoirs, meat processing plants, and other food manufacturers. Sometimes infest buildings where dead birds or rodents occur.<p><h3>Control</h3><p>Infestations can be controlled through insecticidal sprays, insecticidal smoke generators and other treatments. Breeding reduction should be achieved by covering larval food materials, and good hygiene. Adults kept out of sensitive areas by proofing, screening windows, light traps.','success')){kind=link}
</i> are dark greenish-grey flies which are about 6 - 10mm long with yellowish hairs on the thorax and with overlapping wings when at rest. These large flies are slow, sluggish flyers, and can occur in some numbers in the autumn.<p><h3>Biology:</h3><p>Female clusterflies lay their eggs singly in cracks in the soil at the bases of grass stems. Larvae hatch out in three days and begin burrowing down into the soil, to find their food source: earthworms. After chewing into the earthworm, the larvae feed for about three weeks before pupating. The adult Cluster Fly emerges from its pupa after 12 to 14 days. The adult flies (of which there 3 to 4 generations per year) feed on flowers.<p><h3>Distribution</h3><p>In autumn, clusterflies congregate in large numbers in upper rooms or in the lofts of houses to hibernate. Because of their life-cycle, they tend to occur in rural areas.<p><h3>Significance</h3><p>A mass of cluster flies has a characteristic smell. Where they occur, they can occur in their thousands, particularly in loft spaces. When present in large numbers, they can cause a considerable nuisance.<p><h3>Control</h3><p>Once cluster flies have found their way into buildings to hibernate they can be difficult to control, due to their fondness for inaccessible space. It is important to seal as many openings as possible to stop flies from entering the building. Infestations can be controlled through insecticidal sprays, insecticidal smoke generators and specialist crack and crevice treatments.','success')){kind=link}
</i> are very small flies that can occur in huge numbers under the right conditions. They are nearly always found in close proximity to sewage treatment works, but are often found where mains sewers are open to the element, eg; broken man-holes.<p>In flight, they are easy to confuse with fruit flies, but a close examination of them at rest, reveals key differences between the species.<p><h3>Biology</h3><p>The female flies lay eggs in bio-slime (fungi, bacteria, algae & sludge) in the percolating filter beds of sewage farms. Relatively slow breeding, numbers can escalate rapidly with serious outbreaks in summer months.<p>The larvae hatch after a few days, and are slow moving, legless grubs, with two distinctive respiratory horns at the anterior end. The larvae grow through 3 moultrs over 10 - 50 days, before they pupate.<p><h3>Distribution</h3><p>Countrywide - usually associated with areas of poor hygiene, or sewage works.<p><h3>Significance</h3><p>Potential disease transmission via the transfer of faecal bacteria, can cause severe nuisance when present in large numbers.<p><h3>Control</h3><p>Knock down space sprays when serious outbreaks cause nuisance. A bacterial product is cleared for fly control on bacterial filters in waste water treatment works. Specially adapted electronic fly killers have also been used. Residual sprays on fly alighting surfaces can also prove effective.','success')){kind=link}
</i> are also known as bar flies, vinegar flies and beer flies. As is suggested by their many names, they are common pests of bars, restaurants, and public houses. In addition, they are a serious pest to fruit and vegetable stores, wherever damaged fermenting stock provides breeding sites for these flies. Fruit flies are small (2mm) with characteristic red eyes, and infestations are most common in the warmer months, although they can occur year round in centrally heated buildings.<p><h3>Biology</h3><p>Female fruit flies lay their eggs in large numbers on decaying organic matter such as rotting fruit and vegetables, sour milk, beer, vinegar. Larvae hatch out within days and are mature in a few days. Pupation occurs and adult flies hatch within another couple of days.<p>This rapid life cycle explains how heavy infestations can spring up, apparently overnight.<p><h3>Distribution</h3><p>Found worldwide, normally in association with human activity.<p><h3>Significance</h3><p>Transmission of serious disease, spoilage of food, nuisance. May be a severe problem in hotels, bars, public houses and fruit storage premises.<p><h3>Control</h3><p>Infestations can be controlled through insecticidal sprays, insecticidal smoke generators and other treatments. Breeding reduction should be achieved by removing larval food materials, and good hygiene. Adults kept out of sensitive areas by proofing, screening windows, light traps.','success')){kind=link}
</i> have been called ’the most dangerous insect in the world’ because of their ability to spread disease over large areas. They breed in rotting vegetation or animal faeces, then feed on your plate! They have large compound eyes, a greyish abdomen with pale stripes, and an acute sense of smell.<p><h3>Biology</h3><p>Female houseflies lay their eggs in large numbers on decaying organic matter such as rotting vegetation or decaying manure. Larvae hatch out within days and begin eating. They moult three times, before pupating, normally within two weeks of hatching. Pupae are reddish brown ovoids, and adults emerge after a week or two. The adult flies are 6mm long with a 10mm wingspan.<p>Adult houseflies feed by vomiting up enzymes onto a food substrate, allowing digestion to take place, before sucking the mixture up via their proboscis.<p><h3>Distribution</h3><p>Found worldwide, normally in association with human activity.<p><h3>Significance</h3><p>Transmission of serious disease, spoilage of food, nuisance. May be severe problem in animal units and sometimes refuse tips.<p><h3>Control</h3><p>Infestations can be controlled through insecticidal sprays, insecticidal smoke generators and other treatments. Breeding reduction should be achieved by covering larval food materials, and good hygiene. Adults kept out of sensitive areas by proofing, screening windows, light traps.','success')){kind=link}
</i> are the flies that you see flying in an irregular pattern around light fittings in the warmer months. They are not very strongly attracted to ultra-violet light, though, so fly killing units are not very effective against them.<p>Lesser houseflies are approximately 5mm in length, greyish in colour, with three faint black stripes on the thorax.<p>These flies are often found infesting poultry houses, pig farms - and can cause problems to the neighbours of such establishments.<p><h3>Biology</h3><p>Female lesser houseflies lay their eggs in large numbers on semi-liquid decaying organic matter such as rotting vegetation or runny manure. Larvae hatch out within 24 hours and begin eating. They grow substantially, before pupating, normally after between 3 and 60 days. Adults emerge after a 3 days to a month.<p>Adult lesser houseflies feed by vomiting up enzymes onto a food substrate, allowing digestion to take place, before sucking the mixture up via their proboscis.<p><h3>Distribution</h3><p>Found worldwide, normally in association with human activity.<p><h3>Significance</h3><p>Transmission of serious disease, spoilage of food, nuisance. May be severe problem in animal units and sometimes refuse tips.<p><h3>Control</h3><p>Infestations can be controlled through insecticidal sprays, insecticidal smoke generators and other treatments. Breeding reduction should be achieved by covering larval food materials, and good hygiene. Adults kept out of sensitive areas by proofing, screening windows, phermone traps.','success')){kind=link}