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Fly Facts & Information

Protect your home or business from flies by learning techniques for identification and control.

Fly illustration
Order Diptera

IDENTIFY

Types of Flies

What do flies look like?

There are more than 16,000 species of flies in North America. But they all belong to the order Diptera, meaning two wings. Because they only have two wings, flies land often and therefore can deposit thousands of bacteria each time they land.

Pest Library

Learn More About Everyday Flies

What Do Blow Flies Look Like? | Identify Flies

Blow Fly

Family Calliphoridae

Facts About Bottle Flies | Fly Habits and Behaviors

Bottle Fly

Family Calliphoridae

How to Identify Cluster Flies | Get Rid of Cluster Flies

Cluster Fly

Pollenia

Crane Fly Facts | Mosquito Hawk vs. Crane Flies

Crane Fly

How to Identify Drain Flies | What Causes Drain Flies

Drain Fly

Psychodidae

How to Control Face Flies | Remove Face Flies

Face Fly

Musca autumnalis

Flesh Fly Facts | Identify Flesh Fly Infestations

Flesh Fly

Family Sarcophagidae

Fruit Fly Facts | Get Rid of Fruit Flies in the House

Fruit Fly

Family Drosophilidae

Garbage Flies

Garbage Fly

Musca domestica

Glassy Winged Sharpshooter | Leafhopper Bugs

Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter

Homalodisca vitripennis

House Fly Facts | Get Rid of House Flies

House Fly

Musca domestica

How to Identify & Get Rid of Love Bugs

Love Bugs

Phorid Humpbacked Flies

Phorid Humpbacked Fly

Family Phoridae

Russian Wheat Aphids

Russian Wheat Aphid

Diuraphis noxia

Scorpion Flies Exterminator - How To Identify & Get Rid Of Scorpion Flies

Scorpion Fly

Order Mecoptera

Sewer Flies

Sewer Fly

How to Get Rid of and Control Silverleaf Whitefly

Silverleaf Whitefly

Bemisia argentifolii

Sphaerocerid Flies

Sphaerocerid Fly

Family Sphaeroceridae

Soybean Cyst Nematodes

Soybean Cyst Nematode

Heterodera glycines

Pest Library

Learn More About Flies That Bite

Facts About Black Flies | Fly Habits and Behaviors

Black Fly

What do Deer Flies Look Like? | Remove Deer Flies

Deer Fly

Chrysops spp.

Types of Gnats | Get Rid of Gnats

Gnat

Order Diptera

How to Get Rid of Cattle Horn Flies | Cattle Pests

Horn Fly

Haematobia irritans

Horse Fly Facts & Information | Get Rid of Horse Flies

Horse Fly

Tabanus spp.

What Are No-see-ums | Get Rid Of No-see-ums

No-see-ums

Sand Flies

Sand Fly

Family Psychodidae; Subfamily Phlebotominae

Yellow Flies

Yellow Fly

Diachlorus ferrugatus

Treatment

How do I get rid of flies?

What Orkin Does

Fun fact: flies inhabit every part of the world except the polar ice caps. With that amount of prevalence, it’s important to know what to do if you ever experience a fly infestation outside or inside your home or business. From garbage flies to horse flies, understanding the fly's lifespan, what flies eat, and what they’re attracted to are all facts that are necessary to identify the species you’re dealing with. An Orkin Pro can design a custom fly treatment program to help you properly and effectively get rid of flies.

The best way to repel flies is through simple, strategic measures and an Orkin fly exterminator can provide the perfect solution to keep pesky flies in their place and out of your home. To learn more about how to control flies and help prevent future infestations, contact your nearest Orkin branch.

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Frequently Asked Qusetions

Fly on leaf

Fly Facts

Understanding Fly Problems

The more you know about flies, the better you can predict and control their behavior. Here are some quick facts to help you on your way.

Life Expectancy

Depending on the species, the life expectancy of a fly is eight days to two months or, in some cases, up to a year.

Reproduction Potential

One pair of flies can produce more than 1 million offspring through their offsprings' offspring in a matter of weeks.

Bites

Biting flies feed on blood, attacking humans and other animals as food sources. Some care capable of transferring disease through these feeding habits.

Horseflies

Some of the largest flies in the world, horse flies, are common throughout North America and produce extremely painful bites.

Flies and Pets

While filth flies, such as the common house fly, are attracted only to offal and manure, biting flies will actively irritate pets. Large populations can seriously impact your pet's health.

Feeding and Breeding Sites

Identification of feeding and breeding sites can help to discern types of infestation. The sites should be eliminated as soon as they have been found.

More Resources

Dig Deeper on Flies

Visit the Orkin Pest Library to learn how to identify and control other pests.
Explore Our Pest Library

Places Flies are Attracted to

Fly in Restaurant

Learn why proper sanitation is crucial in preventing flies from infesting a restaurant kitchen.

Flies in Sewer

Discover what to do if you’re combating a sewer fly infestation.

Flies in Garbage

Gain an understanding of common garbage flies and how they play a vital role in breaking down organic matter.

Fly Life Cycle

The Life Stages of a Fly

Explore the development of flies and their four-phase life cycle from egg to adult.

How Long do Flies Live?

Since the life expectancy of a fly is short, their ability to reproduce quickly makes them difficult to control.

Where Do Flies Lay Their Eggs?

Where flies lay their eggs depends on the species of fly and their preferred habitat.

Facts About Flies

Biting Flies

From large horse flies to nearly microscopic midges, learn about the most common biting flies that homeowners may encounter.

Flies and Dogs

Read facts about horse flies and the types of flies that might bite dogs, livestock and other animals.

How to Identify Flies

Learn how to properly identify a fly species and why it’s an important key in eradicating unwanted populations.

Removal of Flies From Pets

Gain an understanding of how to keep flies away from animals and what to do if a pet or livestock are bit.

Fly Anatomy

Flies have six legs, mouthparts it uses to liquify food, and compound eyes that allow them to see a large radius around their bodies.

How to Repel Flies

One of the best ways to keep flies away is to maintain your yard, clean garbage cans regularly, and dispose of pet feces correctly.

What Attracts Flies

Although it depends on the species, flies are usually attracted to decaying substances, organic materials, or sugary food items.

Questions About Flies

Why Are These Large, Black, Slow-Moving Flies in My House?

Your home may be infested with cluster flies that are very common during the Spring season.

How Can I Prevent House Flies in Spring?

If you're seeing an influx of flies during springtime, you may have a cluster fly infestation in your house.

What Are These Small, Black Flying Insects in My Laundry Room?

Most likely you have drain flies or moth flies. Read more to figure out which pest you may have and how to get rid of them.

Where Are These Giant House Flies Coming From?

Giant house flies may actually be cluster flies-- a species of fly that is very common inside homes.

How Do I Get Rid of Fruit Flies in My Kitchen?

The first way to get rid of fruit flies is to remove their source of food and breeding location, which is typically overripe produce. To learn how exterminators get rid of fruit flies, contact an Orkin Pro.

Do Drain Flies Bite?

Drain flies do not bite, so if you're seeing bug bites, it may be a sign of a different pest problem that your Orkin Pro can help identify.

White Flies In Hotel Bathrooms

What should you do if you see white flies coming out of drain pipes?

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