Insect of the Month: Phorid Fly (Flies of the family Phoridae)
The Phorid Fly is a common pest in homes, restaurants, bars, industrial kitchens, and even restrooms because this insect feeds and thrives in the organic material (gunk) that builds in pipes, drains, and food sources such as fruits and vegetables.
To get control of these phorid fly infestations you must locate the food source and either clean it or remove it.
Easy-to-use Fruit and Phorid Fly traps can alert you to the presence of the infestation.
What do phorid flies look like?
Phorid Fly Adults: Adults are 3 mm (0.125 inches) long. Also called "humpback flies" or "scuttle flies" or "coffin flies".
Phorid flies resemble biting blackflies because of their humpbacked appearance and small head, however, they do not bite.
Typically tan to dark brown with a humpback or severely arched thorax from the side. They have dark-colored eyes and their wings have 2 heavily sclerotized veins toward the leading edge while the remainder of the veins are lighter in appearance and not connected.
Phorid Fly Eggs: 0.02 inch (0.5 mm)
What is the phorid fly life cycle?
The reproductive potential of fruit flies is quite high. Females can lay upwards of 500 eggs in her lifetime and the entire life cycle, from egg to adult, can be completed in about 25 days in warm temperatures. '
Eggs are laid directly on moist food sources and under average room temperature, the eggs hatch into larvae within a day or two. Larvae grow for about 1 - 2 weeks, crawling to a dry area to pupate, followed by a pupation period of 1 - 2 weeks. Pupae have respiratory horns that allow the pupae to breathe even when slightly submerged.
Adults only live for a few days unless relative humidity levels are above 70% where they can live up to 9 days.
Solutions for Phorid Flies and Fruit Flies
Monitoring Guidelines for Phorid Fly (Flies of the family Phoridae)
Click on the image or insect name above to view monitoring guidelines for phorid flies. These guidelines include details on Description, Lifecycle, Damage and Detection, Corresponding Products, Fun Facts, and more!
Stay tuned
Next week we are going to be sharing a solution Insects Limited offers when dealing with phorid flies and fruit flies.
Related Insect and Pheromone Posts
Read more about insects and pheromones in these related posts:
Product of the Month - Red-Legged Ham Beetle Kit (IL-660)
Insect of the Month: Red-Legged Ham Beetle (Necrobia rufipes)
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