Phorid flies? What are they? Have you heard of them? While you may not hear the name “phorid fly” as often as house fly or mosquito, these pests are pretty common and it’s important for homeowners to know what these flies are and how to deal with them. To sum it up, phorid flies are those flies that you see hanging around manure, animal carcasses, rotten food, and nasty build ups of that sludge-like the substance that gathers around drains and other moist areas. Pretty gross, huh? Basically, if you have these flies you’ll want to check out what's happening in and around your home. Phorid flies thrive on moisture, so you may have a serious water leak behind walls or underneath the foundation. Unfortunately, this could also mean that you have a deceased animal nearby.
What do these little guys look like? The adult versions are usually 1/16th-1/8th of an inch long, are dark brown, black, or yellow, and have an arched thorax giving them a “humpbacked” appearance. Female phorid flies lay their eggs on decaying organic materials (manure, carcasses, etc.). After the larvae hatch, they will feed on the source they were laid on. Once developed, the larvae move to a drier location where they will fully mature. A big question most homeowners should be asking is “are they dangerous”? The short answer is, yes. Because of their eating habits, they become a threat to health and safety. When they touch down on kitchen counters and other food prep surfaces, they contaminate that surface with a variety of germs.
The next important question is, “how do I prevent these flies from getting inside my house?” As it turns out, there are a variety of things that you can do to reduce the risk of infestation. Homeowners can:
- repair leaky fixtures, faucets or pipes
- perform routine gutter maintenance
- seal any cracks or crevices found in your home’s foundation or around windows and doors
- regularly clean up pet feces
- remove garbage from the home as well as overripe fruits and vegetables, and dispose of them in a properly sealed bin
Sure, by doing all of these things homeowners increase their chance of avoiding an infestation. But the only real way to ensure that your home and family are protected is by contacting a local pest control company for help. For residents of Central and North Central Illinois as well as Southeastern Iowa, you are in luck! Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators offers year-round coverage and effective solutions to get rid of as well as prevent all kinds of pests from infesting your home—including the phorid fly! Over the course of 85 years, we have perfected the way we help homeowners in our Central and North Central Illinois, as well as Southeastern Iowa service area deal with unwanted pests. Our Home Guardian SM Service uses a 5-step process and is the most comprehensive way to protect against pests. Here at Quik-Kill we develop our plan around each home's unique situation and promise complete satisfaction. So, if those phorid flies are hanging around your home—it's best to contact us here at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators.