House Flies

In most pest control treatment plans, proper identification of the pest is a foundational step towards controlling and eradicating the infestation. This is especially true for flies. Because the breeding and development habitats, preferred food sources, and general behavior of flies varies so much depending on the species, it doesn’t come as a surprise that misidentifying the species of fly can lead to a failure to treat the problem properly. Although there are exceptions, in general a flesh fly will hang around a dead carcass, while a fruit fly will eat any decaying organic matter (but has a strong attraction to fermenting materials). However, if you are dealing with cluster flies, which usually invade a building because they seek warmth, it would do no good to look for a dead rat or drain scum as the source of the problem, because cluster flies develop within earthworms in the soil. 

Independent Pest Control’s control measures for flies are mostly aimed at eliminating their breeding and development locations, at the same time as taking steps to physically keep them out of the building. Cleaning the drains and scrubbing down countertops will do nothing to affect the population of flesh flies that are there because there’s a dead rat in the wall. 

In most cases, the taxonomic identification of flies is centered around the vein structure in their wings. Most flies have seven wing veins that are used in identification. The fourth wing vein’s length, shape, and intersections are a primary identifier. From there, different species can be identified by such factors as the number of posterior cells at the bottom of the wings, the shape of the wings, and the body structure and features of the fly species’ larval stage. Having an extensive knowledge about different local species of flies is something that our experienced pest control technicians can use to locate, identify, and correct pest-related problems in the homes of our customers. 

If you are experiencing a fly problem in Puyallup or the surrounding areas, and need extra help with them, please give Independent Pest Solutions a call for a free estimate.