WSU Extension

Pestsense

Nuisance
 
Bagworms
Brown marmorated stink bug
Centipedes
Clover mites
Cluster flies
Cockroaches
Firebrats
Fruit flies
Fungus gnats
Giant house spider
Hobo spider
House centipede
House dust mites
House flies
Little house flies
Mice and rats
Millipedes
Moth flies (drain flies)
Multi-colored Asian lady beetle
Odorous house ants
Pavement ants
Pseudoscorpions
Root weevils
Seed bugs
Silverfish
Sowbugs and pillbugs
Spiders (non-biting)
Springtails
Thatching ants
Western boxelder bug



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Caption: Little house fly
Photo by: Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org
  
Little house flies
(revision date: 7/14/2015)

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful pest management.

Biology
The little house fly, sometimes called the lesser house fly, is a nuisance pest. The small male flies (1/8 to 3/16 inch long) are often found in houses, however, females are rarely found indoors. Little house flies are nothing more than a nuisance because they fly around in jerky, zigzag, aimless flight in rooms and shaded entry ways. The little house fly breeds in animal dung and decaying plant material. The larvae are well adapted to move about in putrid, semi-liquid organic material.
Management Options

Non-Chemical Management
  • Do not provide good breeding sites.
  • Do not place or compost vegetation waste near doorways or entries.
  • Do not allow pet manure to accumulate in the yard.
  • Fly traps (available commercially) can assist in keeping numbers down, particularly if you can’t control nearby breeding sites.
  • Do not use “zapper” traps outdoors since they kill more beneficial insects than pest insects. However, they are useful indoors.
  • Maintain tight-fitting window and door screens.
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

Chemical Management

None recommended.

Images

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Caption: Little house fly
Photo by: Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org