Flying Pest
Fruit Fly – Drosophila spp.
Appearance
Fruit flies are small generally about 1/8 inches long, they have veined wings, and are tan with red eyes.
Behavior
Fruit flies have a relatively short life cycle, consisting of about a week, and so populations can grow quickly. New adults are attracted to lights, and fermenting fruit. They nest in fermenting fruit because the young feed on the yeasts involved with fermentation.
Habitat
Fruit flies can nest in a variety of places. The most obvious is fermenting fruit, but they can also nest in trash cans, garbage disposals, underneath tables, and coolers. The area of breeding must be moist so the larvae can develop.
Control Advice
Fruit flies can be difficult to control if the breeding site cannot be found. If the breeding site is found it should be immediately removed and clean the area with a disinfecting spray after the material has been removed. All nesting sites must be found in order to eliminate the populations. For temporary relief a funnel trap can be made by placing pieces of bananas at the bottom of a glass to attract the fruit flies. Then make a funnel by rolling a piece of paper into a funnel and then taping it to the glass so it creates a tight seal. This will allow flies into the trap and then they cannot get back out.
House Flies – Musca domestica
Appearance
General house flies will be about 1/4 inch long and will be dark gray in color.
Behavior
House flies are found wherever humans are found. They are the most common fly on the planet, and have been known to carry and transmit a number of diseases. House flies are attracted to unsanitary areas such as garbage, rotting fruit, rotting animals, and feces. House flies do not chew their food, but instead release digestive juices and then suck up the liquefied meal.
Habitat
House flies often nest and breed in unsanitary conditions, manure is especially conducive to house fly reproduction. Any feces left by animals will greatly attract the house fly. If house flies do breed indoors it will be around garbage cans.
Control Advice
Flies can be especially obnoxious and sometimes difficult to eliminate. A scented fly paper can help to decrease flies already in the home. In order to decrease flies around the home make sure animal feces are cleaned and disposed of properly, make sure to clean trash containers, and make sure doors and windows have a tight seal.
Paper Wasps – Polistes spp.
Appearance
There are a variety of species and they will range in size from 1/2 inch in length up to 1 1/2 inches, but most are around 1 inch long. Most wasps are dark red or reddish-brown, but they can also have markings of yellow, orange, or red.
Behavior
These wasps form paper comb nests that hang upside down, and will increase in diameter as the nest grows. They are communal and the queen will initially start the nest with a half dozen or so cells hanging together. As the workers hatch the queen will expand the nest, the nest eventually takes on an umbrella shape. Each year a nest starts anew as most of the workers die during the winter. The queen will start the nest in the spring and then the nest will expand throughout the summer. They are generally not aggressive, but will become aggressive if they feel threatened. Their sting is painful, but the stinger is not left in the victim as with bees. Their diet consists mostly of other insects, but they will be attracted to sweet foods as well.
Habitat
Paper wasps will build their nest in an area that is protected from the elements. Trees offer a natural cover from the elements, but soffits, corners of homes, and under porches or awnings on the exterior of homes are prime locations for nests. They have also been known to nest in attics, wall voids, crawl spaces, electrical boxes, gas grills, etc.
Control Advice
A single nest can be controlled with relative ease, with a wasp treatment and then knocking down the nest. If nests continue to arise a professional company, such as Precise, can treat with a long residual product, which will eliminate most problems.
Phorid fly – Family Phoridae
Appearance
The phorid fly is also known as the humpbacked fly because of its arched back. It is a small fly generally about 1/8 inch long and is tan in color with black eyes.
Behavior
Phorid flies move in short jerks. They will infest decomposing plant or animal matter. Buried animals, garbage, or broken sewer lines support large numbers of phorids. These flies have a short life cycle, and can be a potential health concern.
Habitat
Phorid flies can nest and breed in almost any type of material. They are generally associated with infesting dead animals. They will be found in mausoleums because they will breed inside of dead bodies. If they enter your home they can nest in drains, trash cans, grease traps, fermenting fruit, and any other rotting organic matter. They have even been known to breed in organic based glues and paints.
Control Advice
Phorid flies can be difficult to control if the breeding site cannot be found. If the breeding site is found it should be immediately removed and then cleaned with a disinfecting spray. All nesting sites must be found in order to eliminate the populations.
Yellow Jackets – Vespula spp.
Appearance
Yellow jackets are black with yellow stripes. There are over 13 species in North America and they range from about 1/2 inch to 1 inch in length.
Behavior
Yellow jackets are scavengers and will eat almost anything. They are often found at garbage cans, dumpsters, road kill, and they especially enjoy picnics and football games. They primarily build nests underground, and are a social insect. A single nest can consist of thousands of workers. They are extremely aggressive when they feel threatened or their nest is disturbed. They administer a very painful sting and, unlike honeybees that die after they sting, will sting multiple times.
Habitat
Yellow jackets will build their nests primarily underground in soil depressions, rodent burrows, or any small hole in the ground that offers protection. They will also make their nests in hollow trees, wall voids, attics, and other enclosed spaces.
Control Advice
Because of their aggressive nature and the danger involved with treatment it is not advised to treat Yellow jackets on your own. Contact Precise if you discover a nest in or around your home. Precise will then treat the area in order to alleviate the problem. You can, however, take precautions to minimize risks of being stung. If you know where a nest stay away. If you see them entering the home do not plug the hole. They will find another way out and sometimes eat through an interior wall into the home. Be aware when you are using powered tools such as lawn mowers or edgers because they can disturb the nest.
