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FACE FLY
| Face Fly biology, identification, image, control tips and products for eliminating face flies. |
- Face Fly Biology and Identification
- Face Fly Image
- Inspecting for Face Flies
- Eliminating Face Flies
- Fly Elimination Products
Face Fly Biology and Identification
The face fly is similar in appearance to the common house fly but is somewhat larger and darker in color. The eyes of the male face fly nearly touch on the top of the head while those of the male house fly do not. Trying to properly differentiate between females of these two pests is very difficult. Flies of this genus have a narrow band of very small hair-like pile on each side of the face so that the front appears to be bordered by two delicate, velvety stripes. These stripes run from near the top of the head to the lower margin of the face separating the eyes from the bases of the antennae. This velvety stripe has a silvery sheen throughout the entire length of the face fly. The upper half is silvery and the lower half grades into a definite yellowish-gold hue on the house fly. Both males and females will show these differences. Male Face Flies are commonly found congregating on certain flowers.
Face flies are generally found on cattle farms because they develop in fresh cow manure. Homes or other structures located close to ranches, farms or stockyards are most likely to become infested.
Face flies lay their eggs on fresh manure during the summer months. The yellowish colored larvae live in the manure until they are mature and then pupate either in the soil or on the surface of the soil under the manure. Adults feed on mucous and watery secretions around the eyes and nostrils of horses and cattle causing great discomfort and annoyance to the animals.
During the fall and winter months adult face flies may hibernate in the walls of homes and other structures. As daytime and evening temperatures begin to drop, the adult Face Flies will be attracted to the warm walls of homes. The walls on the south and east sides of buildings are the ones usually affected because the late summer sun shines most on these sides. The same can also be said of the Cluster Fly. On warm days, the flies become active and will often move to the inside of homes in alarming numbers. Once they have responded to the warmth of a home's interior walls, face flies are strongly attracted by light and so are usually found around windows. At night, the flies will fly around light bulbs.
Face Fly Image
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Inspecting for Face Flies
Face Flies can sometimes be found congregating on open surfaces in attics, false ceilings or crawlspaces. Other than finding such a gathering in one or more easily seen areas, adult Face Flies will be hidden in cracks, crevices and other hidden voids.
Eliminating Face Flies
| The key to eliminating Face Flies is to locate the voids in which they overwinter and treating these areas with a surface spray and dusting the smaller areas with Delta Dust . |
| Treat open surfaces in attics and crawlspaces where adult Face Flies are seen congregating (or where you suspect they might hibernate) with a good surface spray. Liquid surface sprays are applied with a garden pump sprayer such as our Chapin Sprayer. Apply Delta Dust to cracks, crevices, wall voids, beneath insulation or other areas where insects might hide. For best results, apply your dust with a Crusader Duster. This will allow you to penetrate your product deep into areas where insect pests might try to over-winter. |
| Seal all possible entry points on the exterior of your home. It would be almost impossible to eliminate every little crack, but try to limit the number of entry points to the best of your ability. |
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