Types of Flies in Tennessee: Identification & Pest Control
Flies in Tennessee: Quick Facts
Most indoor fly problems come from a specific breeding source, and each type of fly points to a different one. Identify the fly and you’ll usually know where to look: a garbage can, a drain, a bowl of fruit, a dead animal in the wall, or the attic.- House flies: Garbage, pet waste, and compost
- Fruit flies: Ripe produce, spills, and drains
- Drain flies: Slime in drains
- Cluster flies: Spend the winter in attics and wall voids
- Blow flies: Dead animals or spoiled meat
Common Flies in Tennessee Homes
House Flies
Gray, about 1/4 inch, with four dark stripes on the back. They breed in garbage, animal waste, and decaying material and can carry bacteria onto food and surfaces.
Fruit Flies
Tiny, about 1/8 inch, tan with red eyes. They breed in ripe or rotting fruit and vegetables, spilled juice, recycling bins, and the film in drains.
Drain Flies
Small, fuzzy, moth-like flies that rest on bathroom walls. They breed in the slimy buildup inside drains, especially in rarely used sinks and showers.
Cluster Flies
Slightly larger than house flies, dark gray, and sluggish, with golden hairs on the thorax. They move into attics and wall voids in fall and show up at sunny windows on warm winter days.
Blow Flies
Shiny metallic green or blue. A sudden burst of blow flies indoors often means a dead rodent or bird in a wall, attic, or crawl space.
Fungus Gnats
Tiny, dark, delicate flies around houseplants. They breed in damp potting soil.
Health Risks
House flies and blow flies land on garbage, waste, and dead animals and can transfer bacteria to food and surfaces. Fruit flies and drain flies are mostly a nuisance but can contaminate food and are a concern in restaurants and food businesses.
How to Get Rid of Flies
- Find the source: Killing adults won’t help if they keep breeding. Look for the breeding spot that matches the fly.
- Take out trash: Use lidded cans, empty them often, and rinse them out.
- Handle produce: Refrigerate ripe fruit and clean up spills and recycling.
- Clean drains: Scrub drains with a brush and use an enzyme drain cleaner.
- Check for dead animals: Blow flies indoors mean something died nearby.
- Let houseplant soil dry: Overwatering breeds fungus gnats.
How to Keep Flies Out
- Repair window and door screens
- Seal gaps around windows, doors, and utility lines
- Keep outdoor trash cans lidded and away from doors
- Pick up pet waste promptly
- Seal attic vents and soffit gaps in late summer to keep cluster flies out
When to Call a Professional
Call if flies keep returning, you can’t find the source, or you’re dealing with cluster flies in the attic or blow flies from a hidden dead animal. See our fly control services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have so many flies in my house?
Flies are usually breeding somewhere nearby, such as garbage, ripe produce, drains, or a dead animal. Finding and eliminating the source is the key.
How do I get rid of fruit flies?
Remove ripe or rotting produce, clean up spills and recycling, and scrub drains. A simple vinegar trap can catch adults.
What are the small fuzzy flies in my bathroom?
They’re probably drain flies, which breed in slime inside drains. Scrub the drain and use an enzyme cleaner.
Why are there flies on my windows in winter?
Cluster flies spend the winter in attics and wall voids and come out to sunny windows on warm days.
What does a sudden swarm of flies mean?
Metallic blow flies appearing suddenly often point to a dead animal in a wall, attic, or crawl space.
