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Household Insects · Pest guide

Flies control

Fruit flies, drain flies and house flies: find the breeding source first.

Start here: How to Get Rid of Flies in the House (2026 Guide) When to call a pro

Flies at a glance

Scientific name
Order Diptera
Size
1/16 to 1/4 inch (1.5–6 mm)
Appearance
One pair of wings; fruit flies tan with red eyes, drain flies fuzzy and moth-like
Where found
Kitchens, fruit bowls, drains, garbage cans, compost
  • Health riskModerate
  • Property damageLow
  • Do it yourself?Usually DIY
When flies are active Peak: Jun–Sep
  1. Jan Low
  2. Feb Low
  3. Mar Low
  4. Apr Active
  5. May Active
  6. Jun Peak
  7. Jul Peak
  8. Aug Peak
  9. Sep Peak (this month)
  10. Oct Active
  11. Nov Low
  12. Dec Low

Low Active Peak This month

Signs to look for

  • Small flies around ripe fruit or the sink
  • Flies resting on bathroom walls near drains
  • Maggots in garbage bins

Call a professional when

  • Flies keep emerging from a floor drain or wall with no clear source
  • Large numbers suggest a dead animal in a wall or attic
How to choose a pest control company

Quick prevention

  • Refrigerate ripe produce
  • Clean drains with a brush, not just chemicals
  • Take out garbage and rinse bins

Flies: removal guides

1 guide

Step-by-step plans to get rid of a pest, from DIY methods to professional treatment.

Drain fly resting on a wall

Flies · Removal

How to Get Rid of Flies in the House (2026 Guide)

· 5 min read

Keep flies out

  1. Refrigerate ripe produce
  2. Clean drains with a brush, not just chemicals
  3. Take out garbage and rinse bins
  4. Repair window and door screens

Often confused or found together

All household insects
Moths Pantry moths in the flour and clothes moths in the closet. Cockroaches German, American and Oriental roaches: where they hide and the baits that end an infestation. Mites Dust mites indoors and spider mites on plants: allergy relief and plant care.
Photo credits

Thank you to Irina Petrova, Sanjay Acharya, Mvuijlst, Oliver Ren and Gilles San Martin from Namur, Belgium for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.

Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 2.0