Identifying Flying Insects
Summary:
Properly identifying flying insects you find in your house can give you clues about problems you may be having with moisture or insect infestations. You can learn more about flying insect control products and purchase them here.
A reader asks: We recently had a leaky pipe in the wall between our kitchen and bathroom. The leak was repaired about six months ago. Now, we are seeing these very small fly-like insects with wings crawling on the kitchen floor. They came from behind the refrigerator which is where the old leak occurred. The sheet rock was dry but we had these bugs all over. What are they?
To get fast control of the adult flying insect I like a product called PT 565 Plus XLO. Works great and only requires a small burst of spray to kill the adult flies. If you've got hard-to-reach enclosed spaces you may also want to try a fogger or Nuvan Pro Strips.
The flying insects you had with the leaky pipe were probably fungus gnats or Phorid flies. Once the water problem was corrected they had no acceptable breeding environment and should have died off quickly. If they are still present you probably still have something leaking.
Sometimes with leaks, the water finds its way under the floor tiles through cracks in the grout. If that has happened, you may have to remove the floor tile and dry out the floor under the tiles. Worse, if the foul water found its way under the entire slab, you could have the flies breeding in the soil under the poured slab. In that case, you would have to open the floor slab, have a contractor dig out the foul soil and replace it with clean soil. A large and expensive undertaking, to be sure.
These tiny flies manage to slip through cracks that are paper-thin. It may look like it would be impossible for an insect to navigate through something so small, yet the presence of these flies is proof that they can do it.
Get your flies identified. Take them to your local county extension agent or to one of the local pest control companies for a free ID. Knowing the insect species will tell you where they breed and how to control them. It's the single most important step in controlling an insect problem.
Comments
lynn
30 Jan 2010, 19:49
30 Jan 2010, 19:49
I have small flying insects in my home,at frist they would hide and i could
never find them..Now they fly around,(they look grayish white.)I just
killed one,And there were white spots,I had to get a magnifling glass to
see them..(and there eggs)...i am a farm girl and have seen a lot of
bugs,but not this one...i live in a small city in Virginia..there about 1/2
inch long..I want to no what they are and how to kill them....
Michelle
20 Feb 2010, 11:16
20 Feb 2010, 11:16
We have small brown flying insects in our house. They remind me of a fruit
fly but there has been no fruit lay8ing out. We noticed them after my
daughter received some roses and I thought they we from those, but after we
threw out the roses more of these bugs appeared. What are they and how do
ai get rid of them?
sylvie
25 Feb 2010, 18:34
25 Feb 2010, 18:34
hi
i av just found small insect with wings that fly in the corner in my bedroom & im really worried could you tell me wat it could be thank you sylvie
i av just found small insect with wings that fly in the corner in my bedroom & im really worried could you tell me wat it could be thank you sylvie
mildred
15 Mar 2010, 16:49
15 Mar 2010, 16:49
i have tiny flies,coming from de batnroom ,someone told me their living
inside the pipes,i wanna now if is truth and what can i do.
Kira
26 Mar 2010, 04:57
26 Mar 2010, 04:57
My fiance just found a giant, winged insect inside our house. it is about
an inch long, and a half inch in diameter. it is black with iridecent
purple wings, and has furry legs. When he tried to grab it with a paper
towel, it vibrated and either bit or stung him. what is this weird insect?
It is not a beetle because it does not have the hard casing for the wings.
yvette
08 Apr 2010, 14:48
08 Apr 2010, 14:48
I keep seeing alot of very little bugs on my ceiling inthe bathroom,
kitchen, and bedroom always around the light fixtures> They seem to just
crawl very slowly and then fly what is it and how do i get rid of it.
erica humphery
19 Apr 2010, 03:46
19 Apr 2010, 03:46
A couple of months ago my mom had to clean out EVERY cabinet in our kitchen
bc we kept finding maggots on our ceiling.we would kill them all day but
out of nowhere the maggots would reappear! Then we started to kill these
brown flys.they would only fly from one wall to the next and when you swat
them, the would leave this sort of ash on the wall.we also kept finding
these bugs in our grits, cake mixes, and rices.so we threw alot of our food
away.now that the kitchen no longer have the maggots or flies in the
kitchen, I've b een killing about 10 of them out of mt room everyday! And I
find maggot cocoons in my clothes and an actual maggot in my closet!please
HELP! What so I do? What are the things
Amy
30 Apr 2010, 11:34
30 Apr 2010, 11:34
To erica:
I think the creatures you keep finding are moths, I've had an infestation before, it's a nightmare so I completely sympathise!
To get rid of them we had to keep killing them, and put mothballs everywhere (not in the kitchen tho!). Also make sure you shut the door behind you whenever you leave a room as this prevents them spreading all over your house, hiding out and laying maggots in ur drawers and wardrobe. that did the trick for us but u mite want to ask ur local supermarket or garden centre if they have any specialised products for such an infestation.
Good luck!
I think the creatures you keep finding are moths, I've had an infestation before, it's a nightmare so I completely sympathise!
To get rid of them we had to keep killing them, and put mothballs everywhere (not in the kitchen tho!). Also make sure you shut the door behind you whenever you leave a room as this prevents them spreading all over your house, hiding out and laying maggots in ur drawers and wardrobe. that did the trick for us but u mite want to ask ur local supermarket or garden centre if they have any specialised products for such an infestation.
Good luck!
Ask the Exterminator
30 Apr 2010, 12:47
30 Apr 2010, 12:47
Clothing moths will build webbing on clothing, but the moths in the kitchen
are more likely Indian Meal moths which infest pantry foods.
mathew felows
02 May 2010, 18:25
02 May 2010, 18:25
i was on the bus when i looked down on my hand to where i felt sumthing
moving im not quite sure of wht i saw but it was horrible the description
is it looks like a bee or a wasp but has purple coloured wings its legs
were really fat not like big spider legs more like big bumble bee legs it
had an bright orange line inside its body thats it i took pics of it butt
there not that good ive never seen any thing like it befor if you think u
no wht it is plz tell me all i no it was deffo not a bee or a wasp it was
about the same size ass a bubble bee tho
Jenni Lynn
22 May 2010, 21:40
22 May 2010, 21:40
Kira and Mathew- There was one on my front porch. I looked around a bit and
I think it may be a "stone fly"
Pam
27 May 2010, 23:00
27 May 2010, 23:00
I just bought a mobile home. In one of the bathrooms the sink area has a
lot of little black specks and in the sink itself is a bunch of insects
that look like meal worms with wings. The wings also seem to fall off as
there are a lot of wings without bugs attached what are these? These don't
look like any pictures of termites that i have seen.
Ask the Exterminator
28 May 2010, 08:04
28 May 2010, 08:04
Can't tell from that description.
Mark
08 Jun 2010, 20:36
08 Jun 2010, 20:36
We keep seeing these larger flies on the bathroom window and other windows
of the house. I am not sure where they are coming from but in the last few
days I've taken out about 15 or so. They just seem to keep showing up.
They are extremely attracted to light and are much larger than the common
house fly. What are they and how can we stop them from being around. This
has been going on for about four days or so.
Thanks
Thanks
Ask the Exterminator
08 Jun 2010, 21:09
08 Jun 2010, 21:09
You didn't read the entire article, did you? I can't make an ID from what
you have given me.
Sylvia
14 Jun 2010, 09:49
14 Jun 2010, 09:49
Good morning, we have recently started getting little black flies with
large black wings, they look like their wings do not fit their body. Fly
wanna be's.
They hang around out windows and doors and come in at any time. Very slow and easy to kill, but very annoying. We have never seen them before, could you tell us what they may be.
Thank,s
They hang around out windows and doors and come in at any time. Very slow and easy to kill, but very annoying. We have never seen them before, could you tell us what they may be.
Thank,s
Ask the Exterminator
15 Jun 2010, 07:27
15 Jun 2010, 07:27
Sorry! I cannot ID without a photo.
joyce
18 Jun 2010, 12:07
18 Jun 2010, 12:07
Sylvia! We have the same little flies here in Maryland. I will take a
photo and post it here so we can get an ID. They're not attracted to fruit
or sugar-water or light. Thousands of them like the cool wall in our
below-grade garage.
JOSIE ICCIO
19 Jun 2010, 20:17
19 Jun 2010, 20:17
i have these tiny tiny antlike flies they stick to my bay window during the
day and at night they crawl on the ceiling what are they?
Katherine Penney
20 Jun 2010, 12:44
20 Jun 2010, 12:44
Hi Walter,
I have the same problem that a lady called COurtney emailed you about in 2007. Cocoons in my lounge that contain maggot type insects that turn into very small dark black flies. I have taken a video of a live one i have caught while its still in its cocoon stage. I sit in my longe every evening and notice the flies and kill them and later find the empty cocoons. This is the 3rd summer now i have had this problem. I have no pets, and the house is fairly clutter free and have found no other site of them other than the lounge. Last year when i moved all the furniture about as it got really bad i found under my sofa, the carpet appeared to have been eaten away and in one part were lots of gold coloured like eggs. Whether this was anything to do with it, im not sure. At the time i thouroughly cleaned the carpet and used RAID fly spray regularly. I thought that was the end of it, but once again i have noticed 3-4 flies in the past week and spotted and removed the shells. When you kill the fly its almost paper thin and leaves like a dust mark behind it. Have you got any idea what it is or how i might get rid of them. I am keen to replace the carpet in case they start growing there but if i do and this is not the source and the new carpet starts to be eaten away i will not be too happy.
Many thanks, Katherine. UK
I have the same problem that a lady called COurtney emailed you about in 2007. Cocoons in my lounge that contain maggot type insects that turn into very small dark black flies. I have taken a video of a live one i have caught while its still in its cocoon stage. I sit in my longe every evening and notice the flies and kill them and later find the empty cocoons. This is the 3rd summer now i have had this problem. I have no pets, and the house is fairly clutter free and have found no other site of them other than the lounge. Last year when i moved all the furniture about as it got really bad i found under my sofa, the carpet appeared to have been eaten away and in one part were lots of gold coloured like eggs. Whether this was anything to do with it, im not sure. At the time i thouroughly cleaned the carpet and used RAID fly spray regularly. I thought that was the end of it, but once again i have noticed 3-4 flies in the past week and spotted and removed the shells. When you kill the fly its almost paper thin and leaves like a dust mark behind it. Have you got any idea what it is or how i might get rid of them. I am keen to replace the carpet in case they start growing there but if i do and this is not the source and the new carpet starts to be eaten away i will not be too happy.
Many thanks, Katherine. UK
Ask the Exterminator
22 Jun 2010, 10:22
22 Jun 2010, 10:22
Who is Walter? Please post questions at the top of the page as instructed
in the bright red lettering.
Wendy Perry
05 Jul 2010, 23:44
05 Jul 2010, 23:44
I live in Ohio but tonight I had a swarm of black flying bugs come in my
door when I opened it. They are black with a hard shell took me a couple of
times to kill it and they look like a minature roach.
lynn86
10 Jul 2010, 01:58
10 Jul 2010, 01:58
I have these small looking insects with wings in my kitchen. Mostly over
and on the stove area. They started in a cabinet beside the stove where I
keep seasonings.
Any suggestions on what will eliminate them would be great.
Any suggestions on what will eliminate them would be great.
Ask the Exterminator
10 Jul 2010, 07:08
10 Jul 2010, 07:08
I cannot ID based upon that description.
Annie Crystal
14 Jul 2010, 20:28
14 Jul 2010, 20:28
I have a plague of small flies. Every morning I get up and there are
window sills full of dead flies. They are just dying constantly. You can
vacuum them up and turn around and there are more dead flies. More seem to
die than I can see so I can't figure out how or where they are reproducing.
They are not drawn to the trash can. I just have dead flies every where.
What are they and how can I get rid of them.
Ask the Exterminator
14 Jul 2010, 21:08
14 Jul 2010, 21:08
Find out what kind of flies you have and you'll find answers to all your
questions. You need to know the species.
Anthony
19 Jul 2010, 00:42
19 Jul 2010, 00:42
In our kitchen counters and in cabinets we noticed very small beetle
looking things with wings. They are a dark brown. They do not fly very
often mostly hide under things. We cleaned and put disinfectant in all
cabinets and counters but they keep reappearing. It almost seems like they
roll up into a ball when you touch them.
Ask the Exterminator
19 Jul 2010, 12:54
19 Jul 2010, 12:54
Don't guess at it. Collect a couple and take them to a local pest control
company for a free ID.
maya
23 Jul 2010, 08:05
23 Jul 2010, 08:05
Dear Sir,
I live in a city and a month back my house was infested by pests. These were white/off white in colour and looked like a small grain of rice. They began from my sofa. Initially I cleaned them from my sofa(in the living room) but I soon found that they spread all over. They have been flying and at a time lay hundreds of eggs like white spots. They cling to my body and itch me and are in my hair, nose, ears, clothes, bed, everywhere. I sprayed some household insecticide for bugs but nothing is working out. They seem to keep multiplying. I do not know the name and do not know how to control.
Kindly help...
I live in a city and a month back my house was infested by pests. These were white/off white in colour and looked like a small grain of rice. They began from my sofa. Initially I cleaned them from my sofa(in the living room) but I soon found that they spread all over. They have been flying and at a time lay hundreds of eggs like white spots. They cling to my body and itch me and are in my hair, nose, ears, clothes, bed, everywhere. I sprayed some household insecticide for bugs but nothing is working out. They seem to keep multiplying. I do not know the name and do not know how to control.
Kindly help...
Ask the Exterminator
23 Jul 2010, 12:21
23 Jul 2010, 12:21
Sorry, but I cannot ID your insects without a picture. You may email a
photo via the "Ask a Question" button at the top of the page.
Cathy
24 Jul 2010, 14:35
24 Jul 2010, 14:35
I live in a rural/suburban community in virginia. Last night my dogs
caught a large bug, kinda looked like a fly on steriods. It was about 1/2"
wide and 3" long. When they were chasing it on the porch, it made a
rattling sound. From what I saw of it, there were a pair of translucent
wings, antennae,and had legs. I had never seen one of these before. What
do you think it was and how can I keep them from coming back again? Thank
you.
Danielle
27 Jul 2010, 13:19
27 Jul 2010, 13:19
We've recently had these very, very tiny light brown flying bugs in all
areas of the house. They look like fruit flies, but very light brown and
small. We recently had a large tree/bush removed from below our kitchen
bay window and have been experiencing these bugs ever since. We tried a
fogger, but they came back the same day. Any idea what they can be? My
husband seems to think they are coming from water somewhere, ie., hose,
pipes, moist ground. They are quite annoying!
Ask the Exterminator
27 Jul 2010, 13:24
27 Jul 2010, 13:24
I don't ID without a picture. If you can get a photo of one, use the "Ask a
Question" button at the top of the page to send it.
cherrie
28 Jul 2010, 14:21
28 Jul 2010, 14:21
i found a clear flying bug it is about 1 inc has 6 legs and 2 long feelers
or someting on the ass end can anyone help me out.
Izzy
01 Aug 2010, 06:28
01 Aug 2010, 06:28
Rick, you have the patience of a saint. After reading this page of comments
and people making demanding questions in the neighborhood of, "I have small
bugs with wings, they fly, WHAT ARE THEY?" I was already chuckling to
myself as I sensed your frustration. But, upon reading, "Who is Walter?" I
lost it. Despite your apparent endless battle of explaining how to use your
website, and explaining that you neither have bug detecting ESP to know
what kind of bugs these people have, I wish to take the time to thank you
for the moment of laughter I experienced from reading. Good Luck Rick! :)
Ask the Exterminator
02 Aug 2010, 22:34
02 Aug 2010, 22:34
Thanks, Izzy! Thank goodness I can laugh about it, too. It is simply
amazing how many people ignore the bold red notice. I'm sure I could say
"Earn a $100 if you post your question in the right place" and I'd never
have to make a single payment.
sawyer
04 Aug 2010, 19:43
04 Aug 2010, 19:43
I just bought a brand new house in the mid west. We are having these
flying red bugs. They are mainly upstairs and dont fly very much. They
look like red gnat beetles. They dont bite us but they are gross. They
are not coming from our bathroom - and dont look like the drain flies. Our
contractor told us that they have been in other houses he has built but
doesn't know where they come from. Can you help - how do I get rid of it?
Todd
04 Aug 2010, 23:19
04 Aug 2010, 23:19
Hello,
I have had an increasing number of flying insects over the past week. They are slightly larger than fruit flies and seem to be beetle like hardness to them. (hard to squish and kill, but possible) They don't appear to bite although I am not sure.
They appear to dark black in color but giving any more details are difficult due to their very small size. I can send a pic if needed.
thank you!
I have had an increasing number of flying insects over the past week. They are slightly larger than fruit flies and seem to be beetle like hardness to them. (hard to squish and kill, but possible) They don't appear to bite although I am not sure.
They appear to dark black in color but giving any more details are difficult due to their very small size. I can send a pic if needed.
thank you!
Ask the Exterminator
05 Aug 2010, 11:15
05 Aug 2010, 11:15
I need a picture, but you can only send it via the "Ask a Question" button
at the top of the page.
Joe
10 Aug 2010, 10:53
10 Aug 2010, 10:53
What are these bugs flying above my grass?
we have these weird bugs that hover over the grass, hundreds of them. They don't stop long enough to get a good look at them. I cut the grass and they don't bother me, there are just hundreds of them. They almost look like some kind of wasp or something but don't go after me or my dogs, their black and really fast and never seem to land just hover over my grass all day.
we have these weird bugs that hover over the grass, hundreds of them. They don't stop long enough to get a good look at them. I cut the grass and they don't bother me, there are just hundreds of them. They almost look like some kind of wasp or something but don't go after me or my dogs, their black and really fast and never seem to land just hover over my grass all day.
Ask the Exterminator
10 Aug 2010, 11:57
10 Aug 2010, 11:57
I can't ID without a picture, but I'm guessing it is a Cicada Killer wasp.
Francesca
13 Aug 2010, 11:08
13 Aug 2010, 11:08
I'd like to know the name of a flying insect that is of the same or similar
colour as locust, as I have been either bitten or stung by it. I felt a
really sharp stab before my husband looked at my back and flicked the
insect off but he did not give a good luck at it but reckons the colour was
like that of a locust. The symphtom after it happened were hiyching and
buning and for a few minutes each time I moved I felt stabbing I'd very
much appreciate if I could know the name thank you.
Ask the Exterminator
13 Aug 2010, 13:12
13 Aug 2010, 13:12
Could be a cicada, but just collect one and take it to a local pest control
company for a free ID.
shenaz
14 Aug 2010, 18:33
14 Aug 2010, 18:33
i have little black beetles an little maggots in the corners in my kithen
an bathroom do you have an idea what they are and how i can get rid of
them.
thanks
thanks
Ask the Exterminator
14 Aug 2010, 21:11
14 Aug 2010, 21:11
You can send me a photo of your insect, but you must use the "Ask the
Exterminator" button at the top of the page to further communicate with me.
Steve
15 Aug 2010, 10:58
15 Aug 2010, 10:58
Hi. Please ignore this question if inappropriate.
Hiking in West Virginia, I saw a large flying gray insect. About 4 inches long including thin pinchers 1 inch in length and about 1 inch wide at the widest part of the wings at the other end. It almost looks like a long, thin moth with pinchers. Someone told me it was a "hegemon" bug, but that is not the right spelling as I cannot find it on the internet. This person also said it is used as fishing bait sometimes, and to beware of its painful bite.
If this rings a bell, maybe you can tell me what it might be. Sorry I do not have a specimen or a picture.
Hiking in West Virginia, I saw a large flying gray insect. About 4 inches long including thin pinchers 1 inch in length and about 1 inch wide at the widest part of the wings at the other end. It almost looks like a long, thin moth with pinchers. Someone told me it was a "hegemon" bug, but that is not the right spelling as I cannot find it on the internet. This person also said it is used as fishing bait sometimes, and to beware of its painful bite.
If this rings a bell, maybe you can tell me what it might be. Sorry I do not have a specimen or a picture.
Lori
16 Aug 2010, 12:26
16 Aug 2010, 12:26
Hi,
I found a insect dead in my trash can that I had left outside. I hae never seen an insect like this before. Later that day my mother was doing some yard work and was attack by a insect that look the same as the dead one in my trash can. The insect is 2inches long including the wings, on top of its head is brown and black with black eyes. The wings are like a clear gray color and its body is black. I know it bites because it bit my mom. My first thought was a horse fly but when I search horseflies, I don't see any pic that resembles it. I was wondering can you tell me what kind of insect is this?
I found a insect dead in my trash can that I had left outside. I hae never seen an insect like this before. Later that day my mother was doing some yard work and was attack by a insect that look the same as the dead one in my trash can. The insect is 2inches long including the wings, on top of its head is brown and black with black eyes. The wings are like a clear gray color and its body is black. I know it bites because it bit my mom. My first thought was a horse fly but when I search horseflies, I don't see any pic that resembles it. I was wondering can you tell me what kind of insect is this?
Ask the Exterminator
16 Aug 2010, 14:08
16 Aug 2010, 14:08
No idea!
Ask the Exterminator
16 Aug 2010, 14:20
16 Aug 2010, 14:20
I cannot ID without a photo.
James
28 Aug 2010, 00:32
28 Aug 2010, 00:32
I've noticed a lot of these little brown, light brownish, redish, flying
bugs/flys in my room. I always see them while in the dark watching TV or
on my computer. In the day I still see them... but not as often as night
time. I've seen 2 downstairs in the living room. Also, I've seen 1 in my
bathroom. My family members don't seem to notice them, or are not saying
anything. I think I notice them a lot more because I have a phobia of
insects, so I'm always alert if I see something moving. Since I have a
phobia to insects they bother me, I've seen one fly on to my skin, and I
immediately swiped it off, get a shoe, and pound the insect. They are
about 1mm-1cm, very tiny. These bugs just get annoying sometimes because
of my phobia. I just want identification, information, and ways to get rid
of them. They have done nothing to harm me by the way.
Ask the Exterminator
28 Aug 2010, 08:38
28 Aug 2010, 08:38
Read the last paragraph of this article.