Flies come in many forms—some bite, some buzz, and some help pollinate your garden. Whether you’re dealing with a pest indoors or spotting a curious insect outdoors, knowing what type of fly you’re seeing can be helpful. This guide covers 20 common types of flies with their names, key identification traits, and reference images to help you tell them apart quickly and easily.
1. House Fly
House flies are the most common type of fly found around homes and garbage. Known for their rapid breeding and unsanitary habits, they can carry and spread bacteria and viruses. Though small, they’re a major concern in food safety and hygiene.
Identification
- Color: Gray with four dark stripes on the thorax
- Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5–8 mm)
- Eyes: Large, reddish compound eyes
- Wings: Clear with slightly veined structure
- Legs: Six black legs with sticky pads for climbing surfaces
Habitat
House flies thrive in areas with food waste, animal feces, garbage, and compost. Commonly found around homes, farms, markets, and dumpsters, they breed in moist, decaying organic matter like trash, manure, or spoiled food.
Diet
House flies feed on liquid or semi-liquid substances. They digest solid food by regurgitating digestive enzymes onto it. Common food sources include rotting food, sugary drinks, feces, and waste material.
Behavior
They are fast fliers and constantly move between filthy areas and clean surfaces, spreading germs. Females lay hundreds of eggs, which hatch into maggots within a day. Their short life cycle allows populations to grow quickly in warm conditions.
2. Fruit Fly
Fruit flies are tiny insects often seen hovering around ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables. They are well known in kitchens and supermarkets and are also frequently used in genetic research due to their simple genome and fast reproduction.
Identification
- Color: Tan or light yellow-brown with red or dark eyes
- Size: About 0.1 inch (2–4 mm)
- Body: Small, round body with short antennae
- Wings: Clear with slight veins
- Legs: Thin and light-colored
Habitat
Fruit flies are found near fermenting or ripening fruits, vegetables, and sugary liquids. Indoors, they breed in drains, trash bins, overripe produce, and even empty bottles or cans with sugary residue.
Diet
They feed on sugars from fermenting fruit and vegetables. They are especially attracted to ethyl alcohol and yeast, which makes overripe produce an ideal food source. Larvae feed on microorganisms within decaying organic matter.
Behavior
Fruit flies lay eggs on moist, decaying surfaces. A single female can lay hundreds of eggs, which hatch in less than 24 hours. They are weak fliers but persistent and hard to eliminate without removing the breeding source.
3. Blow Fly
Blow flies are metallic-colored flies often seen around dead animals, garbage, and feces. They are among the first insects to arrive at a carcass, making them important in forensic investigations. Despite their unpleasant habits, they play a key role in decomposition.
Identification
- Color: Metallic green, blue, or bronze
- Size: 0.25 to 0.4 inches (6–10 mm)
- Eyes: Large, red or brown
- Wings: Clear with distinct veins
- Body: Stout and shiny
Habitat
Blow flies are found near decaying meat, animal carcasses, and open garbage. Outdoors, they frequent compost piles, dumpsters, and animal remains. Indoors, they may enter through open windows in search of food or breeding sites.
Diet
Adults feed on decaying meat, feces, and sugary substances. Larvae (maggots) feed on rotting flesh and are used medically in maggot therapy to clean infected wounds by eating dead tissue.
Behavior
Females lay eggs on carcasses or decaying matter, where maggots hatch quickly and begin feeding. Blow flies are fast fliers and strongly attracted to odors from decomposing materials. Their presence often indicates unsanitary conditions or hidden animal remains.
4. Drain Fly
Drain flies, also known as moth flies, are small, fuzzy insects often found near sinks, showers, and drains. While harmless, they can be a nuisance in bathrooms and kitchens, especially when breeding conditions persist.
Identification
- Color: Gray or light brown with fuzzy, moth-like wings
- Size: 0.06 to 0.2 inches (1.5–5 mm)
- Wings: Heart-shaped and covered with fine hairs
- Body: Short and fuzzy with long antennae
- Flight: Weak, fluttering motion
Habitat
Drain flies live and breed in the organic slime that builds up inside drains, sewer lines, septic tanks, and other damp places. They are most commonly found in bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms.
Diet
They feed on decaying organic material, bacteria, and fungi in the sludge inside drain pipes. Larvae feed on the biofilm lining moist plumbing systems.
Behavior
Drain flies are nocturnal and rest on walls near breeding sites during the day. They do not bite or spread diseases, but infestations can be persistent. Cleaning the inside of drains and removing slime buildup is the most effective way to eliminate them.
5. Horse Fly
Horse flies are large, fast-flying insects known for their painful bites. Only females bite, feeding on the blood of mammals, including humans, livestock, and wildlife. Their bites can be quite irritating and even cause allergic reactions in some people.
Identification
- Color: Gray or black with green or gold eyes
- Size: 0.4 to 1.2 inches (10–30 mm)
- Eyes: Large and brightly colored with horizontal bands
- Wings: Clear or slightly tinted with visible veins
- Body: Sturdy and broad
Habitat
Horse flies are commonly found near water sources such as ponds, lakes, marshes, and wetlands, where their larvae develop. They are also prevalent in rural, grassy, and wooded areas—especially near livestock.
Diet
Female horse flies require blood to reproduce and feed on horses, cattle, deer, and humans. Males do not bite; they feed on nectar and plant juices.
Behavior
Horse flies are strong and persistent fliers, often attacking their target repeatedly. They use scissor-like mouthparts to slice the skin and lap up the blood. They are active during the day, especially in hot, humid weather.
6. Cluster Fly
Cluster flies are slow-moving flies that often invade homes in large numbers during fall to overwinter in attics and wall voids. Unlike house flies, they do not breed indoors or feed on garbage and are not associated with unsanitary conditions.
Identification
- Color: Dark gray with golden hairs on the thorax
- Size: 0.3 to 0.4 inches (8–10 mm)
- Wings: Overlap when at rest
- Body: Slightly larger and darker than house flies
- Movement: Slow and sluggish indoors
Habitat
Cluster flies are found outdoors in summer, where they lay eggs in soil. Larvae parasitize earthworms. In cooler months, they seek shelter in homes, barns, and wall cavities to hibernate until spring.
Diet
Adults feed on flower nectar and fruit juices. The larvae develop by feeding on living earthworms, making them unique among flies.
Behavior
They gather in large numbers to overwinter, often in upper stories of buildings or attics. On warm days in winter or early spring, they may become active indoors. Though harmless, their presence can be annoying in large numbers.
7. Deer Fly
Deer flies are biting flies closely related to horse flies but are usually smaller. Like horse flies, only the females bite, and their bite is sharp and painful. These flies are commonly encountered in wooded or marshy areas during summer months.
Identification
- Color: Yellowish or gray with dark bands across the wings
- Size: 0.25 to 0.4 inches (6–10 mm)
- Eyes: Large, often iridescent green or gold
- Wings: Clear with dark patterns
- Body: Slender with a slightly humped back
Habitat
Deer flies are most active near wetlands, forests, and grassy meadows—places where their larvae develop in moist soil or shallow water. They are also common near rivers and lakes where deer and other hosts are found.
Diet
Females feed on the blood of mammals, including deer, cattle, and humans. Males feed on pollen and plant juices. The blood meal is essential for females to produce eggs.
Behavior
Deer flies are aggressive daytime biters. They silently land on skin and make shallow cuts to feed on blood, often going unnoticed until pain is felt. They are strong fliers and difficult to swat due to their agility and persistence.
8. Flesh Fly
Flesh flies are scavengers known for laying their larvae (maggots) on decaying flesh, wounds, and animal droppings. They play a role in decomposition but can be a concern around dead animals and trash.
Identification
- Color: Gray body with three dark stripes on the thorax and a checkered abdomen
- Size: 0.3 to 0.6 inches (8–15 mm)
- Eyes: Red and prominent
- Wings: Transparent and held flat when at rest
- Body: Hairy and robust
Habitat
Flesh flies are found around carcasses, garbage bins, compost, and animal wounds. They are common in both urban and rural settings and are often seen near areas with decaying matter.
Diet
Adults feed on decaying organic material, excrement, and nectar. Larvae feed on dead animals, feces, or open wounds, depending on the species.
Behavior
Unlike many flies, flesh flies give birth to live larvae instead of laying eggs. These larvae are deposited directly onto decomposing matter, allowing for faster development. They are attracted to strong odors and may enter homes through open windows.
9. Sand Fly
Sand flies are tiny, hairy flies known for their painful bites and ability to transmit diseases like leishmaniasis. They are most active during dawn and dusk and are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions.
Identification
- Color: Pale yellow or light brown
- Size: 0.06 to 0.12 inches (1.5–3 mm)
- Wings: Long, narrow, held at a V-angle when at rest
- Body: Fuzzy, with long legs and antennae
- Flight: Short, hopping-like movements
Habitat
Sand flies prefer warm, humid areas with abundant organic material. They are often found in forests, caves, cracks in walls, animal shelters, and shady outdoor spots with damp soil or vegetation.
Diet
Females feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles to support egg production. Males feed on nectar and plant juices.
Behavior
They are weak fliers and usually remain close to the ground. Active mainly during twilight hours, their bites can cause itching, swelling, or even skin lesions. In some regions, they are vectors for serious diseases like cutaneous leishmaniasis.
10. Stable Fly
Stable flies are biting flies that resemble house flies but feed on the blood of humans and animals. Their bites are painful and can cause irritation in livestock, leading to weight loss and reduced milk production.
Identification
- Color: Gray with a checkered abdomen
- Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5–8 mm)
- Mouthparts: Piercing-sucking, projecting forward
- Eyes: Red and slightly protruding
- Wings: Clear and held flat over the back
Habitat
Stable flies are found around farms, stables, compost piles, and decaying vegetation. They lay eggs in moist organic material, especially where manure and straw accumulate.
Diet
Both males and females feed on blood, mainly from cattle, horses, dogs, and occasionally humans. They also feed on sugar sources such as nectar when not seeking blood.
Behavior
They are aggressive daytime feeders, often biting on the legs and lower body. Unlike house flies, they do not rest indoors for long. Their painful bite and persistent nature make them a serious pest in livestock areas.
11. Black Fly
Black flies are small, hump-backed flies often found near flowing water. While some species do not bite, others feed on blood and are known for their painful bites. In certain regions, they can transmit diseases such as river blindness.
Identification
- Color: Dark gray to black
- Size: 0.06 to 0.2 inches (1.5–5 mm)
- Body: Stocky with a humped back
- Wings: Short and broad, clear with dark veins
- Antennae: Short and straight
Habitat
Black flies breed in clean, fast-moving water like streams and rivers. Adults stay near these areas or fly in swarms in surrounding vegetation, especially during spring and early summer.
Diet
Females of most species require blood meals from mammals, birds, or reptiles to reproduce. Males feed on nectar and plant juices.
Behavior
Black flies are persistent biters, targeting exposed skin such as the face, neck, and ears. Their saliva can cause allergic reactions, itching, and swelling. They often swarm in large numbers, making outdoor activity uncomfortable in infested areas.
12. Crane Fly
Crane flies are long-legged, mosquito-like insects that are harmless to humans. Despite their appearance, they do not bite or sting. They are sometimes called “mosquito hawks,” although they do not eat mosquitoes.
Identification
- Color: Light brown or gray
- Size: 0.5 to 1.5 inches (13–38 mm), with long legs
- Body: Slender with very long, fragile legs
- Wings: Long and narrow, clear with visible veins
- Antennae: Thin and relatively short
Habitat
Crane flies are found in grassy fields, wetlands, forests, and near water bodies. Larvae develop in moist soil, lawns, or aquatic environments depending on the species.
Diet
Adults generally do not feed, or they may drink nectar. Larvae (often called leatherjackets) feed on decaying plant material and roots of grasses and crops, sometimes causing turf damage.
Behavior
Crane flies are clumsy fliers and are often seen resting on walls or windows at night. They are attracted to light and may enter homes, but they pose no threat and usually die quickly indoors.
13. Tsetse Fly
Tsetse flies are blood-feeding insects native to sub-Saharan Africa. They are well known for transmitting sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) to humans and animals. Though they resemble house flies, they have unique features and behaviors.
Identification
- Color: Grayish-brown with a slightly glossy appearance
- Size: 0.25 to 0.5 inches (6–14 mm)
- Wings: Fold flat over each other in a scissor-like position when at rest
- Proboscis: Long and projects forward for piercing skin
- Body: Stocky with bristle-like antennae
Habitat
Tsetse flies live in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. They are typically found in savannas, woodlands, and near rivers, where they have access to wildlife and livestock for feeding.
Diet
Both male and female tsetse flies feed exclusively on blood from mammals, including cattle, antelope, and humans. Blood meals are required for reproduction.
Behavior
They are daytime feeders and are attracted to movement and dark colors. Their bite is painful and can lead to the transmission of trypanosome parasites, which cause sleeping sickness. Control efforts include traps, insecticides, and sterile male release programs.
14. Bot Fly
Bot flies are parasitic flies whose larvae develop inside the bodies of mammals. Different species target different animals, including horses, cattle, rodents, and even humans. While not commonly seen as adults, their larval stages are infamous.
Identification
- Color: Yellowish-brown or gray with a furry appearance
- Size: 0.4 to 0.7 inches (10–18 mm)
- Body: Stout and hairy, resembling a bumblebee
- Wings: Clear or smoky, held flat
- Mouthparts: Non-functional in adults
Habitat
Bot flies are found in regions where their host animals live, including forests, grasslands, and farmlands. The adult flies are short-lived and spend little time outside of reproduction.
Diet
Adults do not feed at all. Larvae feed internally within the host’s tissue, respiratory system, or digestive tract, depending on the species. For example, human bot flies lay eggs on mosquitoes, which then transfer the larvae to humans.
Behavior
Female bot flies use other insects (like mosquitoes) to deliver eggs to hosts. Once inside the host, the larvae grow under the skin or in body cavities. Eventually, they exit the host to pupate in the soil. Though disturbing, infestations are usually treatable.
15. Hover Fly
Hover flies, also known as syrphid flies or flower flies, are harmless insects often mistaken for bees or wasps due to their similar coloring. They are important pollinators and natural pest controllers, especially in gardens and farms.
Identification
- Color: Yellow and black striped, resembling wasps
- Size: 0.2 to 0.6 inches (5–15 mm)
- Wings: Clear with minimal veins; hover motion in flight
- Body: Slender, bee-like or wasp-like appearance
- Eyes: Large, compound, often reddish
Habitat
Hover flies are found in gardens, meadows, fields, and forests—anywhere flowers are abundant. They are common in urban areas, especially near flowering plants and vegetable gardens.
Diet
Adults feed on nectar and pollen, making them effective pollinators. Larvae of many species are beneficial, feeding on aphids, thrips, and other soft-bodied garden pests.
Behavior
They are excellent fliers and can hover in place like a drone. Hover flies are active during the day and are often seen buzzing from flower to flower. Despite their mimicry, they do not sting or bite and are completely harmless.
16. Fungus Gnat
Fungus gnats are small, mosquito-like flies commonly found around indoor plants and damp soil. While adults are harmless, their larvae can damage plant roots, especially in overwatered pots and greenhouses.
Identification
- Color: Dark gray or black with long legs
- Size: 0.08 to 0.2 inches (2–5 mm)
- Wings: Transparent and veined, held flat
- Body: Slender with long antennae
- Flight: Weak and erratic
Habitat
Fungus gnats are usually found in moist, organic-rich potting soil, compost, and greenhouses. Indoors, they appear around houseplants, particularly in poorly drained or overwatered soil.
Diet
Adults feed on fungus, decaying organic matter, and occasionally nectar. Larvae feed on fungi, algae, and plant roots, potentially harming seedlings and delicate plants.
Behavior
They are weak fliers and tend to stay near the soil surface. Adults often rest on nearby surfaces or fly short distances when disturbed. Good drainage, reducing watering, and using sticky traps help control infestations.
17. Mosquito
Mosquitoes are small flies known for their biting behavior and ability to transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika virus. Only females bite, needing blood to develop their eggs. They are among the most widespread and medically important insects on Earth.
Identification
- Color: Gray or brown with white or silver markings (varies by species)
- Size: 0.1 to 0.4 inches (2.5–10 mm)
- Wings: Narrow with scales, often fringed
- Body: Slender with long legs and a distinct proboscis
- Antennae: Bushy in males, straight in females
Habitat
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water sources such as ponds, buckets, clogged gutters, and swamps. Adults rest in cool, shaded areas like tall grass, under leaves, or inside homes.
Diet
Females feed on blood from humans and animals, while males feed only on nectar and plant juices. Larvae feed on algae and organic debris in water.
Behavior
They are most active during dawn and dusk. Females are drawn to carbon dioxide and body heat. Their bites can cause itching and swelling, and some species are capable of transmitting life-threatening diseases.
18. Robber Fly
Robber flies are aggressive predatory insects that feed on other flies, bees, and even wasps. They are fast fliers and excellent aerial hunters, often catching prey mid-air. Despite their intimidating appearance, they do not usually bite humans unless provoked.
Identification
- Color: Varies—gray, brown, or black, often hairy
- Size: 0.4 to 1.0 inch (10–25 mm)
- Eyes: Large and bulging with excellent vision
- Body: Elongated and tapered, sometimes resembling bumblebees
- Legs: Strong with bristles for grabbing prey
Habitat
Robber flies are commonly found in open areas such as fields, meadows, forest edges, and gardens. They perch on twigs, tall grasses, or fences, scanning for flying insects.
Diet
They feed on live insects including flies, moths, butterflies, beetles, bees, and even other robber flies. They inject digestive enzymes into their prey and then suck out the liquefied contents.
Behavior
Robber flies are solitary and territorial. They hunt during the day, often darting out from perches to ambush prey. While beneficial for pest control, they may occasionally capture pollinators like bees.
19. Bee Fly
Bee flies are fuzzy, bee-mimicking insects that hover around flowers and play a role in pollination. Their resemblance to bees helps them avoid predators, but unlike bees, they do not sting or bite. Some species are parasitic in their larval stage.
Identification
- Color: Brown, tan, or yellow with dense body hairs
- Size: 0.2 to 0.6 inches (5–15 mm)
- Wings: Often dark-patterned or smoky, held outstretched
- Body: Rounded and fuzzy, similar to a bumblebee
- Proboscis: Long and rigid, used for sipping nectar
Habitat
Bee flies are usually found in sunny areas like meadows, fields, gardens, and forest edges—especially near blooming flowers. They often hover over dry, sandy soils where they lay eggs.
Diet
Adults feed on nectar and pollen using their long proboscis. Larvae are parasitic and often feed on the eggs or larvae of ground-nesting bees or other insects.
Behavior
They hover with great control and dart quickly between flowers. Females flick their eggs near host nests, and the larvae invade and consume the host. Though they resemble bees, they are completely harmless to humans.
20. Moth Fly
Moth flies, also known as drain flies or filter flies, are tiny, fuzzy insects that resemble miniature moths. They are common in bathrooms and kitchens, especially near drains, but they do not bite or sting.
Identification
- Color: Gray or tan with fuzzy, moth-like wings
- Size: 0.06 to 0.2 inches (1.5–5 mm)
- Wings: Broad, leaf-shaped, covered in fine hairs
- Body: Small, fuzzy, and slow-moving
- Antennae: Long and segmented
Habitat
They thrive in moist, organic-rich environments, especially in sink drains, sewage pipes, sump pumps, and septic tanks. Indoors, they breed in the slimy buildup inside drains and overflows.
Diet
Adults feed on polluted water, fungi, and decaying organic material. Larvae consume the organic sludge inside pipes and are often found crawling on drain walls.
Behavior
Moth flies are poor fliers and usually flutter short distances. They rest on walls near breeding areas. Though harmless, their presence often signals unsanitary plumbing conditions. Regular cleaning of drains is key to control.
FAQs
1. Why are flies attracted to my home?
Flies are drawn to food, moisture, organic waste, and light. Common attractants include ripe fruits, garbage, dirty drains, pet waste, and even houseplants with damp soil. Open windows and doors without screens also invite them in.
2. Do all flies bite?
No, most flies do not bite. Only certain types like mosquitoes, horse flies, deer flies, and stable flies bite humans or animals. Many others, such as house flies, fruit flies, and hover flies, are non-biting.
3. Can flies spread diseases?
Yes. Species like house flies and blow flies can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites picked up from garbage, feces, or dead animals. They can contaminate surfaces and food, potentially leading to illnesses like food poisoning.
4. How do I get rid of drain flies and fungus gnats?
To eliminate drain flies, clean the drain with a stiff brush and flush with boiling water or enzyme cleaner. For fungus gnats, reduce watering of plants, improve soil drainage, and use sticky traps to catch adults.
5. Why do some flies look like bees or wasps?
Some flies, like hover flies and bee flies, mimic bees or wasps as a form of protective mimicry. This helps them avoid predators by appearing dangerous, even though they are harmless and don’t sting.