Most Common Types of Flies in Singapore
The most common types of flies in Singapore are:
- Housefly (Musca domestica)
- Fruit fly (Drosophila)
- Bluebottle fly (Calliphora vomitoria)
- Flesh fly (Sarcophagidae)
- Sandfly (Phlebotominae)
- Drain fly (Psychodidae)
- Horsefly (Tabanidae)
- Phorid fly (Megaselia)
- Small dung fly (Leptocera)
If you are experiencing an infestation of flies, you may want to consider a fly inspection and fly control, removal, and extermination services.
Let’s take a closer look at the common types of fly species in Singapore and what you can do to prevent and remove them.
Types of Flies in Singapore
1. Housefly
The housefly can be a real annoyance. Houseflies are carriers of diseases. They can settle into all kinds of premises, especially if there is food available. Thus it is essential to keep flies away by not allowing access to food.
The main characteristics of house flies are:
- Colour: Grey thorax and yellow abdomen
- Length: 5-8mm
- Wide field of vision
2. Fruit fly
Fruit flies are, not surprisingly, usually found near fruit, fruit gardens, and vegetable gardens. They can be a nuisance all year round. Fruit flies are predominantly attracted to tomatoes, melons, squash, and grapes.
The main characteristics of fruit flies are:
- Colour: Yellow and brown with bright red eyes
- Length: 3mm
- Fruit flies like to hover in the air
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies?
- Store fruit in the fridge
- Do not leave bread crumbs behind
- Make a fly trap using apple cider vinegar and soap
3. Bluebottle fly
Another common type of fly in Singapore is the bluebottle fly. They hover around dust bins searching for food, but also pet faeces and dead animals. That’s what makes them a carrier of diseases.
The main characteristics of bluebottle flies are:
- Colour: Blue
- Length: 6-12mm
- Bluebottle flies usually breed in meat derived substances
4. Flesh fly
The flesh fly can be a threat to humans since they are attracted to human foods, wastes, and excrements. Flesh flies mostly feed on nectar, sweet foods, and liquids from dead animal bodies.
The main characteristics of flesh flies are:
- Colour: Grey
- Length: 6-14mm
- Flesh flies have a life cycle of 2-4 weeks
The Complete Guide to Flies Prevention, Treatment and Control in Singapore
5. Sandfly
Sandflies are next on our list of flies in Singapore. The sandfly is mostly active from April to September. They locate themselves near damp places such as riverbanks.
The main characteristics of sandflies are:
- Colour: Grey with brown eyes and dark red legs
- Length: 10-11mm
- Sandfly larvae can take up to 2 years to develop
6. Drain fly
A drain fly is a small insect that is that feeds on organic matter, as they are usually associated with sewage beds. Hence they are sometimes also referred to as sewage flies.
The main characteristics of drain flies are:
- Colour: Grey
- Length: 2mm
- Wings covered with hair
7. Horsefly
The horsefly is a real nuisance to animals in particular. Female horseflies can bite so much that animals lose weight as a result! Male horseflies are less of a problem and are more active in the daytime. They are pollen and nectar feeders.
The main characteristics of horseflies are:
- Colour: Black or dark brown with green or black eyes
- Length: up to 25mm
- Bites from horseflies can be very painful
8. Phorid fly
Phorid flies are somewhat less common in Singapore, but we still need to keep an eye on them. These flies feed on many types of substances. Look out for rotting bags of potatoes, onions, or other stored tubers.
The main characteristics of phorid flies are:
- Colour: Light brown or yellow
- Length: 3mm
- They can survive for 1-2 months
9. Small Dung Fly
Small dung flies are attracted to damp substances and rotten organic matter. That’s also where they lay their eggs.
The main characteristics of small dung flies are:
- Colour: Dark brown
- Length: Up to 5mm
- Small dung flies only fly short distances
What can you do to Prevent an Infestation of Flies?
It is vital to identify the breeding spots of flies. The most important thing is to seal all possible entry points, such as the windows. Keep your house clean and adequately cover and store food. If these actions don’t prevent the problem, you may want to consider pest control services for all types of flies in Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flies are common pests around the world: there are more than 120,000 types of flies found worldwide.
The most common types of flies in Singapore are Housefly, Fruit fly,
Bluebottle fly, Flesh fly, Sandfly, Drain fly, Horsefly, Phorid fly, Small dung fly.
Out of all types of flies found in Singapore, Horsefly and Sandfly can bite humans and animals.
