Sarcophagidae
- 01Clear wings. Large, clear wings.
- 02Three dark stripes. Three bold stripes on the gray thorax.
- 03Checkered abdomen. Gray and black squares that shift in the light.
- 04Red eyes. Large red eyes.
- Adult size
- About 1/2 in
- Color
- Gray, striped thorax, checkered abdomen
- Breeds in
- Carrion, decaying meat, garbage
- Young
- Born as live larvae, not eggs
- Indoors means
- Usually a dead animal or spoiled meat
Figures: University of Minnesota Extension, Flies, Pests in the Home, Fly Identification.
What does a flesh fly look like?
Gray and bristly, about half an inch long, with three dark lengthwise stripes on the thorax and a checkered abdomen. The checkerboard pattern shifts as the fly moves in the light. Eyes are large and red.
Where does it breed?
In carrion, decaying meat and other protein-rich waste. Females deposit live larvae rather than eggs, so a carcass can be full of maggots within hours.
What does it mean in a home or business?
Usually a dead animal in the building or meat waste that has been sitting too long. In restaurants and food businesses, flesh flies around dumpsters point to waste that is not being removed often enough or containers that are not sealed.
How Graduate handles flesh flies
We find the source first: a carcass in a wall, attic or crawlspace, or spoiled waste in a dumpster or bin. Once it is removed we look at how the animal got in, or how the waste handling should change, and deal with the adults that remain. Our fly control page has the full approach.
Which fly is it?
Each fly points to a different breeding source. Tap one for its full profile.
- Size
- About 1/4 in
- Look
- Gray, four dark stripes on the thorax
- Breeds in
- Garbage, manure, food waste
- Seen
- Kitchens, dumpster areas, around trash
- Size
- 1/4 to 1/2 in
- Look
- Shiny metallic green, blue or copper
- Breeds in
- Dead animals, meat scraps, garbage
- Seen
- A sudden swarm often means a dead rodent in a wall
- Size
- 1/4 to 1/2 in
- Look
- Gray, three dark stripes, checkered abdomen
- Breeds in
- Carrion and decaying meat. Gives birth to live larvae
- Seen
- Near garbage, dumpsters, dead animals
- Size
- 3/8 to 1/2 in, larger than a house fly
- Look
- Dull gray, golden hairs on the thorax
- Breeds in
- Outdoors. Larvae live in earthworms
- Seen
- Sunny windows and attics, fall through spring
- Size
- 1/16 to 3/16 in
- Look
- Fuzzy, moth-like, wings held like a roof
- Breeds in
- Slime film inside drains and traps
- Seen
- Bathroom and kitchen walls near drains
- Size
- About 1/8 in
- Look
- Tan, bright red eyes
- Breeds in
- Fermenting fruit, spills, drains, recycling
- Seen
- Hovering over produce and trash
- Size
- 1/16 to 1/8 in
- Look
- Dark, humped back, runs in short bursts
- Breeds in
- Decaying matter, often a broken drain or sewer line under a slab
- Seen
- Bathrooms, basements, commercial kitchens
- Size
- 1/16 to 1/8 in
- Look
- Dark, slender, long legs and antennae
- Breeds in
- Wet potting soil and damp organic matter
- Seen
- Around houseplants and windows
Figures: University of Minnesota Extension, Flies, University of Kentucky, Small Flies, Penn State Extension, Cluster Flies.
Treatment for this pest is covered under Fly Control.
Common questions
How is a flesh fly different from a house fly?
It is larger, about half an inch, with three bold stripes on the thorax instead of four, and a checkered abdomen that looks like a gray and black checkerboard.
Is it true flesh flies give birth to maggots?
Yes. Instead of laying eggs, the female deposits live larvae directly onto the food source, which lets them colonize a carcass very quickly.
Are they common indoors?
Not usually. They come in when there is a dead animal in the structure or rotting meat in the garbage, and leave when it is gone.
Do flesh flies bite?
No. Like house flies, they have sponging mouthparts and do not bite people.
Can flesh flies breed in garbage?
Yes, when the garbage contains meat or other protein waste. Sealed containers and frequent removal stop it.
Why do I see them around my dumpster but not inside?
They are drawn to the waste outside and rarely come indoors unless something inside is rotting.
Get in touch
Tell us what you are seeing
Four questions, answered by a person within one business day. If it is urgent, call: the line is answered at any hour.
Fly Control
Start with a free consultation
A consultation is a phone call with us about your problem. You tell us what you are seeing, where in the building, and how long it has been going on. We tell you what it most likely is, what is causing it, and what it will take to fix. Most routine work can be priced on that call.
There is no charge and no obligation. If we are not the right fit, we will say so before anyone books a visit.
Call (631) 212-9601Schedule an inspection
Answered at any hour.