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Fly Pictures

What Does a Fly Look Like?

Several different types of flies make their home in the Mid-Atlantic states. While all flies share certain characteristics, size and appearance differ among each species. Some of the most common flies in the region are the house fly, cluster fly, fruit fly, filth fly, and gnat.

Browse the photos on this page to see several different types of flies. You’ll learn information about what the pests look like from these fly images, so you can correctly identify the insects if you see one in your home or business.

Bottle Fly

Larger than common houseflies, the bottle fly possesses large, red compound eyes and clear, brown-veined wings.
Illustration of a Blow Fly

Illustration of Bottle Fly

Side and top view sketches of a bottle fly

As seen in these two pest pictures, a bottle fly has large red eyes and a pair of veined wings. The pests can be metallic blue, green, or bronze in color.

Picture of Bottle Fly on Dirt

Picture of Bottle Fly Hanging from a Leaf

Image of Bottle Fly Upside Down on Big Leaf

Rear, side, and top views of bottle flies

Image of Flies on Feces

A group of bottle flies in a pile of droppings

Often spotted in groups around rotting organic matter and pet waste in yards, these pests are slightly larger and rounder than the common house fly.

Cluster Fly

Picture of Cluster Fly on Leaf

Close up photo of a cluster fly

Sometimes mistaken for a house fly, cluster flies are less than half an inch in length. This pest has a checkered back, and its yellowish hairs can give off a golden sheen which helps with cluster fly identification.

Picture of Cluster Fly on Leaf

Picture of Cluster Fly on Leaf

Top view cluster fly images

Close Up Image of Cluster Fly on Leaf

Cluster fly pictured on a plant

Cluster flies have a dark gray, non-metallic torso and are just under a half-inch long. Size and speed distinguish this species from a common house fly. Cluster flies are larger, and these sluggish fliers are slow movers compared to house flies.

Picture of Cluster Fly on Leaf

Image of Cluster Fly

Picture of Cluster Fly on Leaf

Photos of cluster flies from various angles

House FlyIllustration of a House Fly

Side profile sketch of a common house fly

In this house fly photo, you can see the four narrow black stripes on the abdomen that differentiate this pest from other species. House flies vary from one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch in length.

Close Up Picture of a House Fly

Illustration of a House Fly

Close-up, top-view house fly photos

Both male and female adult house flies have gray or yellow abdomens with black lines, with males having a yellow underside as well.

Picture of a House Fly Next to a Penny

A house fly next to a penny for reference

Picture of a House Fly

A close-up front-view image of a house fly

A house fly has red eyes, but the spacing can show the difference between the sexes. A female’s eyes are wide-set, while the male’s eyes are so close together that they’re almost touching.

Picture of a House Fly from the Back

Rear-view photograph of a house fly

Filth Flies

Front view of a filth fly

Close-up view of a filth fly

Filth flies are distinguishable by their large red eyes. Female filth flies have two distinct eyes, while male filth flies have a single conjoined eye.

Fruit FliesClose Up Image of Fruit Fly

Picture of Fruit Fly on Leaf

Fruit flies in side-view

Fruit flies are light yellowish-brown to dark brown in color and measure about an eighth of an inch in length. While some may differ in color to some degree, most fruit flies also have red eyes.Picture of Fruit Fly on Berries

Picture of Fruit Flies on Waste

Picture of Fruit Fly on Edge of Plant

Fruit flies in the wild

Gnats

Picture of Fungus Gnat Flying

A gnat in flight

These small, slender insects range from gray to black in color. Gnats in the Mid-Atlantic region have long mosquito-like legs and antennae, which can make identification difficult.

The Importance of Proper Fly Identification

Since many different kinds of flies can infest your home or business, accurate pest identification can help save you time and money. Certain species of flies can bite, and high populations can indicate more serious issues, so it’s important to identify insects and get help when you need it from the experts at Western Pest Services.

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