Small Fly Identification

Lbumblebeetuna on 10/05/2021 - 13:32

Hello all. Hoping someone can help me identify these little critters;

https://imgur.com/fBD9dHv

https://imgur.com/OTsZ7DX

They showed up about a month ago, outside, hovering around my front door. They've been making their way indoors around tiny gaps, or when the door is opened. Haven't been able to find a source yet, but i'm hoping proper ID will help me find them.

I thought they might be common fruit flies, but they don't seem to have the red eyes, and are darker overall. Also thought fungus gnat, but doesn't seem to have the characteristic antennae or 'mozzie like' appearance. Not drain flies.

Tried some apple cider vinegar traps, caught none. They love the organics bin though. I tried some Richgro Beat-A-Bug spray after reading a post on Reddit about fungus gnats, and have been attempting to drench some nearby mulch with neem oil, but it hasn't deterred them. The more i look at them, the more i think they're not fungus gnats. Based on my failed ACV trap, i haven't tried any fruit fly deterrents yet.

Any ideas? Are there variations of fruit flies like this?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Xistn on 10/05/2021 - 13:35

    looks like a Gnat to me..

    • bumblebeetuna on 10/05/2021 - 14:19
      +1

      Thanks Xistn. Yes, looked like gnats to me too, but countermeasures not working. Too many small bugs that look similar, plus the S8 camera can't get a very good macro shot :)

    • bumblebeetuna on 10/05/2021 - 14:09

      Thank you. I did see some different pics of Phorid flies earlier on, but they didn't quite look the same. Perhaps i discounted it too soon.

    • bumblebeetuna on 10/05/2021 - 14:11

      Thanks John. I hate bugs :(

  • BOGOF on 10/05/2021 - 14:04
    +2

    Fruit fly.
    Possibly from the millions released over Adelaide last month?
    https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/news/media-releases/news/ty-ai…

    • bumblebeetuna on 10/05/2021 - 14:15

      Thanks Bogof. Fruit flies confuse the hell outta me. I think the ones they're talking about here are Mediterranean fruit fly or Queensland fruit fly. They are different to 'common' fruit flies in that they attack and destroy fresh or ripening fruit, whereas common ones go for rotting stuff. They look pretty different to the common ones too.

    • CheapAtTwiceThePrice on 10/05/2021 - 16:10

      Thanks for sharing that. Had no idea. Have been commenting with friends that we've seen much more light plane activity lately.
      In that release they said the program would go for 10 weeks.

  • Euphemistic on 10/05/2021 - 15:09

    You need a banana for scale.

    Could be a green eyed burrowing rectal fly. Normally attaches itself to drop bears, but have been known to go for humans when drop bears have been eradicated from an area.

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