Treatment: Experience Matters

Most often, pest control companies used drain foams and gels (85 percent) to control small flies, found the 2024 PCT State of the Small Fly Control survey.

“The drain is definitely a problem,” said Jashawn Anderson, Divine Pest Specialists. He mainly deals with drain flies and fruit flies in commercial accounts. Cleaning out the drain with a green cleaning product and brush usually proves beneficial, he said. So does eliminating sticky, fermenting substances.

Sixty-five percent of PMPs said they used bacterial and microbial cleaners to control small flies. In follow-up interviews, some said they sell bio-cleaners to clients. Others encourage clients to buy these products on their own. When used in mop solutions, for example, these products help break down organic matter that gets trapped with water in the cracks and crevices of floors and becomes a breeding source for the flies.

Insect growth regulators (IGRs), used by 69 percent of pest control company locations, disrupt the fly life cycle, which is an important element of control given flies’ quick turnaround.

“You’re dealing with a life cycle that’s incredibly fast. It’s like seven to 10 days, so you need something that’s going to stop that so literally your treatment can catch up,” said Ray Hess, training consultant. “If you don’t have any type of IGRs or cleaning action going on, they’re going to thrive,” he said of the pests.

Traps are a go-to for Wyatt Braun, owner, Orlando Pest Experts, Casselberry, Fla. According to the PCT survey, 71 percent of PMPs said their locations relied on traps to control small flies.

Braun uses light traps to eliminate adult small flies at residential accounts. “They work phenomenally, they’re cheap and it’s a passive way; you don’t have to spray insecticides. You just plug it in and let it work,” he said.

Traps are secondary to finding where the flies are breeding. “If we can identify a source on the first visit, then we can eliminate the source. Then I always recommend getting a trap and within a week or so, the problem should solve itself,” said Braun of residential fly issues.

Fixing Conditions. Sometimes, however, the solution is beyond the scope of pest control. Braun was dealing with a difficult drain fly problem in the bathrooms of a newly built home. Despite performing drain treatments, and in this situation, using glue traps behind the commodes, flies consistently returned.

“Right now, we’re just putting a Band-Aid on it. It’s probably a plumbing issue somewhere down the line but that’s out of my expertise,” explained Braun.

In follow-up interviews, PMPs said using products and traps, alone, won’t solve small fly problems.

“There are no products in the world that you can use to get rid of a fruit fly problem if all you’re doing is focusing on adults. You have got to get to where they are breeding and get rid of why they’re breeding there. And then build a plan with the customer going forward to stop whatever the situation was from a sanitation and cleaning standpoint,” said Stephen Gates, Cook’s Pest Control.

If you fix the conducive conditions, the fly population dwindles away, agreed Anderson. “That’s further proof that it’s the condition that’s the problem. Because they can only breed in certain conditions. You get rid of that condition and it’s going to take care of itself.”

Documenting conditions remains key, especially in accounts with recurring problems. “If you have an issue that’s repeating itself, you should always document and write it up. That way, if a state inspector or food inspector comes by a place and they say, ‘This is bad, bad, bad,’ you can say, ‘I told you, I told you, I told you,’” said Bill Haynes, Haynes Exterminating.

The average callback rate for small fly control jobs was 3.7 percent. Most PMPs — 62 percent — said summer tended to be their busiest season for small fly work.

Experience helps when solving small fly issues. This includes knowing the best treatment approach, how to manage customers and ensure profitability for this work.

“You may fail a time or two before you figure it out,” admitted Haynes.

Lucas Geer, Walker Pest Management, agreed that experience matters. “You’re just not going to learn everything in a book. You’re going to get good advice on where to start, but the experience of actually finding and looking makes you quicker the next time. If you can, my advice is to pick up as many small fly infestations as you can and just learn from them.”