An abortion fly, also known as a butterfly fly, is quite inconspicuous in appearance. When they occur en masse, these can become extremely annoying. Then a quick expulsion, or even better fighting, is necessary.

In a nutshell

  • Abortion fly only 1.5 to 2.5 mm in size
  • typical heart-shaped wings are reminiscent of butterflies
  • prefer to stay at sewage treatment plants, gullies, cesspits and drain pipes
  • Clogged drainpipes in the house literally attract the butterfly fly
  • regular cleaning of the drainpipes is necessary to drive away and combat them

recognize abortion fly

The toilet fly (Psychoda grisescens) is quite inconspicuous in appearance. Identifying signs for the two-winged aircraft are:

  • Size 1.5 to 2.5mm
  • brownish coloring
  • oval wings
  • outer ends are pointed
  • very hairy dark wing margin
  • regular white dots along the edge of the wing
  • two black dots on each wing
  • Male wing hairs very contrasting
  • females less conspicuous
  • Larvae 4 to 10 mm long, without eyes and legs
  • but clearly visible head capsule

Because of the heart-shaped wings, the abortion fly is also often referred to as the heart mosquito. However, their wings also give the animal other names such as butterfly fly, because the animals with their wide wings resemble butterflies when at rest. In addition, they are also known as gully mosquitoes or sewage flies, which already gives indications of their occurrence.

Source: Thophael, Unidentified Flying Insect, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Notice: The butterfly fly is a bad flyer, it only flies bit by bit. Mainly she lets herself be carried away by the wind, but mostly she is on the move with running movements. The fly becomes really active in the evening hours.

Habitat of the Butterfly Fly

About 110 species of abortion fly live in Germany. They can usually be found in the immediate vicinity of dirty water such as sewage treatment plants, cesspools, gullies and also on manure heaps in animal husbandry. The females lay their eggs near these places. But these parasites can also nest in the garden. Popular places are:

  • Garden ponds without water movement
  • on flower boxes
  • floor drains
  • open rain barrels or
  • gutters

Sewage openings and clogged drain pipes literally attract the flies. Even very small cracks and crevices are sufficient to get into the house and apartments. Here they can often be found en masse in the bathroom, kitchen or basement. During the day they like to stay here at drainpipes or the toilet. In this way, an infestation is easily recognizable. In drainpipes, the mosquito larvae find excellent conditions for their development, such as remains of skin and saliva and the occasional hair. If an infestation is evident, immediate action must be taken to prevent further spread. Especially in the house, the animals can multiply all year round.

Notice: In the wild, the butterfly flies also live in the forest floor or they infest animal corpses, dung heaps or horse droppings.

Fight & Expel

There are now various methods of rendering the abortion flies harmless. In most cases, chemical agents such as insecticides against flying insects are not always necessary. One of the most effective methods of immediate aid is sucking in the animals with a vacuum cleaner. However, this only solves the problem temporarily, since only the adult animals are combated in this way. The cause of the infestation remains. It is important that the abortion flies are already prevented from laying eggs. In other words, the flies must be deprived of all suitable living conditions such as humid places where organic residues are present. In the house, these are usually drainpipes. To determine whether the flies have already nested there, the following method can be used:

You can also easily build sticky traps yourself from baking paper and honey.
  • Dry the drain pipe opening
  • cover with adhesive strips/tape
  • control the following day
  • small flies stick to it, indication of a nest

Although the cause has now been found, it must also be fought afterwards. This then requires the cleaning of the sewage pipe. However, a chemical agent should not always be used immediately, as this can not only be harmful to health due to its ingredients, but it also attacks the materials and pollutes the environment.

Notice: Various UV devices are also available from specialist retailers. The flies are attracted to the bright light and eventually burn on the heated metal rods. However, the cause is not fought here, only the pests.

Home remedies for cleaning

Soda or baking soda in combination with vinegar essence is particularly useful for cleaning not only clogged drain pipes. The procedure is as follows:

  • Pour 4 tablespoons baking soda or baking soda down drain
  • Pour in half a cup of vinegar essence
  • place a damp cloth over the drain opening
  • leave everything on for at least 15 minutes
  • When both agents are mixed, bubbling noises can be heard
  • Cloth prevents vapors from escaping
  • then rinse with boiling water
  • use at least 1 liter

This means that the biological film in the pipe is removed and the larvae are deprived of their food base. Not only the pipe is cleaned, but also the siphon. This mixture also has a disinfecting and antibacterial effect. The butterfly fly will no longer feel comfortable in this place. In addition, it is also important that hair is regularly removed from the drains, because they create optimal breeding conditions. Even using a hair sieve in the sink can prevent the flies from laying eggs.

preventive measures

Indoors in the apartment and also outside in the garden, various preventive measures can prevent the laying of eggs and further development of the butterfly flies. This is very easy to do at home:

  • Clean drains, floor drains, siphons, overflows regularly
  • Rinsing with hot water is sometimes sufficient
  • preventive cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar essence
  • Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after each use such as shower or toilet
  • regular removal of hair from drains at least every two weeks
  • Do not pour food down drains
  • no fats or oils clog pipes
  • Keep floor drains closed

measures in the garden

  • Close rain barrels, floor drains and gullies
  • Clean drains regularly
  • Remove standing water from flower boxes
  • Clear dirt, mud and leaves from gutters
  • Use pumps and water features in garden ponds

If nothing helps against an infestation by stool flies, a professional pest controller should be consulted. This will look for the cause and then use a special high-pressure sprayer filled with a mixture of water and insecticide that will kill butterfly flies forever.

Notice: The arum lily in the garden, which is beautiful to look at, also attracts litter flies with its carrion-like smell. They lay their eggs there and the larvae develop in the aroid flowers.

frequently asked Questions

What is the life expectancy of a butterfly fly?

After oviposition, the larvae hatch within 32 to 48 hours. The larval stage then lasts about 8 to 24 days. This is followed by the pupation stage, which lasts 20 to 40 hours. Depending on the temperature and the food supply, the development from egg to adult takes 7 to 28 days. Imagines can then be up to 14 days old.

Are butterfly mosquitoes able to suck blood?

Native butterfly flies or mosquitoes are unable to bite or sting. Because of this, they cannot suck blood. An exception are the sand flies that live in the tropics and belong to the butterfly gnats, which suck blood from vertebrates.

Is an abortion fly dangerous to humans?

They are usually harmless to humans. But they quickly become a hygiene problem. At high temperatures, these pests multiply quite quickly. When they appear en masse in homes, they often infest pantries and contaminate food with bacteria and viruses. Such foods are then harmful to health.

Category:

Garden maintenance