The adult is 1/4" - 1/2" in length and metallic blue in colour. Larva take 7 – 12 days to mature. Their name originates from their iridescent colours that are similar to coloured bottles.

Bluebottle flies (also known as Blow fly) can often be seen hovering around dustbins. These scavengers are attracted to pet faeces and dead animals and as such are known carriers of disease.

Eggs hatch 0 – 18 hrs (partial development may occur within the female). Breeds in mostly meat derived substances, sometimes cheese. Common pest of dead rodents/birds etc.

2-6mm long. Similar in appearance to the house fly but smaller.

Adults seek large animals, including humans, and remain on and around them for hours at a time being attracted to sweat, tears, saliva and in cases of grazing animals, faeces. Transmit eye infections to humans and livestock and may also transmit other enteric diseases to humans.

Only last 2-5 weeks. Eggs are inserted into the excrement of large animals (especially grazing animals). Eggs usually hatch within a day and the larvae usually leave the feeding medium to pupate in adjacent soil.

The Cluster fly is 6–10mm in length. It has a dark grey–olive thorax clothed with crinkled golden–brown hairs. Wings overlap when at rest. Sluggish in flight.

Cluster flies are commonly found in quiet, undisturbed parts of your home, such as attics and wall voids. They require warm places to hibernate over winter. You may see a large group of cluster flies around a window, as they are attracted to the light on sunny winter days.

Eggs laid in soil in late summer or early autumn. Larva develop in earthworms – feeding on their host for several days. Then they molt and pupate in the soil. Development time from egg to adult is about 27 to 39 days.

The Drain fly is 2mm in length. It has a tan coloured body that appears as grey. The wings densely covered in hair and held tent–like over the body when at rest.

Drain flies are often associated with sewage beds, where larvae feed on sludge–like organic matter. They are also known by a variety of names; drain fly, sewage fly and moth fly are a few examples.

Eggs hatch 1–6 days. Larvae 10–50 days to mature. Pupae 1–3 days to mature.

The Flesh fly is 6-14mm long. It's thorax is light grey and has 3 dark longitudinal stripes. The abdomen is also light grey, spotted with dark patches to give a checker board appearance.

The Flesh flies are attracted to decaying wastes, excrement and human foods – making a threat to human health.

Lifecycle lasts for 2-4 weeks. The female deposits live larvae on a suitable feeding medium (this can range from spoilt meat or fish, or animal excrement, or in decaying food waste found in garbage bins). Larvae feed for a few days, then move away from the feeding medium to pupate in adjacent drier parts.

The common Fruit fly is 3mm in length and yellow–brown or mottled in colour. It has bright red eyes. The abdomen hangs down in flight, which is slow, and they tend to hover.

Fruit flies are commonly found infesting fruit or hovering around fermenting residues found in pubs, fruit orchards & vegetables plots and breweries.

They can breed in rotten fruit, unclean drains and even cleaning utensils. Develops to adult in 7–30 days. Adult lives 2–9 weeks. In ideal temperature conditions, fruit flies can complete their development in as little as 1 week.

Horse flies are a particular pest to livestock. Relentless biting attacks by females can result in reduced weight gain in some animals. Male horse flies are mainly pollen and nectar feeders and are most active during daylight hours. Horse fly bites can be very painful for humans too.They have mouth parts that work like miniature knives, which they use to slash open the skin with a scissor–like motion.

Mating is initiated in the air and completed on the ground where the female then deposits an egg mass sometimes with a shiny or chalky secretion, which aids in water protection. Eggs are laid in masses ranging from 100 to 1000 eggs on a vertical surface overhanging water or wet ground favourable to larvae development. The eggs hatch in 5–7 days. They overwinter in the larval stage and pupate during the spring and early summer. Adult life cycle is 30 to 60 days.

House flies are major carriers of disease and can infest all types of premises. They are attracted to all types of food, including human food, pet food, animal feed, food waste and even faeces. Seeing adult flies is usually the most common sign of activity and a potential problem. Larvae may also be seen as they crawl out of breeding material to pupate.

House flies are able to quickly mature from an egg to an adult. They breed in moist decaying vegetable matter eg. in uncovered dustbin or pet food.
• Eggs are laid in batches of 120 to 150 and can hatch in 8 – 72 hours.
• The larvae of House Flies can take 3 – 60 days to mature.
• Pupae matures in 3 – 28 days.

Once indoors, house flies can be found resting on walls, floors or ceilings. Outdoors they can be seen on plants, the ground, fences, compost heaps and rubbish bins. At night they prefer to rest near food sources approx. 5 to 15 feet off the ground.

Lacewings are considered an important predator of mealybugs in both greenhouses and interior plantscapes. They also feed on (among others) several species of aphids, spider mites (especially red mites), thrips, whiteflies, small caterpillars and beetle larvae. Adults are active fliers, particularly during the evening and at night. They have a characteristic fluttering flight.

They feed on pollen and also need nectar or honeydew as food before laying eggs. Oval shaped eggs are laid at the end of long silken stalks. These single eggs start off green and turn grey after a few days. The active larvae are grey or brownish. They are alligator–like with well–developed legs and large pincers with which they suck the body fluids from prey insects such as aphids. Lacewings are often used as a biological integrated insect control program.

Sand flies, biting midges, live around freshwater creeks, intertidal estuaries and mangroves.