Eye Gnats
Hippelates Flies
Eye Flies
Eye flies actually do not bite, but are included in our biting flies section as they are a major annoyance to animals. It's accidental, but spiney mouth parts and the constant feeding of animal secretions on the face and eyes is actually causes physical injury and the potential to transmit disease.
- Fly Species
- eye gnats, eye flies, hippelates flies, frit flies, grass flies
- Family: Chloropidae
- Genus: Hippelates
- Locations
- Size
- 1/25 - 1/8 inch (1.5 - 2.5mm)
- Identify
- Very small, shiny dark gray or black with clear wings.
- Looks like a tiny house fly.
- Life Cycle
- The entire life cycle lasts approximately 21 days.
- Eggs hatch from moist soil in about 3 days.
- The larvae feed on decaying organic matter for 7-11 days and then pupate close to the surface of soil for about 6 days.
- Breeding
- Freshly plowed, irrigated soil, whether sandy or gravely.
- Usually with heavy cover crop or application of organic fertilizer.
- Feeding
- Feed on animal secretions from the eyes and face as well as mucous, sores, pus and even blood.
- Some species are attracted to the genital organs of mammals.
- Congregation
- Fields with livestock and suburban areas bordering woods.
- Often enter homes during the fall to hibernate.
- Travel
- Adults are strong flyers, with and against the wind.
- Have been known to be a mile or more from their breeding site.
- Health Importance
- Can transmit pathogenic bacteria.
- The constant annoyance and irritation of the eyes is known to cause "pink eye" in human beings.
- Facilitates infections such as conjunctivitis, mastitis, and other diseases in farm animals.
- How to Kill / Control
- To get rid of eye gnats:
- Exclusion
- Use Fly Sprays to kill adult flies
- View our Fly Control page for extended information on these methods.
- Extra Info
- Eye gnats don't bite for blood, so the major cause of injury and encouraging of pathogenic bacteria is the scratching of spines located on the lip of the flies mouth parts.
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