.png){kind=logo}
Flying Insects
Ontario hosts a variety of flying insects that become active especially in spring and summer. Flying insects are airborne pests that can be nuisance, health hazards, or cause property damage. They include species such as mosquitoes, flies, gnats, moths, wasps, bees, hornets, yellow jackets, and flying ants.
​
-
Where Found: Indoors (near windows, kitchens, lights) and outdoors (gardens, trash bins, standing water, trees).
-
Behavior: Attracted to light, food, moisture, and organic matter.
-
Food Sources: Nectar, sweet liquids, decaying matter, ripe fruits, meats, and other insects.
-
Risks: Bites, stings, disease transmission (e.g., mosquitoes), food contamination (e.g., flies), or damage to fabrics and stored goods (e.g., moths).
Control: Seal entry points, remove attractants (food, water), use screens/traps, and seek professional pest control for nests or infestations.
​​Common Types:
​​​
-
Mosquitoes: Thrive in standing water; females bite and may transmit diseases like West Nile virus.
-
Flies (House & Fruit Flies): Attracted to decaying matter, garbage, and ripe fruits; common indoors.
-
Moths: Pantry and clothes moths can damage stored food and fabrics.
-
Gnats: Tiny insects found around moist soil, drains, or overripe fruits.
-
Wasps, Hornets, Yellow Jackets, Bees: Build nests in eaves, trees, or ground; can sting; some are aggressive.
-
Flying Ants: Winged reproductive ants swarming during mating season, often mistaken for termites.
Mosquitoes
1. Mosquitoes (Family Culicidae)
​
Habitat & Where They’re Found:
-
Breed in standing water: storm drains, ponds, bird baths, rain barrels, marsh edges; larvae are aquatic
Characteristics:
-
Four-stage life cycle: egg, larva (“wriggler”), pupa, adult
-
Only females bite humans and animals for blood to develop eggs
Life Cycle & Reproduction:
Eggs hatch in 1–2 days; larvae undergo ~4 instars; pupal stage ~2 days; development from egg to adult in under 10 days at 22–27 °C
-
-
Adults live days to months; eggs (especially Aedes) can survive dry conditions for >1 year .
Signs & Infestation:
-
Bites, buzzing around indoors, presence of larvae when water is disturbed.
-
Increased activity in summer months (May–October).
How Did You Get It?:
-
From outdoor exposure: lawns, forested trails, wetlands.
Food Source:
-
Adults feed on nectar; females also need blood meals for egg maturation.
Interior vs. Exterior:
-
Exterior pest breeding outdoors; adults may enter buildings to feed and rest.
Extermination Procedures:
-
Larval control: remove standing water; use larvicidal treatments in ponds/drains
-
Adult control: use COâ‚‚/fan traps, UV traps, box-fan setups, and professional spraying
-
IPM: integrate environmental management, traps, and limited chemical use.
Preparation (Client Guidelines):
-
Eliminating all sources of stagnant water.
-
Use screens, fans at windows/doors.
-
Consider COâ‚‚ traps or box-fan traps inside.
Wear repellent outdoors and schedule treatments pre- and mid‑summer.
Hornets, Wasps, Bees, and
Yellow Jackets
3. Hornets, Wasps, Bees & Yellow Jackets
​
Habitat & Where They’re Found:
-
Nests in attics, wall/soffit voids, eaves, fence posts, trees, ground burrows, rodent nests, and woodpiles. Yellow jackets may build underground nests; paper wasps prefer overhead eaves and branches
​​
Characteristics:
-
Social insects with black/yellow or reddish bodies, 12–18 mm (Yellow Jackets). Workers have two pairs of wings, short antennae; queens are larger.
Life Cycle & Reproduction:
-
Complete metamorphosis: egg → larva → pupa → adult; lifecycle ~6 weeks
-
Queen overwinters and establishes new colony each spring; colony peaks in late summer, then dies except for mated queens
​
Signs & Infestation:
-
Visible papery nests, increased activity at dusk or daylight, finding live wasps near walls/ground, hearing buzzing in attic walls or vents
​
How Did They Get In?:
-
Queens scout in spring, finding sheltered cavities—attics, eaves, underground burrows where they build nests.
Food Source:
-
Adults feed on nectar, honeydew, ripe fruit, scavenged meat; larvae consume prey brought by adults
Interior vs. Exterior Pest:
-
Both: predominantly exterior, but nests can be in structures, with workers entering indoors.
Extermination Procedures:
-
Nest survey and identification of species/location.
-
Licensed professional removal using PPE and aerosol insecticides or dust; nests are either removed or destroyed—never DIY
-
Follow-up monitoring; ensure queen eradication to prevent recolonization.
-
IPM: seal entry points; remove debris that can harbor nests; limit attractive food sources.
Preparation (Client Guidelines):
-
Keep people/pets away from treatment zones.
-
Seal cracks and vents before nest emergence.
Avoid using perfumes or wearing bright colors outdoors to reduce attraction
Flies
2. Flies (House Flies, Fruit Flies, Cluster & Blow Flies)
Habitat & Where They’re Found:
-
House flies: breed in garbage, manure, compost
-
Fruit flies: attract to fermenting fruit/veggies, drains, spills
Characteristics:
-
Adults up to ~10 mm with two wings, compound eyes; larvae are maggots (legless)
-
Fruit flies smaller (~3–4 mm) with red eyes
Life Cycle & Reproduction:
-
Flies undergo complete metamorphosis: egg → larva → pupa → adult
-
Fruit flies: lifecycle can complete in 8–10 days; females lay ~400–500 eggs
-
House flies: speed depends on temperature, often during summer .
Signs & Infestation:
-
Swarms near garbage, compost, drains, ripe produce.
-
Maggots in decaying matter.
-
House flies present from May–August; fruit flies year-round in kitchens/pantry areas.
How Did You Get It?:
-
Flies enter from outdoors, infest garbage or fermenting matter; fruit flies from fruit bowls or poorly sealed produce.
Food Source:
-
House flies feed on exposed food and organic waste.
-
Fruit flies feed and breed in fermenting fruits, drains, and spills.
Interior vs. Exterior:
-
Exterior-breeding pests with adults active both inside and out.
Extermination Procedures:
-
Sanitation: seal bins, clean spills, avoid exposed produce
-
Exclusion: install/repair screens, use fans to create air barriers
-
Traps: vinegar bottle traps, sticky strips, UV or light traps for flies
-
Chemical control: targeted insecticides, residual sprays as needed; professional fly control uses glue-lamp traps or sprays .
Preparation (Client Guidelines)
-
Regular cleaning of trash, drains, surfaces.
-
Store produce in fridge or sealed containers.
-
Install screens; use fans in entryways.
Set traps and avoid overwatering plants (keep drain areas dry to deter gnats)
Gnats
4. Gnats (Includes fungus, fruit, drain gnats)
Habitat & Where They’re Found:
-
Fungus gnats thrive in moist soil (houseplants); fruit flies are in fermenting produce/spills; drain gnats in moist drains
​
Characteristics:
-
Tiny flies (1–13 mm), slender bodies with long legs and antennae; poor fliers
Life Cycle & Reproduction:
-
Complete metamorphosis with lifecycle from egg to adult in 1–3 weeks, depending on species and moisture .
Signs & Infestation:
-
Adults hovering around plants, drains, and overripe food; larvae in soil or organic buildup; frequent indoor sightings .
How Did They Get In?:
-
Overwatered plant soil; leaky plumbing; dirty disposals; unsealed compost/food
Food Source:
-
Fungus gnats: fungi and decaying organic matter in soil.
-
Fruit flies: fermenting fruit and sugary residues.
-
Drain gnats: organic film inside drains.
Interior vs. Exterior Pest:
-
Predominantly interior; fungus gnats linked to indoor plants and moisture.
Extermination Procedures:
-
Sanitation: fix leaks, reduce moisture, allow plant soil to dry, clean drains, separate organic waste
-
Traps: yellow sticky cards near plants/drains; vinegar/funnel traps for fruit flies
-
Biological control & soil treatments: beneficial nematodes, Bti, hydrogen peroxide drench
-
Chemical control: insect growth regulators in soil when infestation is severe.
Preparation (Client Guidelines):
-
Let soil dry between waterings; fix plumbing leaks; empty garbage often, clean disposals
-
Use sticky traps; cover fruit and store properly.
-
Install fine mesh screens on drains if needed.
Ontario-Specific Notes
-
Rodent pressure increases in urban areas like Toronto, Mississauga, and Hamilton due to construction and mild winters.
-
Commercial sites (restaurants, groceries) must comply with strict rodent control programs.
-
Public Health Units in Ontario require regular monitoring and documentation in food establishments.
-
Use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides is regulated; must be applied by licensed professionals with tamper-proof bait stations.
Preparation (Customer Guidelines)
-
Access: Clear access to infested areas—attics, basements, behind appliances.
-
Seal: Fill gaps in walls, doors, windows, floors, and foundation (¼ inch or larger).
-
Food Storage: Store dry goods in metal or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.
-
Sanitation:
- Remove pet food at night.
- Clean under stoves, fridges, and cabinets.
- Dispose of garbage daily and use rodent-proof bins.
-
Yard Maintenance:
- Trim bushes, remove wood and debris near the building.
- Keep compost bins tightly closed.
-
Pets: Secure pet food and litter boxes, especially overnight.