Different Species of Flies In New Jersey

New Jersey summers bring lots of buzzing insects to our shores and more times than not, it’s the good ol’ common house fly swooping inside when you open your front door. But did you know that New Jersey is actually home to many different species of flies? Crazy enough, there are at least 26 types who call the Garden State “home”, some of which you may never have heard of before.

By learning a bit about each one of these insects, you can better protect your home and garden from them—or if you already have that covered—at least add an extra bit of info to your knowledge bank.

The syrphid fly goes by several names, but you might hear it called the hoverfly or flower fly. But whatever name it goes by, this little insect has perfected the art of blending in. At first glance, you might think it’s a wasp or a bee. That clever costume keeps predators second-guessing about whether it’s worth the risk to get stung (spoiler: it can’t sting at all!).

Syrphid flies sport long black bodies with bright yellow stripes and a slender wasp-like waist. But don’t be fooled—these are gentle creatures. They spend their days hovering over flower beds, sipping nectar and snacking on pollen. And the best part? They’re actually doing you a favor. These mimics are essential pollinators, quietly helping your garden with no danger to you.

True to their name, black horse flies have a thing for horses—and livestock in general. But don’t feel left out—they’re more than happy to chase down humans too. Especially the females, who come packing some serious bite. They don’t actually sting—they saw. Their jaws slice through skin like scissors. One chomp and you’ll be swatting, dancing, and questioning every life decision that led you outdoors.

These flies thrive in rural areas and love to set up shop near water, where they breed and multiply like it’s a full-time job (which, for them, it is). Thanks to their loud buzzing and plus-size frame—some reaching over an inch long with unmistakably large, bulging eyes—you’ll know when one’s headed your way.

You’ve probably seen a cluster fly and thought it was a regular house fly, but they are two different species of flies. Cluster flies often come inside to hibernate during the winter and love to hunker down in your attic or even between the walls. They’re called cluster flies because they gather in large numbers which can become quite a nuisance, especially when they come out of hibernation.

Cluster flies may look like your average housefly at first glance, but don’t be fooled—they’re the plus-sized, fuzzier version. Measuring about half an inch long, these slow-moving flies, have a thorax (that’s the chest) dusted in fine, golden hairs that give them a shimmery, almost glittery glow in the light. Their bellies are decked out in a unique gray-on-gray checkered pattern, and you might spot faint vertical stripes running down their backs.

Unlike the darting, chaotic housefly, cluster flies prefer a more leisurely approach to life. They’re slower, less skittish, and when they rest, their wings fold neatly over their abdomens like a tiny, protective cloak.

Deer flies are small but mighty—usually around 6 to 10 mm in size, with sleek bodies, flashy eyes, and wings that sometimes have dark patterns that make them look like they’re wearing aviators (watch out, Maverick).

But instead of cool, they can actually be quite cruel. Deer flies slice your skin open with their knife-like mouthparts and then lap up your blood like they’re part vampire. And to make it worse? You’ll feel it. There’s no sneaky, numbing mosquito magic here. A deer fly bite feels like someone pinched you with tiny tweezers dipped in fire. So if you see an insect that looks a lot like a small bee, only with more muted tones and wings longer than their bodies—steer clear. You’ll be much happier if you do!

Blow flies are pretty with their metallic blues, greens, and copper coloring, but they carry a dark secret. These shiny bugs are the cleanup crew of the insect world. Often spotted hanging around roadkill, trash, or anything rotten, blow flies play a surprisingly important role: they help break down decaying matter. Gross? Maybe. Vital for the ecosystem? Absolutely.

While they’re typically busy outdoors doing nature’s dirty work, blow flies aren’t above going inside your home. Reaching up to half an inch in length, they’re beefy for a fly. With their large, hairy bodies and unmistakable, vivid red eyes, blow flies are hard to miss. And here’s where they become a little less glamorous: despite their iridescent looks, these flies are major bacteria carriers, especially on their tiny legs, which they proudly plant on whatever “food” or surface they land on.

If you’ve ever left a banana out a day too long you’ve probably noticed these unique species of flies buzzing around. Drawn to anything sweet, sticky, or slightly past its prime, fruit flies are obsessed with rotting produce, open wine bottles, and even your garbage disposal. Got a warm, moist environment? Congratulations—you’ve just opened a five-star fruit fly resort.

Though they’re harmless to humans, they reproduce at lightning speed. You will rarely see just one show up the moment fruit starts to ferment. One overly ripe peach and boom—generation three is already making brunch plans in your sink. And while they’re barely 1/4 inch long, don’t underestimate their speed or agility. Fruit flies are fast little suckers.

They’re usually light brown with slightly darker abdomens, adorned with bright red or dark eyes, transparent wings, and covered in fine hairs. But they are so tiny that you will not see much of those details with the naked eye so stay vigilant, and keep a close eye on your produce.

They’re fuzzy and slow, and their favorite places to be are near your sink and shower drains. Drain flies, also known as moth flies, are the types of flies that you’ll most often see suddenly appearing in your New Jersey bathroom.

At first glance, you might mistake them for miniscule moths thanks to their heart-shaped wings covered in fine hairs. Cute? No, not really—but they are definitely gross. Drain flies are all about that moist, gunky lifestyle, setting up camp in slimy drains, overflow pipes, and anywhere else biofilm builds up. Translation: if it’s damp, dark, and slightly (or not so slightly) disgusting, it’s prime drain fly real estate.

They don’t bite, sting, or carry diseases, but that doesn’t mean they’re welcome guests. Once they find a spot they like, they lay eggs—sometimes 30 to 100 at a time. Within days, you’ve got an entire generation of slimy, black larvae chilling just inside your shower drain.

How do you know you’ve got drain flies? If you see a small, compact insect flying around in your bathroom or near your kitchen sink, you’ve got a prime suspect on your hands. They’re weak fliers—more like hoverers—and they often rest on walls, looking like little specks of lint with wings. Drain flies are actually easy to swat and kill when resting in this manner. The problem lies in the many you don’t see.

If there is one type of fly that’s mastered the art of being annoying and unsanitary all at once, it’s the common house fly. Everyone knows about them and has dealt with their fair share of these elusive pests.

Gray with compound eyes, house flies grow to about ¼ inch long and you will usually hear their unmistakable buzzing sound before you ever see them. Not only are they incredibly common, but filthy doesn’t begin to describe them. They love to hang out in feces, trash, rotten produce and other organic materials and then bring all of that residue to your pristine kitchen counters. That’s not all. They can’t chew, so they vomit digestive juices onto their food, liquifying it so that they can slurp it up.

So the sandwich you just swatted that fly away from, probably has puke, and possibly worse, on it. You’re welcome.

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