Phorid flies

5854    Good day,  Recently my basement bedroom and bathroom have become a hangout to tiny black flies. I can’t figure out where they’re coming from or even what they are.    They rally around the exterior windows when its light out, and then after that are found around other sources of light. A candle burning all night in the bathroom usually kills a dozen or so (bodies found in the wax).   They aren’t attracted to vinegar or alcohol, spraying them with Windex seems to kill them, but they will return to that same window after it was cleaned. They currently number under 20 in each window. But when vacuumed up or killed they return to that number within half an hour.    We noticed them after summer, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Its now November and they’re still here.  I’ve taken a photo of some, can you identify what they are? And how to get rid of them!

These are likelyPhorid flies, also known as humpbacked flies.  They are small  and resemble fruit flies in appearance.  The Phorid fly lacks the red eye color that is the classic trademark of the fruit fly.  Phorid flies are in the small category of flies, measuring up to 1/8 inch in length, including the wings. Color:  Tan brown with black eyes; small head; a severely arched (humpbacked) thorax when viewed from the side. Read More