Let’s Talk Treatment

It’s all about strategy when it comes to a successful small fly treatment. You need to identity the type of fly, locate the breeding source and then determine the best form of treatment. When it comes to the type of product PMPs turn to most, drain foams/gels (87%) and IGRs (70%) top the list, found the 2025 PCT State of the Small Fly Control Market survey.

In addition to selecting a treatment, there are some other basics that can go a long way to providing stellar service. Here’s some helpful advice from PMPs.

Consistency is key

On average, 17.8% of commercial kitchen customers have regular small fly problems that require at least one service visit per quarter. PMPs stress the importance of staying on top of appointments — especially before summer, which PMPs report as their busiest season for small fly control service calls. “This is especially important to start around spring. That’s when I start telling the other PMPs to get their fly traps working, because that’s the first line of defense,” said Andy Nieves, BHB Pest Elimination. “You want to change all the fly machine bulbs in a location so that you have optimal attractiveness for them. A lot of times if you don’t change that bulb, the fly machine looks fine, but it’s not really. Its range is limited.”

Consider the location

Whether you’re dealing with a small fly problem in a home, a restaurant or a commercial space, it’s vital to consider what the space is used for and what kind of treatment is safe.

“In the meat market that I take care of they have raw meat they’re cutting for retail sales. Everything goes down the drain,” said Melisa Arnold, Horizon Pest Solutions. “I make sure that those drains are completely treated with a bio cleaner and an IGR that’s approved for drain use.”

For the grain elevators that she treats, she depends on parasitic wasps to control small flies.

“Their only job is to eat fly larva and eat the flies when they emerge,” said Arnold. “Doing that type of service once a month doesn’t completely eliminate the small fly problem, but it results in a 75% to 80% reduction of flies.”

Don’t overlook the basics

Sure, you can use a variety of treatments for most small flies. But don’t forget the fundamentals of having (and keeping) a clean, sanitized space. In fact, physical sanitation/deep cleaning accounts for 50% of treatments used by PMPs for small fly situations.

“Usually it’s cleanliness, sanitation and cleaning that makes sure small flies don’t return,” said Greg Bausch, American City Pest & Termite.

Empower your clients

You can’t be at every client’s house or business on the daily to point out what needs to be cleaned or sanitized. But you can empower your clients to take control between service calls.

“We recommend that our customers who have a persistent small fly problem use a foaming drain cleaner nightly before they go to bed,” said Dylan Blasingame, Blasingame Pest Management. “It needs time to sit in those drains and work before a client uses the drains again. It’s just not possible for us to go out to our customers every day.”