Phorid Flies breeding somewhere in Refrigerator!!
#1
10-04-19, 05:31 AM
Phorid Flies breeding somewhere in Refrigerator!!
So I was in the hospital and away from my house for almost 2 weeks. When I came home I began to notice what I thought were fruit flies. After research and investigation, I believe they are Phorid flies. I’ve treated the drains and caught easily over a hundred with cups of vinegar placed on glue boards. They are in the kitchen and also I’m catching them in my bathroom. I also see them flying in my bedroom. FYI, I’ve never seen any flies around my drains, nor did I catch any by taping over the drains. After treating the drains, they did decrease considerably but then returned en force. I opened my fridge yesterday and thought I saw one fly out so began to investigate further. I cleaned the entire inside which was minimally soiled. It’s a fairly new one. The last drawer I removed was the large meat/cheese drawer and there were probably 20-30 dead flies under there. There are a couple vents under that drawer which makes me believe they must be breeding somewhere INSIDE the guts of the fridge. So....NOW WHAT!????
Anonymous3839484
voted this post useful.
#2
10-04-19, 10:04 AM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
I would think inside of those vents is too cold for them to breed. I may be wrong.
One area that can cause problems is the drip pan under the fridge. It's connected to the drain in the fridge/freezer area with a hose. You should be able to see the pan by either removing the front kick plate or pulling the fridge away from the wall and look in the back. One drop of protein like blood from meat can cause havoc.
I would think inside of those vents is too cold for them to breed. I may be wrong.
One area that can cause problems is the drip pan under the fridge. It's connected to the drain in the fridge/freezer area with a hose. You should be able to see the pan by either removing the front kick plate or pulling the fridge away from the wall and look in the back. One drop of protein like blood from meat can cause havoc.
PAbugman
voted this post useful.
#3
10-04-19, 03:29 PM
Along with the drip pan, see if there is an actual drain and hose from the bottom of fridge that goes to the pan. Our old fridge did, new one does not. New one actually has what look like vents on the bottom of fridge, under the drawers; have no idea what they do or where they go but things like this could be an avenue for them. You'll have to pull the drawers out.
The flies in the fridge, drain and house could all be secondary to a primary infestation somewhere else. Check pantry, closets for stored produce, especially potatoes. It's easy to forget about potatoes but when they spoil, fruit flies, phorids, etc love 'em. Though it's rare anymore, check pantry for leaking canned goods, especially tomato based cans and canned fruit and canned pet food.
Hoping you are done with the hospital; welcome home!
The flies in the fridge, drain and house could all be secondary to a primary infestation somewhere else. Check pantry, closets for stored produce, especially potatoes. It's easy to forget about potatoes but when they spoil, fruit flies, phorids, etc love 'em. Though it's rare anymore, check pantry for leaking canned goods, especially tomato based cans and canned fruit and canned pet food.
Hoping you are done with the hospital; welcome home!
#4
10-06-19, 04:04 AM
Pic of under the meat and cheese drawer
I’m going to try to post the pic I took of the dead flies in the fridge under the drawer I pulled out. I think the reply that mentioned the vents on the new refrigerators is on to something. I think they either got blown or sucked up the vent on the sides under this drawer, maybe from the drain pan area or something like that. Gonna try to pull it out today and investigate. Ewwww. @PAbugman, thank you! I’m recovering very well except for these tiny torturers AND armadillos in my yard who are destroying my grass and flowers.
#5
10-06-19, 05:12 AM
They should not be able to get from the drain pan into the fridge.
The units I have seen all have a s trap or a duck bill type drain which should stop them.
Perhaps the make and model may help determine where they are breeding.
Still worth while pulling the unit out and checking the drip tray.
Could be that they flying when you open the door especially at night when they see the light.
Perhaps where they are dying is the warmest place in the fridge so that is where they go.
Since you are pulling the fridge out it would be a good time to check/clean the vents, fan blades and condenser/compressor coils.
The units I have seen all have a s trap or a duck bill type drain which should stop them.
Perhaps the make and model may help determine where they are breeding.
Still worth while pulling the unit out and checking the drip tray.
Could be that they flying when you open the door especially at night when they see the light.
Perhaps where they are dying is the warmest place in the fridge so that is where they go.
Since you are pulling the fridge out it would be a good time to check/clean the vents, fan blades and condenser/compressor coils.
PAbugman
voted this post useful.
#6
10-06-19, 11:33 AM
Group Moderator
Wootieli
voted this post useful.
#7
10-07-19, 04:48 AM
Hi, thanks, the make/model is LG LFX25973D. I’m very sure those flies in the pic have not flown into the fridge as I have only ever seen a live one around the door once. They are not at all flying around the doors. I’m really very sure the one I saw around the doors was flying out and not in.
#8
10-07-19, 06:07 AM
Drain tube does look like it has a flapper on it but it is hard to tell for sure from the pictures I found.
This is a single evaporator unit so if the flies are breeding in the drip pan they have to go up into the freezer evaporator area and then be blown up into the fresh food section through the vents at the back,
So it is worth while checking this out.
I am not a bug expert but I would think that they would need a moist warm area to breed and I cannot think of such an area in side a fridge.
This is a single evaporator unit so if the flies are breeding in the drip pan they have to go up into the freezer evaporator area and then be blown up into the fresh food section through the vents at the back,
So it is worth while checking this out.
I am not a bug expert but I would think that they would need a moist warm area to breed and I cannot think of such an area in side a fridge.
Wootieli
voted this post useful.
#9
10-09-19, 03:26 AM
So I got brave and pulled out the refrigerator yesterday. Pulled off the service panel and could not find anything live in the drip tray. There was some dried matter to one side which could have well been the larvae. But the other side of the tray has water standing and there is nothing alive in any parts that I could see. I was probably too reluctant to dig in and pull out the drain tube and such but I could not see any signs of active live larvae. I have some InVade Bio Drain that I’ve been using in the drains so I just diluted some with some water and poured it in the drip tray for good measure. I did see another live fly come out when I opened the doors yesterday (which prompted this investigation) but there are next to no new dead ones under that “Glide and Serve” drawer right now. Should I just call a service man out to pull this thing apart?
#10
10-09-19, 05:31 AM
I don't know what to suggest as far as calling a repair guy. Could help, or it could be going off in the wrong direction. What about calling the manufacturers help line, if there is one, and asking about the drain line and access to it and if you could flush it out with hot water, disinfectant, etc.? I'd do that before calling someone out.
Otherwise, how is the fly density in the rest of the house? Usually, with the smaller fly species, the source is near where you find the greatest density of adults, but not always.
Another thought; if there is insulation behind/under the fridge and if it got wet then that could be a breeding ground. Very slow leaks or dampness are harder to find than are fast leaks as they evaporate before discovery, but wet enough to offer a breeding site. You probably would have smelled it though.
Don't get "locked in" on the fridge being the culprit just yet.
Do you have house plants inside? Fungus gnats are similar in size and appearance to phorids. They come from overwatered soil, especially if Spanish moss or any type of barrier covers the soil.
Otherwise, how is the fly density in the rest of the house? Usually, with the smaller fly species, the source is near where you find the greatest density of adults, but not always.
Another thought; if there is insulation behind/under the fridge and if it got wet then that could be a breeding ground. Very slow leaks or dampness are harder to find than are fast leaks as they evaporate before discovery, but wet enough to offer a breeding site. You probably would have smelled it though.
Don't get "locked in" on the fridge being the culprit just yet.
Do you have house plants inside? Fungus gnats are similar in size and appearance to phorids. They come from overwatered soil, especially if Spanish moss or any type of barrier covers the soil.
#11
10-14-19, 08:32 AM
Well at this point I think I may have them licked. I’ve been treating the drains for a couple weeks consistently plus pouring that enzyme stuff in the drain pan in the fridge. I put out new traps last Thursday and have only trapped one fly
So I will continue my drain treatments at least weekly for awhile. Oh and I did have one plant which I took outside but didn’t find any activity in it. I need to pull out that storage drawer again to see if they are still dying in there but I’m almost afraid to know. Would the larvae be obvious or are they smaller than the flies? Thanks to everyone who has replied with suggestions. I really do appreciate that!
So I will continue my drain treatments at least weekly for awhile. Oh and I did have one plant which I took outside but didn’t find any activity in it. I need to pull out that storage drawer again to see if they are still dying in there but I’m almost afraid to know. Would the larvae be obvious or are they smaller than the flies? Thanks to everyone who has replied with suggestions. I really do appreciate that!
#12
10-14-19, 02:46 PM
Sounds like you are on top of the problem. I can't tell how big or small the larvae are from the quick searches I did. Don't know if they're visible to the eye or not. I wouldn't count on it.
One time we had a small fly problem in our bathroom and were baffled as it is spotless. Turns out that underneath our shower door there was a scum buildup between the top of tub and the shower door frame that was not visible. You've covered the common places, so if the problem returns it may be time to look in unconventional places, though it seems the fridge is involved.
One time we had a small fly problem in our bathroom and were baffled as it is spotless. Turns out that underneath our shower door there was a scum buildup between the top of tub and the shower door frame that was not visible. You've covered the common places, so if the problem returns it may be time to look in unconventional places, though it seems the fridge is involved.
#13
10-21-19, 08:39 AM
Oh wow!! Good information to know! Could you see the larvae in that space or it was visible? So I think I’ve licked them. Only 3 flies on glue trap in two weeks and none are recent. And have only seen one fly loose. But I guess it only takes 2 flies to start this nightmare back up. Thanks!!
#14
10-24-19, 03:52 PM
Only saw adult flies in the shower scum, but never saw the scum until we directed water jet spray between shower frame and tub. This kind of stuff can hide right in front of us. Hoping you're experiencing good results.
#15
10-27-19, 03:36 AM
Congregated in one place
Hello,
For some strange reason I’ve been finding clusters of these flies in the middle rubber part of my fridge door. They seem to be attracted to that one particular location and they’re flying to it, not out of the fridge. I still can not locate the source yet, but does anyone have any idea as to why they’re attracted to this location? I’ve looked on the inside and seems the coldest part is the middle.
For some strange reason I’ve been finding clusters of these flies in the middle rubber part of my fridge door. They seem to be attracted to that one particular location and they’re flying to it, not out of the fridge. I still can not locate the source yet, but does anyone have any idea as to why they’re attracted to this location? I’ve looked on the inside and seems the coldest part is the middle.
#16
10-27-19, 06:46 AM
Any chance that the rubber gasket has a sticky spot on it and they are simply getting stuck there as opposed to attracted to it? If so, maybe they are also attracted to whatever is sticky because of sweetness or something. Have you tried cleaning the gasket thoroughly to see if the behavior stops?
Can you post close up and non-blurry pics of these flies? There are quite a few species of small flies that invade homes and knowing their proper ID is paramount to solving the problem. The habitats, breeding, food behaviors can be quite different among the fly species which make finding the source just as different.
Can you post close up and non-blurry pics of these flies? There are quite a few species of small flies that invade homes and knowing their proper ID is paramount to solving the problem. The habitats, breeding, food behaviors can be quite different among the fly species which make finding the source just as different.
#17
10-28-19, 03:57 AM
Here is my fly
Hey PABugman, is this the Phorid fly I suspected it was (hope this attachment works)? Also as an update, I have not seen any flies in awhile now. The other day I was lying in bed and suddenly there’s this small fly buzzing me. Never been so grateful to see a mosquito!!!
#18
10-28-19, 08:46 AM
Hi! I've cleaned out the rubber lining on the freezer door, the inside of the fridge and also the drip pan in back. Here's a closeup picture of the bugs. For some strange reason they seem to be trying to enter the fridge in the same exact location. They are in fact not coming from inside, but outside of the fridge.
Thank you in advance.
Flies
Fridge door. Usually more.
Flies on tape
Thank you in advance.
Flies
Fridge door. Usually more.
Flies on tape
Last edited by Flies911; 10-28-19 at 08:47 AM. Reason: Typo
#21
10-28-19, 11:56 AM
There is a lot of good info on the internet about finding and understanding phorid flies. It's not always simple. Here is one good example of info.
https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/phorid-flies.htm
https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/phorid-flies.htm
#22
11-03-19, 06:36 PM
Thank you for the reply. I've done a deep cleaning of the kitchen and fridge and did not seem to find the source of the breeding. There's a few smaller ones still flying around but not as infested anymore. Fingers crossed they're now gone.
#23
11-04-19, 03:52 AM
Hey flies911, so I never found the source of mine either but I used these two products I found on Amazon. One is to kill the larvae in the drains. The other is to clear the gunk from the sides of the drains in which in larvae survive. I tried putting tape over the drains for a day and night to verify they were coming from the drains and never got a single fly on the tape. But this stuff did it anyhow. I used one entire bottle of the Fly Killer and thought I had my problem licked but they made a reemergence, so that’s when I also bought the biodrain stuff and a second bottle of Fly Killer. That has worked and I’m so glad to be Phorid fly free!! Oh and I also diluted some Bio Drain and put it in my fridge drip pan. Prob not a bad idea to add the Fly Killer to that too even though I never saw the larvae. But I treated every single drain in my house. Your flies look exactly like mine. I cleaned out my freezer the other day and found a long dead one.
#24
11-10-19, 04:20 AM
Back with a vengeance
I had a moment of relief but came home today and discovered an amount of phorid flies in the fridge instead of the freezer now. Seems they’re on their second breeding and have now moved from the freezer to the fridge. I’ve never seen that many inside the fridge before and this time it’s all over the bottom near the drawer. I’ve already cleaned out the drip pan and inside the fridge but today they’ve reappeared again! I’m about to buy a whole new fridge as I don’t know what to do to clear it out. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
#25
11-11-19, 03:49 PM
Look inside the fridge but on the bottom, underneath the drawers. Is there a drain that probably goes down to the drip pan? Our previous one had that. If so, force/flush hot water and maybe a cleaner down through. Otherwise, I'm at a loss but I'll keep thinking on it. Keep us posted.
#26
12-12-19, 04:42 PM
WOW - I almost thought this was my post, and my photos.
Our flies showed up in fridge & freezer after the NEW fridge blew a fuse while we were away for 4 weeks from Florida in the summer. Everything melted.
Unfortunately, as it is a built in refirgerator we could not access the drip pan. I had mfr out here a couple of times & they said there was no way they could get to it except by uninstalling. THey told us that they could not do that - the company that installed it would have to. But that company refused to come help because the Builder never paid them, so until they get paid they can't help us. (Eventually we paid them directly, and are in litigation with builder) We cleaned & cleaned as best we could - the smell stayed for several months, as did the flies. We would sometimes find them in ice cubes from the ice maker. But there were less & less, until maybe a year later and we never see them anymore. Like you, I used a lot of vinegar. We even saw a afew flying around upstairs.
Our flies showed up in fridge & freezer after the NEW fridge blew a fuse while we were away for 4 weeks from Florida in the summer. Everything melted.
Unfortunately, as it is a built in refirgerator we could not access the drip pan. I had mfr out here a couple of times & they said there was no way they could get to it except by uninstalling. THey told us that they could not do that - the company that installed it would have to. But that company refused to come help because the Builder never paid them, so until they get paid they can't help us. (Eventually we paid them directly, and are in litigation with builder) We cleaned & cleaned as best we could - the smell stayed for several months, as did the flies. We would sometimes find them in ice cubes from the ice maker. But there were less & less, until maybe a year later and we never see them anymore. Like you, I used a lot of vinegar. We even saw a afew flying around upstairs.
#27
09-14-21, 01:30 AM
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 1
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Their secret hideout...
To anyone still having this issue: I have carefully observed these Phorid flies and watched them nest within 3 separate refrigerators, in 3 separate apartments (this includes a mini fridge that contains no drip pan). They appear to live inside of the freezer and fridge doors. They can be seen scurrying into small gaps between the door itself & the attached rubber seal. They also squeeze into the crimped sheet metal on the 4 corners of the front, and four corners of the back face, of the appliance (these are 45 degree bends that are found on most models, and usually have about a 1-2 mm gap where the bends meet).
After treating these areas with clear lines of silicon, and following the other tips in this thread, I have been Phorid Free for months now.
After treating these areas with clear lines of silicon, and following the other tips in this thread, I have been Phorid Free for months now.
