Shore flies are small flies of the family Ephydridae, mainly Scatella species, about 2-3 mm long. They look like stout house flies with short antennae and dark wings marked by five or so pale spots. Larvae feed on algae and microbial films on wet media, floors, benches and drip trays.
In practice
Shore flies turn up wherever algae grows: wet rockwool cubes, flooded trays, hydro reservoirs open to light and puddled floors. They are not considered major root feeders, unlike fungus gnat larvae, but adults leave dark specks of frass on leaves and can carry pathogen spores between plantsbeing reviewed. Control is mostly sanitation and water management: cover cubes and reservoirs, remove standing water, and reduce algae on surfaces. Yellow sticky traps show numbers. Some fungus gnat predators also take shore fly larvae, but fixing the algae solves most cases.
Don't confuse with
- Fungus gnat: slender, long-legged and weak fliers; larvae eat roots.
- Fruit fly: red eyes, attracted to fermenting material.
- Whitefly: white wings, lives on leaves.
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