Scatella spp.

Shore fly

Shore fly Scatella stagnalis Adult
Shore fly Scatella stagnalis Adult

General

Shore flies of the genus Scatella are a common greenhouse pest found throughout the United States, Canada and northern Mexico. In Europe and Asia, the species Scatella stagnalis occurs widely. These small black flies can be found naturally at marshy, muddy lake shores and intertidal zones, and they breed readily in other moist environments. In greenhouses, adults feed on algae and their larvae on algae and decaying organic matter on planting substrate. Growers consider shore flies to be mostly a nuisance pest, but the insects can act as vectors for disease organisms, such as Fusarium, among both food crops and ornamentals.

How to get rid of shore flies