Phorid Fly (Scuttle Fly)
Scientific Name: Megaselia scalaris (likely)
Order & Family: Order: Diptera, Family: Phoridae
Size: 0.5 mm to 6 mm (typically around 3 mm)
Natural Habitat
Commonly found indoors near decaying organic matter, sewer lines, trash cans, and sinks.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on decaying plant and animal matter; adults feed on liquid organic materials and nectar.
Behavior Patterns
Known for their distinctive habit of running rapidly across surfaces (scuttling) instead of flying immediately when disturbed.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risk as a mechanical vector of pathogens from filth to food; ecosystem benefit as primary decomposers of organic waste.
Identified on: 5/15/2026