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Shore Fly Control

The shore fly Scatella stagnalis is an insect that mainly causes cosmetic damage to a crop, because it defecates on the leaves of a crop. The excrement of the shore fly causes black spots on the foliage. A shore fly feeds with rotting plant material and algae; so the fly does not cause any ‘biting’ damage to the crop. The overfly does transmit plant diseases. 

A large population of shore flies in the greenhouse is also very annoying for the employees, because they could breathe in the insects. Also the shore fly could cause allergic skin-reactions, allergies and asthma.
Shore fly control
Jan-Paul de Wit
Product specialist Crop Protection | January 13, 2023 | 2 min. reading time

Life Cycle of the Shore Fly

A shore fly goes through six stages in its life: the egg stage, three larval stages, a pupal stage and the adult stage. An adult shore fly is about 5 mm long, dark in color and has gray-brown mottled wings. It has short legs, antennae and prominent eyes. The adult bank fly is often confused with the sciarid fly, but both insects cause different damage. It is otherwise more sturdily built than the sciarid fly and has shorter antennae. 

The adult shore fly lays bean-shaped eggs. The larvae that hatch from them are translucent to white in color. In the next stage, they are less translucent and turn brown. Pupation occurs in the upper soil layer. 

Shore fly control

Shore fly control can be done by use of chemical and natural enemies, including nematodes and predatory beetles

Biological shore fly control

Control of shore fly can be done using natural enemies:
  • After administration, the nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (Nemasys C) actively search for the prey and penetrate it, after which they secrete bacteria that kill the prey. 
  • In addition to nematodes, predatory beetles can also be used. The predatory beetle Atheta coriaria is one of the few natural enemies of the shore fly. This predatory beetle is very mobile.
  • The soil predatory mite Hypoaspis or Macrochelis can also be used against the larvae of the shore fly.

Chemical shore fly control

Broad-spectrum pesticides can also be used to control shore fly. 
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Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jan-Paul de Wit will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.

Shore Fly Control

The shore fly Scatella stagnalis is an insect that mainly causes cosmetic damage to a crop, because it defecates on the leaves of a crop. The excrement of the shore fly causes black spots on the foliage. A shore fly feeds with rotting plant material and algae; so the fly does not cause any ‘biting’ damage to the crop. The overfly does transmit plant diseases. 

A large population of shore flies in the greenhouse is also very annoying for the employees, because they could breathe in the insects. Also the shore fly could cause allergic skin-reactions, allergies and asthma.
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Jan-Paul de Wit
Jan-Paul de Wit
Product specialist Crop Protection | January 13, 2023 | 2 min. reading time
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Shore fly control

Life Cycle of the Shore Fly

A shore fly goes through six stages in its life: the egg stage, three larval stages, a pupal stage and the adult stage. An adult shore fly is about 5 mm long, dark in color and has gray-brown mottled wings. It has short legs, antennae and prominent eyes. The adult bank fly is often confused with the sciarid fly, but both insects cause different damage. It is otherwise more sturdily built than the sciarid fly and has shorter antennae. 

The adult shore fly lays bean-shaped eggs. The larvae that hatch from them are translucent to white in color. In the next stage, they are less translucent and turn brown. Pupation occurs in the upper soil layer. 

Shore fly control

Shore fly control can be done by use of chemical and natural enemies, including nematodes and predatory beetles

Biological shore fly control

Control of shore fly can be done using natural enemies:
  • After administration, the nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (Nemasys C) actively search for the prey and penetrate it, after which they secrete bacteria that kill the prey. 
  • In addition to nematodes, predatory beetles can also be used. The predatory beetle Atheta coriaria is one of the few natural enemies of the shore fly. This predatory beetle is very mobile.
  • The soil predatory mite Hypoaspis or Macrochelis can also be used against the larvae of the shore fly.

Chemical shore fly control

Broad-spectrum pesticides can also be used to control shore fly. 
Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jan-Paul de Wit will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.
Jan-Paul de Wit
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