Stable Fly

Stable flies resemble house flies but have a piercing proboscis used for blood-feeding. They are about 1/4 inch long, grayish-brown with seven dark spots on the abdomen. Unlike house flies, they typically rest with their heads pointing upwards.

You'll likely notice painful bites, especially around ankles and lower legs, during daylight hours. Stable flies often congregate near animal enclosures, decaying vegetation, and damp areas. Check for flies resting on sunny walls or fences near stables, barns, or beaches around Myrtle Beach.

MBPC offers targeted treatments to control stable fly populations around your Grand Strand property. Our licensed technicians can apply residual insecticides to surfaces where stable flies rest and breed, following SC Department of Pesticide Regulation guidelines. We also recommend source reduction to eliminate breeding sites.

Remove decaying vegetation, manure, and stagnant water from your property to eliminate breeding sites. Keep compost piles covered and aerated. Use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin when spending time outdoors, especially near beaches and marshes in the Myrtle Beach area.

Stable flies thrive in coastal areas like Myrtle Beach due to the abundance of decaying organic matter, sandy beaches, and humid conditions. They breed in decaying hay, straw, grass clippings, and manure. They are often found near stables, livestock, beaches, and marshy areas along the Grand Strand.

Peak activity: Spring-Fall