The short version
Around Tempe, flies are busiest from about March into November. Find their source: trash, drains, compost or a dead animal. Remove it, then seal gaps and screens.
- Flies breed in something nearby.
- Check trash, drains and compost first.
- Tape a drain overnight to test it.
- Big shiny flies can mean a dead animal.
- Screens and door sweeps keep them out.
Anyone in Tempe who wants flies out of the house.
What to look for
Spraying the flies you see won't stop new ones. In summer heat, eggs become adults in about a week. They breed in something nearby. Flies don't come from nowhere.
- 1Flies gathering at sunny windows.
- 2Tiny fuzzy flies near sinks and drains.
- 3Shiny green or blue flies indoors.
- 4Maggots in trash bins.
- 5Flies around compost or pet waste.
- 6A sudden bad smell with flies.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Flies carry germs onto food and counters.
- Populations grow fast in warm weather.
- A dead animal smell gets worse.
Treatment options and typical costs
Source Inspection and Fly Identification
$75–$200
For restaurants and multifamily buildings in Tempe, the inspection usually includes floor drains, grease traps, mop sinks and loading docks. A written findings list is reasonable to request.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; the species points to the breeding site
Sanitation, Source Removal and Drain Bio-Cleaning
$100–$350
Often the cure is a hose, brush and bin liner. Larvae cannot develop in clean, dry material.
- Time
- 1–3 hours
- Best for
- House flies, drain flies, fruit flies; the fix that lasts
Exclusion: Screens, Door Sweeps and Air Curtains
$150–$450 (air curtains more)
Because cluster flies squeeze through very small gaps, exclusion in Tempe also covers soffit vents, siding overlaps and the spaces around utility lines. Fall is the time to do it.
- Time
- 1–4 hours
- Best for
- Buildings with steady fly entry from outside
Light Traps, Baits and Residual Resting-Surface Treatment
$150–$450
For adults inside, light traps and baits can help. This buys time while the source is fixed.
- Time
- 1–2 hours
- Best for
- Knocking down adults while sources are fixed
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Cluster flies spend the winter in attics and wall voids, then come out on warm days.Which flies show up around Tempe.
Fungus gnats hover around overwatered houseplants. Cluster flies are rare around Tempe, so most indoor flies come from trash, drains or a dead animal. A sudden swarm often means something died nearby. Blow flies are shiny green or blue. They breed in the slime inside drains. Drain flies are tiny and fuzzy. They breed in trash, compost and manure. House flies are the most common around Tempe.
Local flies conditions in Tempe.
A provider who works Tempe and Arizona every day can point out the specific conditions that matter most here, and getting the scope, price, and follow-up terms in writing makes it easier to compare options. Knowing Tempe's seasonal timing lets you schedule treatment before the busy stretch rather than after it, which usually means faster service and a more accurate quote. An inspection in Tempe usually starts outside and works inward, checking the foundation, gaps around doors and windows, and any moisture or clutter near the structure first. Around Tempe, the area is mostly urban, so flies pressure can differ from one block to the next depending on how tight the entry points are and how much food, water, or shelter is close by. Tempe sits in a hot desert climate, and that sets the pace for fly activity here: spring through fall; cluster flies overwinter indoors.
Trash bins are the top source in summer. Keep lids closed and rinse bins every week or two.Fly season in Tempe.
That's a long season, so habits matter more than one-time fixes.
Finding the source.
From Tempe out to Scottsdale and Mesa, trash bins in summer are the usual culprit. Likely a dead animal. Bad smell plus big shiny flies? Flies stuck to it mean the drain is the source. Tape over a drain overnight. Check trash bins, recycling and compost first. Watch where flies gather and where they're coming from.
A year of flies in Tempe.
- Spring: flies return. Check screens and door sweeps. - Summer: highs near 106°F in Tempe. Empty trash often. - Fall: numbers stay high. Keep bins rinsed. - Winter: a good time to fix screens and drains.
Which fly is it?
- House fly: gray, a quarter inch, everywhere. - Drain fly: tiny, fuzzy, moth-like wings. - Blow fly: shiny green, blue or bronze. - Cluster fly: big, slow, golden hairs. - Fungus gnat: tiny and black, near plants. - Fruit fly: tan with red eyes, near ripe fruit.
Cleaning a drain fly drain.
- Scrub: run a stiff brush down the drain. - Enzyme: pour in an enzyme drain cleaner at night. - Repeat: do it daily for a week. - Check: tape over the drain to see if flies still emerge. - Skip: bleach alone doesn’t clear the slime.
Keeping flies out.
- Screens: patch holes in windows and doors. - Sweeps: add door sweeps to exterior doors. - Trash: keep lids closed and rinse bins. - Compost: cover it and keep it away from doors. - Pets: pick up waste daily.
Fly traps that actually help.
- Sticky ribbons: fine for garages and sheds. - UV light traps: best for kitchens and businesses. - Bait traps: hang them outside, away from doors. - Swatter: still works for a few strays. - Skip: bug bombs. They don’t reach the source.
If something died nearby.
Follow the smell and the flies. Wear gloves, bag it, and disinfect the spot. A wall may need a small hole opened. The flies stop once the source is gone.
Flies and pets.
Pet food and waste draw flies fast. Pick up food bowls after meals. Clean up the yard daily in summer. Flies biting a dog's ears are usually stable flies. Ask your vet about protection.
Flies at a business.
Restaurants and food businesses need a steady routine. Seal dumpsters and clean them weekly. Use air curtains or strip doors at busy entries. Schedule drain cleaning and regular service visits.
Flies and food safety.
Flies land on trash and then on food. Cover food outdoors and wipe counters often. Throw out food flies have landed on for long. Keep fruit in the fridge in summer.
What a fly visit looks like.
The tech looks for the source first. They check trash areas, drains, attics and gaps by doors. Then they clean, seal or treat what they find. Traps help confirm the problem is gone.
Screens and doors.
- Screens: patch holes and check the corners. - Doors: add sweeps and keep them closed. - Patio doors: a screen door helps in summer. - Fans: a fan by the door keeps flies moving on.
Compost and yard waste.
Flies breed in wet, rotting material. Keep compost covered and turn it often. Bag clippings. Pick up fruit and pet waste every few days.
Trash day habits.
Bag food scraps tightly before they go in the bin. Rinse bins every couple of weeks in warm weather. Keep lids shut and park bins away from doors.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- What kind of fly is it? - Where are they breeding? - What will you clean, seal or treat? - Are follow-up visits included? - Is dead animal removal extra?
What affects the price
- Travel distance and local labor rates.
- Home versus restaurant or multifamily building.
- Fly species and where it breeds.
- Plumbing repairs for slow drains or broken lines.
- Dumpster enclosure and grease area cleanup.
- Number of drains needing bio-cleaning.
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What bothers you most about flies?
When to call for help
Call if you can't find the source after a few days. if you smell something dead in a wall. Businesses usually need regular service.
What you can do yourself
A pro helps with hidden sources, walls and attics. Clean drains, rinse bins and fix screens. Find the source and remove it. Most home fly problems are DIY.
Flies in Tempe
A local provider who knows Tempe and Arizona can point out the specific conditions that matter most here before you commit to a plan. Around Tempe, take a minute to note where you have seen activity and when it appears, so the inspection is faster and the quote more accurate. Around Tempe, most of the housing is urban, so the usual entry points, moisture spots, and sheltered areas near the structure are what an inspection checks first. Tempe has a hot desert climate, and flies activity here tends to pick up spring through fall; cluster flies overwinter indoors. In denser parts of Tempe, dumpsters, alleys and restaurant trash are the big sources. With about 9 inches of rain a year, damp spots around Tempe also breed small flies. Summer highs near 106°F in Tempe speed up the fly life cycle, so trash and compost need extra care.
Fly tips from the experts
Where are the flies coming from?
The kind of fly tells you where to look. Around Tempe, Arizona, note its size, where it gathers and when it shows up. Then go after the source.
Small flies near drains
Tiny, fuzzy flies near a sink or shower usually breed in the slimy film inside the drain. Scrub the drain with a stiff brush. Spraying the adults won’t stop them.
UC IPM: drain fliesHouse flies around doors and trash
House flies breed in garbage, pet waste and rotting plants. Clear those out first, then add screens and keep doors closed. Traps help, but they don’t fix the source.
EPA: managing fliesWarm weather speeds things up
In warm weather, flies go from egg to adult faster. Take trash out often, rinse bins, and keep screens in good repair. Sprays are a last resort, not a fix.
UC IPM: nuisance fliesBased on guidance from university extension services and the EPA.
How we check our sourcesLocal research
Flies in Tempe, AZ: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which flies actually live in Arizona, when they are busiest around Tempe, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
When flies are busiest around Tempe
May–October, tied to irrigation and moisture. Fly breeding needs moist organic matter; in dry climates the sources are irrigated lawn clippings, pet waste, compost, and drains rather than ambient humidity.
Based on Tempe’s hot desert climate profile.
Sources: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; University of New Hampshire Extension. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep flies away
- Keep trash bins closed and rinse them.
- Take trash out often in summer.
- Repair window and door screens.
- Add door sweeps.
- Pick up pet waste daily.
- Clean drains with a brush and enzyme cleaner.
A good quote names the fly, the source, and what will be cleaned, sealed or treated.Did you know?
Phorid flies prefer running to flying
Drain flies are sometimes called moth flies
Questions people ask
How long does professional fly control take to work?
Usually days, once the source is removed. Cluster flies take a season of sealing.
Are fly control treatments safe for kids and pets?
Ask what product they use. Traps and sealing are the gentlest options. Used by the label, yes.
How do I get rid of drain flies for good?
Bleach alone won't do it. Repeat for a week. Then use an enzyme cleaner. Scrub the drain with a stiff brush.
What are the tiny flies in my houseplants?
Yellow sticky cards help. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Usually fungus gnats.
Will fly spray from the store solve the problem?
It kills the flies you hit. It doesn't remove the source they breed in.
Why do tiny flies run across my counter?
Around Tempe, eighty-two percent of 50 North Carolina homes in a 2012 study had phorid flies, the tiny humpbacked flies that run rather than fly when disturbed. Treat it as a rough guide, not a local count.
Why do I suddenly have big shiny flies in my house?
Around Tempe, forty-eight percent of 50 North Carolina homes in a 2012 study had blow flies, the metallic blue or green flies that breed in carrion and garbage.
Are cluster flies common in Tempe?
Around Tempe, house flies and drain flies are more common. Cluster flies are mostly a northern problem. Not really.
When is fly season in Tempe?
Flies are busiest from about March into November. Mild winters keep some flies around.
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Sources (12)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Fly Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides