Fruit Flies vs Fungus Gnats vs Drain Flies: Identification Guide

Small flies indoors look alike, but each type points to a different source.

The short answer

Fruit flies are tan with red eyes and hover around ripe produce and bins. Fungus gnats are small, dark, mosquito-like flies around damp potting soil and plants. Drain flies are fuzzy and moth-like, resting near drains and walls. Identify the fly, find the matching source and remove it: produce and spills, overwatered soil, or drain film.

Fruit flies

• Tan or yellowish with red eyes.
• Around fruit, bins and spills.

Fungus gnats

• Small, dark and slender with long legs.
• Around houseplants, potting soil and damp spots.

Drain flies

• Fuzzy, grey-brown and moth-like.
• Around drains, sinks and damp walls.

What to do

1. Look at where flies gather.
2. Check soil, fruit and drains.
3. Remove the source.
4. Use traps to monitor.

When to call a professional

If the problem is widespread, keeps returning or you are unsure what you are dealing with, a professional inspection will save time and avoid wasted effort.

Frequently asked questions

Can I treat all the same?

No, sources differ.

Do they bite?

None bite.

Which is most common?

Fruit flies in kitchens, gnats in plants.

When to call a professional?

If you can't find the source.

This guide is part of IPest's complete resource on fly control. For identification help, prevention and treatment options, see our full fly control guide for Bangalore.