July 5, 2019
Commercial Pest Control in Frisco, TX
Most people don’t realize that flies do something very similar to vomiting when they eat! Since flies can't chew, they spit-up enzymes onto their food to dissolve it so they can drink it; and it's what they do when landing on food meant for human consumption.
Sadly, that’s not the only disgusting problem associated with flies. They may have landed on feces before landing on your food, and can then transfer serious, contagious diseases to humans such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.
What is Bringing These Disgusting Pests to Frisco Kitchens?
Warmer weather means barbecues and family picnics, fresh fruits and vegetables, and more time spent outdoors. The warm weather also brings flies, attracted to garbage, rotting produce, animal manure, and rotting plant debris. They like to lay their eggs in or near their food sources, and they come inside your home to find these resources.
There are two types of indoor flies.
Small indoor flies:
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Drain flies – tend to breed in drains. They carry bacteria which can potentially make you sick. They feed on decaying food or other organic matter.
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Fruit flies – the name says it all. They are attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables.
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Fungus gnats – are often mistaken for fruit flies but are smaller.
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Phorid flies – researchers released this South American fly species in Texas to study their effect on ant populations. Phorid flies also breed on decaying organic matter and are capable of transferring bacteria from surface to surface which can be a health concern. They are often found in clogged drains or broken sewer lines. They, too, are often mistaken for fruit flies.
Large indoor flies:
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Carrion flies – lay their eggs in decaying flesh.
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House flies – lay eggs in warm, moist material that will become food for the larvae. The female may lay as many as five or six batches of eggs (75-100 eggs per batch.) Their eggs generally hatch in 12-24 hours in warm weather.
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Soldier flies – a few species are found in feces or decaying fruit and produce, or under the bark of rotting wood.
How Can I Deter Flies?
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Do not leave food out; otherwise, be sure to keep it covered.
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Use or discard over-ripe fruit and vegetables.
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Keep breeding areas clean: cracks, crevices, trash areas, around and under appliances, kitchen and bathroom drains, etc
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Clean out litter boxes and other areas where there may be animal feces
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Discard dead or rotting plants so that they won’t attract flies.
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Implement effective pest control measures.
Your best option to deter flies and keep them away for good is to call Adams Exterminating Company. Our experienced pest control technicians are experts at eradicating the pests that bug you. We offer three different plans to fit your budget and meet your pest control needs. We also provide commercial pest control services to keep your business protected. So, don’t be bugged by flies, give us a call today.
Tags: home pest control fly prevention tips
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Are you wondering how to get rid of house flies in your home? The common pests — with a single pair of wings and compound red eyes — are known for breeding in kitchen bins, faeces, or on piles of spoiled food. To help you prevent house flies, we've done our research and have rounded up the best advice and natural methods to try.
While house flies might be frustratingly difficult to get rid of, there are some natural ways to keep them out of your home. We speak to the experts at British Pest Control Association and Rentokil to find out more...
How to get rid of house flies
"Prevention is better than cure. The best way to keep flies away is to limit a fly's access to food and water – particularly in your kitchen," Natalie Bungay, Technical Officer, British Pest Control Association tells Country Living.
House flies have a short lifespan, but they can reproduce quickly and in large numbers. If you are worried about an infestation of flies in your home, it is advised you call the professionals. BPCA has a list of qualified and audited pest professionals on its website.
Professionals will be able to safely and effectively deal with the pests, so it's always worth asking for help if you are unsure.
"The best way to deal with a fly problem is to prevent an infestation from forming in the first place. There are some easy and practical steps you can take to help deter flies from your home," David Cross from Rentokil tells us.
Ways to keep flies away include...
- Make sure all food waste is correctly disposed of in a bin with a lid
- Keep outside bins secure with sealed lids and away from windows and doors
- Clean up food and water spills as soon as they occur
- Keep your food covered to stop flies landing and subsequently feeding off your plate
- Keep windows and doors closed or install fly screens to keep out home-invaders
- Deny flies access by keeping doors closed after dark, or block out the light with curtains
- Clean up after your pets, as faeces is the perfect breeding place for flies
- Remove any dead flies, as these can be a food source for other pests such as carpet beetles
Homemade remedies to help get rid of house flies
Homemade remedies can also be a great way to naturally keep house flies out of the home — and brilliantly, too, they are incredibly easy to make yourself.
You can try to...
- Put a few drops of eucalyptus oil onto a cloth and hang them near doors or windows
- Place mint on kitchen window sills — this will also keep them away
- Cut up fresh orange peel and place onto a plate
- Citronella candles can help to keep flies away, especially in the garden
- Grow certain flowers that are known for repelling house flies, including marigold, lavender, bay leaves and catnip.
- Flies don't like the smell of pepper. One natural deterrent is to mix up a water and pepper spray and spritz it around your home
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What do house flies look like?
House flies have...
- Six legs
- A small, oval body
- Antennas
- They are usually grey in appearance and display four black stripes on their chest
- Adult house flies are about 4 to 7.5mm long
- Female house flies are usually larger than males
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What do I do if I have a lot of flies in my house?
Most often, if you find you have a lot of flies in your house, they are entering through small cracks in walls or doors. House flies can often be more of a problem during the summer months, especially as the weather gets warmer. As well as this, they also breed in filth (such as bins, rotting food and dirt), so one of the ways to keep them at bay is to ensure your house is clean. Seal any bins, keep surfaces sanitised and don't leave food out on the counter.
Don't forget to:
- Check for any food waste which could be attracting flies
- Empty your bins regularly
- Clean under and around your appliances
What attracts flies in your house?
"Spotting a few flies buzzing around does not necessarily mean you have a serious fly problem, although you should probably start keeping an eye out for other tell-tale signs, such as small dark clusters of spots in light areas and the presence of maggots," David Cross from Rentokil continues.
Common house flies are attracted to rotten items such as feces, pet waste and rotting meat, whereas fruit flies are more likely to seek sugary substances such as overripe fruit, spilled fizzy drinks, and alcohol.
House flies are drawn to:
- Dirty conditions
- Spilt food
- Sticky surfaces from drink spillages
- Scum at the bottom of drains
- Feces and pet waste
- Alcohol
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Where do flies lay their eggs in a house?
House flies will commonly lay their eggs in any warm, moist material. When the weather is warm, eggs will hatch in around 12 to 24 hours.
Some places flies might lay their eggs include...
- Piles of rubbish and waste
- Decaying material such as grass clippings
- Feces
Are houseflies harmful?
Houseflies aren't harmful, but are just a nuisance. One thing to note is that they do carry bacteria and germs, so be careful if they land on your food before eating. Some of the diseases they carry include:
- Food poisoning
- Cholera
- Eye infections
- E. coli
- Typhoid fever
- Dysentery
- Tuberculosis
How to keep flies away outside
It's not only in the home that the flying creatures buzz around in: they regularly fly around our garden spaces (particularly if there's food involved). If you're looking for clever ways to keep flies at bay, one of the key ways of outdoor fly prevention is knowing what they don't like.
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Natural ways to keep them away outside includes...
- Placing whole cloves into a ripe apple or a piece of citrus and placing it onto a plate
- Growing lavender is also a natural way to keep flies away as they don't like the smell
- Place citrus fruits and skins in a muslin cloth bag outside
- Flies also don't like basil, so these are brilliant to have growing outside
- Nasturtiums planted in the garden will also keep the flies away
- Clean up any food spillages quickly, especially if you are dining alfresco
Browse our other handy pest control guides...