Flies are a part of summertime life. Your doors are open, kids and pets running in and out, and food is ever present on your picnic table and deck.
When you think of flies, you think of the common house fly. The title of Nuisance Pest fits them well because they are ever present in the warm summer months. They are carriers of disease and while their lifespans are usually short, they can quickly multiply and remain in your home for months.
Flies are the most common nuisance pest.
According to pestworld.org
“House flies are usually gray in appearance and display four black stripes on their thorax. Adult house flies are about 1/8-1/4 (4 to 7.5 mm) long. They have slightly hairy bodies, a single pair of wings and compound red eyes, which contain thousands of individual lenses that allow them to have wider vision. Female house flies are usually larger than males. House flies do not have teeth or a stinger.”
What are drain flies?
Drain flies or sink flies are small and hairy giving them a moth-like appearance. They can fit through the tiniest of openings. They love decaying food and organic matter which is almost always available in drains and sewers. Because they breed in these environments, transmission of disease is possible.
A close up of a Moth Fly in a drain pipe.
How do fruit flies/black eyed fruit flies get into my home?
Fruit flies are tan and brown in color, about 3 to 4 mm long, some with red eyes! Black eyed fruit flies are larger, stronger and are scavengers on decaying matters.
Fruit flies can enter your home hidden in produce from the supermarket or local farmers market/roadside stand. Their existence does not mean the food is bad or old, they just thrive on produce!
Macro of common fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) on piece of rotting banana fruit.
Why are they called cluster flies?
Often called attic flies, cluster flies are 7-9 mm in length and light/dark gray. They are larger than houseflies and nowhere near as quick. They look to come inside to escape the cold winter days. They do not spread disease because they do not lay eggs, but they can exist in large numbers. Attic flies want to cluster in your warm spaces so we often inspect the outside of your home to identify entry points.
close up Blow fly, carrion fly, bluebottles, greenbottles, or cluster fly
How do I know I have a fly infestation?
You know you have flies when you can see them. Not just one or two but many and in most cases you can even hear them. House flies make a buzzing sound when their wings beat together.
How do I prevent flies from invading my home?
- Inspect your home inside and out especially around screens, vents, doorways, and foundations. Soffits can also provide flies and other pests easy access to the inside of your home.
- Clean, clean, and clean again.
- Get on a routine schedule to clean bathroom and kitchen drains, garbage disposals, laundry room sinks, and any location where food waste accumulates, and decays.
What is the best treatment for flies in my home?
Do not kill flies with a fly swatter or zapper in or around the kitchen area where you prepare food. The splat can spray a distance and infect your cooking area and food.
Let our professional technicians help keep your home and family safe and healthy. A professional and experienced pest control service will need to inspect your home and determine a course of treatment depending on the type of flies you are having trouble with. This includes:
- Inspection to find sources of entry and breeding grounds.
- Removal of these sources.
- Repair, when necessary including repair of damp areas within the home, organic buildup in drains, spouts, and sewers.
It does not mean your home is dirty or unkept. Flies love food left behind, warm and wet areas, and places to enter to wait out the cold winter months.
Call for an inspection if you suspect you have flies so we can properly identify the type of fly, create a work plan to remove them, and detect the source(s) of entry.
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Resources: https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/flies/house-flies/, Wikipedia and https://www.thespruce.com/
