Fly Treatment

There are over 120,000 species of flies worldwide. Flies are considered pests because they pose a health risk to humans, pets and livestock. They can infest your home or business and spread diseases like Salmonella and E. coli. A few species may even bite humans and animals.

If a small fly problem is left uncontrolled, it has the potential to turn into a serious infestation. Some fly species are able to mature from eggs to adults in just seven days. There are simple ways you can identify the signs of a fly infestation and reduce the need for fly control. Taking a proactive approach with deterrent measures will also help you avoid costly treatments.

Types of Fly

House Fly (Musca domestica)
The common house fly is a dull gray fly, ¼-inch long with four dark stripes on the middle section (thorax) of its body. House flies typically lay eggs on animal feces and garbage.

Blow Flies (Calliphoridae)
Blow flies develop larvae inside the bodies of dead animals. They also are attracted to garbage. They have been called “bottle flies” because their shiny blue and green color resemble colored glass bottles, Large numbers of these flies indoors usually indicates the presence of a dead animal such as a mouse or bird inside the structure.

Flesh Flies (Sarcophagidae)
Flesh flies usually seek carrion or scraps of meat on which to lay their eggs. Like house flies, adult flesh flies are dark-colored (gray or black). Common species have three dark stripes on the thorax.They are slightly larger than house flies and have a checkerboard pattern on the abdomen.

Fruit Flies (Drosophila)
Fruit flies are attracted to sweet or fermented liquids such as liquor, syrup, soda pop and vinegar, in addition to ripening/rotting fruit. Females lay eggs in and around these materials upon which their tiny larvae feed. The gnat-sized adults typically have tan-colored bodies and red eyes.

Drain Flies (Psychodidae)
Drain flies are about 1/8-inch long, adult drain flies are slightly larger than other small flies. Their broad, hairy wings have given rise to another name: moth fly. They also have been called sewer flies, because they infest raw sewage. Drain fly adults are often noticed resting on bathroom walls.

Treatments

Sanitation:

The key to managing all flies is sanitation. Eliminating fly breeding sites, i.e., the material to which they are attracted to land on which they lay eggs is usually sufficient to eliminate and prevent fly infestations.

Mechanical Control:

In addition to fly swatting, mechanical fly control includes trapping. Sticky fly paper is one type of fly trap. Ultraviolet light traps are another, often used to supplement fly control in commercial buildings. To be effective light traps must be properly placed. This type of trap should be placed where it cannot be seen from outside the building, no more than 5 feet above the floor (where most flies fly).

Chemical Control:

Chemical control can be a valuable component of an integrated fly management program. Residual wall sprays can be applied where the flies congregate. Spray are done on vertical walls and other breeding sites with wettable powder formulation, and the use of fly baits near adult feeding sources.