Flies are insects from the order Diptera – one that contains an estimated 1,000,000 different species. Flies have large compound eyes, two wings, and mouthparts that vary in utility, from piercing, biting, lapping, sucking, and more. Because there are so many different types of flies, it’s hard to say all flies are bad.
Some flies are essential to the environment as decomposers and scavengers, while other flies can be crop destroyers, disease carriers, or at best an annoying nuisance. The dangerous part of all flies is that they hop from surface to surface, picking up and leaving bacteria at each spot. All it takes is one stop on your dinner plate for them to get you sick. If you’re dealing with these buzzing pests, call Etheridge Pest Services to treat these flying disease carriers.
Tips for preventing Flies
When it comes to flies, prevention is easier than having to deal with them once they become a problem. Although flies have a short lifespan, they can multiply rapidly.
The best way to limit the number of flies on your property is to restrict their access to food and water, both inside and outside your home.
To start, make sure any outdoor trash cans have a lid to seal all food waste. Keep trash cans away from any windows or doorways so the flies that are attracted don’t accidently fly in.
Clean all food and water spills in your home as they happen. Don’t leave food out for flies to find, as they are scavengers. Keep all food that’s being prepared in the kitchen covered when it isn’t dinner time yet.
If you can, install mesh screens to windows and doors to act as a barrier to your home and keep flying pests out.
Use curtains to cover windows and prevent your home from being a source of light that attracts bugs. This is especially important at night to keep pests off your property.
Clean up and dispose of all pet waste properly, as left behind feces are breeding grounds for flies. It’s also good for your soil to clean up after your pet.
If you find any dead flies around the house, clean them up as their decaying bodies can be a food source for other pests to move in on.
A common home method of keeping flies at bay is to leave orange peels out near windowsills, as flies hate the smell of citrus.
Lastly, if you have a fly infestation you want taken care of as soon as possible call your local pest professionals Etheridge Pest Services and we’ll make your flies buzz off.