Flies are an annoying pest, but can also carry numerous diseases. Flies can also be pests in both cool and warm weather. In this article, we discuss fly behavior and fly control techniques.
Flies can carry diseases such as dysentery, food poisoning, and typhoid fever. It is important to keep fly activity to a minimum for the sake of sanitation and your family’s health. Fly problems are broken down into two categories-warm or cool weather problems. And the control techniques are different for each.
The most common fly pest is the housefly, but other flies that are bothersome are the little housefly, latrine fly, flesh fly, blow fly and the stable fly. A common trait amongst most flies is that their breeding area can be located within 100 yards of their activity. When trying to control a fly problem, it is important to locate the breeding site and clean it, so that the fly pests do not continue coming back.
Breeding sites can be places such as garbage cans, compost piles, plants, poor drain areas, or general unsanitary conditions, around livestock, or kennels. The fly larvae require moisture to grow in because they are not able to chew dry food. They will feed on slimy vegetation, animal waste, or household garbage.
For summer control, it is always most important to find the breeding site. Next, you can use a residual insecticide to spray areas where flies usually land. For immediate results, use aerosols, fly spray with pyrethrins. Fly baits are an option, and can be put out in bait stations in those high fly areas. For ways of how to get rid of fruit flies check out the products available with the pest control suppliers on the internet.
For you indoor areas, make certain that your screens are all functioning and not compromised. 99% of indoor fly control should be exclusion techniques. Increased sanitation, exclusion and insecticide spray, should effectively control indoor fly populations. You may have to reapply insecticide in two and four week intervals through out the warmer seasons.
For cooler season control, the flies are actually seeking overwintering shelter in your home. They look for voids, or attics that they can cluster and remain largely inactive until spring time.
Again, the top priority here is exclusion. You may use scouring pads to fill weep holes. Caulk the holes around doors and siding. Be sure there is not entry place into your attic that is not covered with screen. You can spray weep holes as well with one of the residual insecticides and around doors/windows. Be sure to read the label and warnings for any chemical controls used in or around your home.
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