Friday, 11 March 2022
Small fly management for homes
This situation has happened to almost everyone. You are on the sofa reading a book or enjoying a snack and suddenly one (or several) flies come to bother you. Luckily for you, this problem is quite common and there are several ways to get rid of annoying flying insects that invade your house. In this article, we tell you how to get rid of small flies in your home.
Common small flies in homes in Canada
Here are the most common species of flies that are found in homes in Canada:
- Cheese flies?
- Cluster flies?
- Drain flies?
- Fruit flies?
- Houseflies?
Cheese flies
This type of fly (Piophila casei) is 2.5 to 5 mm long and is black or bluish in color. Its lower part of the head and legs are yellow. It has a broad head, long wings, and the back of its thorax has three rows of bristles. Its larvae are white and worm-like and measure about 5 mm long.
One of their main characteristics is that they can jump at full speed, because of their catapult-like legs. They are capable of jumping up to 25 cm horizontally and 15 cm in height. Concerning its life cycle, it can be completed in about 12 days. Adults and larvae of this species feed on decaying organic substances and can therefore be carriers of pathogenic microorganisms.
Cluster flies
This fly feeds mainly on earthworms. They are dark gray or silver, have short golden hairs and do not have distinctive stripes like other fly species. They have a wide and robust appearance. The size of cluster flies (Pollenia rudis) is approximately 8 mm long.
Drain flies
Drain flies (Psychodidae) are often associated with sewage sludge, where the larvae feed on settled organic material. They are 2 mm long and have a light brown-gray body. Its wings are densely covered with fur and are held open like a curtain over the body in a resting position.
Fruit flies
This species of flies (Drosophila melanogaster) has a yellow-brown color with bright red eyes. The female fruit fly can lay up to 500 eggs and they reach the adult stage in about 7 days. Adult fruit flies reproduce in fermented fruits and vegetables. During the larva stage, they feed mainly on bacteria and yeast found on decaying fruits and vegetables.
Houseflies
Houseflies are great carriers of disease and can infest all types of premises. They are attracted to all kinds of food sources, including food intended for human consumption, animals, animal feed, food waste, and even feces. Once inside, houseflies can be found on walls, floors, and ceilings. Outside they can be seen on plants, soil, fences, compost piles, and trash cans.
How do you prevent pantry pests?
Where do these flies breed?
Flies breed in crumbs, damp vases, garbage cans, ripe fruit, or near wet areas caused by water leaks. Flies that breed indoors are often inconvenient and multiply rapidly when not dealt with quickly. Fruit and vinegar flies are a cause for concern, as they can contaminate your food by laying their eggs in the food you eat.
How fast can they develop?
Flies develop rather fast, as their life cycle can be completed in under 2 weeks. The flies lay the egg and it takes 8 to 20 hours before hatching. The larva then appears, and after 10 days, the fly larva produces a reddish covering layer, which remains for another 3-6 days until they reach the pupal stage. Once the pupa hatches, the adult flies are ready and able to start flying freely as they’ve reached full maturity. They are destined to survive for no more than 20 days after that.
Residential extermination services
What causes small flies in homes?
Small flies are attracted to the warmth of your home and the smell of potential nutrition sources. It only takes an open door or window for one of them to make its way in. Then, houseflies are so fertile that they are capable of laying up to a thousand eggs in a few days. Another point of intrusion houseflies exploit is the fruits you buy at the grocery store. If only one of these fruits is fermenting, an opportunistic fly will make it the nest of its eggs.
How do I get rid of little flies in my house?
Here are tips to get rid of indoor flies in your house:
- Cleaning?
- Insecticide?
- Mosquito nets?
- Natural fly repellent?
- Flypaper?
- Hire an exterminator?
1. Cleaning
If you notice a lot of flies in your house, one of the first thing you should do is clean your entire home, starting with the kitchen. Dirty dishes, the fruit basket, your compost container, and any other place where food might be should be cleaned. Any small trace of food might sustain a fly from living in your home.
2. Insecticide
If cleaning the house and removing moldy food aren't enough, don't despair. There are several insecticides on the market that can be used to solve the problem. While using them, it is advisable to ventilate the environment and avoid spraying it in the presence of people, children, and animals, since they’re toxic substances.
3. Install mosquito nets
Installing mosquito nets in your house will help you keep flies, mosquitoes, bedbugs, and many other annoying insects away. It’s important to make sure that the nets are not broken, since a few centimeters of broken mosquito netting is enough to allow flies to enter the house and start laying their eggs.
4. Natural fly repellent
You can make a natural repellent to keep flies away. To do this, put some mint leaves in a bottle of vinegar and let them macerate for a week. Then, you must remove the leaves, dilute everything with a little water and transfer the liquid into a spray bottle. In case you didn't know, flies can't stand the smell of mint, lemongrass, basil, lavender, and black pepper.
5. Flypaper
Sometimes it is necessary to catch the flies first to get rid of them. You can make completely natural flypaper easily. You only need a strip of paper and a brush of water, apple cider vinegar, ground black pepper, and sugar. If you prefer, you can also buy ready-to-use flypaper.
6. Hire an exterminator
The best way to get rid of a fly infestation is to call an exterminator. It is a good investment since it is the most effective way to eradicate insects and prevent future infestations.
Indoor fly control services
An integrated pest management plan with minimal or no pesticide use can solve your infestation. At VExtermination, we offer indoor and outdoor protection programs for your peace of mind. Our eco-friendly pest management experts are committed to responding quickly to your needs to identify the extent of your infestation and determine the most effective solution.