Is there anything worse than having an annoying fly in your midst? Buzzing about, flapping its wings and landing everywhere you don’t want it … any kind of fly in the house is downright irritating. And, sometimes even using a swatter doesn’t do the trick—sure enough, you’ve found another. Scratching your head and wondering how to make these pesky pests hit the road? Here are some tips to consider.
While most pest control companies don’t typically have a dedicated fly exterminator on staff, pest control experts can lend a hand and suggest ways for eliminating them.
House Flies vs. Fruit Flies
The first trick to knowing if you have to call a fly exterminator (or just a pest expert in general), is to identify what kind of flies you have.
House flies get their name from being exactly that—commonly found around your house. Adult flies can grow to one-quarter of an inch long and usually live between 15 and 25 days. They tend to stay within a mile or two of where they were born, but have also been known to migrate up to 20 miles to find food. And, if you’re wondering … house flies make horrible house guests. They have been known to carry more than 100 different kinds of disease-causing germs. No thank you!
Fruit flies, on the other hand, are much smaller in size (usually only 1/8 inch long) and can be found feeding on decaying fruits and vegetables or moist, decaying matter that has been stationary for several days. They are generally found in homes, restaurants and other facilities where food is processed. Given they populate in unsanitary conditions, there is a potential health concern (especially if present in health facilities).
Be Your Own Fly Exterminator
Keeping both house and fruit flies out of your home may seem challenging, but truthfully there isn’t much to it. You may not realize it, but you have the powers of a fly exterminator yourself (just don’t use essential oils or try any other kind of DIY—we promise they won’t work):
- Both house flies and fruit flies can be controlled—you just need to be extra vigilant with your cleaning and sanitation.
- Remove trash regularly and use well-sealed garbage bins.
- Clean up pet waste immediately so house flies can’t thrive on it.
- Use fine mesh screens on doors and windows to prevent entry.
- Keep counter surfaces clean and get rid of any rotten fruit.
Pets and Flies
While the common house fly won’t generally bother your pets (or perhaps instead be the latest playtime attraction), botflies can latch onto an animal and cause some issues. Your pet is most likely to pick up a botfly after spending time outside in the grass, where botflies lay their eggs—so mow your lawn regularly and clear your yard of any trash, animal waste or dead plants.
Still struggling with flies and need some extra help?
We’ve Got You Covered
ScherZinger Pest Control, a trusted pest control company in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, including Dayton and Columbus. We’ve been pioneers who have engineered new standards for ways of eliminating and controlling bugs and pests. Contact us by phone at 1-877-748-9888 or through our website or Facebook.