How To Get Rid Of Flies

Overview:

House flies (Musca domestica) are a common household pest found throughout the world. Not only are they an annoyance, but they are a  vector of disease.

Adult flies are 6-8mm long & grey in colour. Each female is capable of laying 500 eggs during her lifetime. 

Health concerns:

Feces & garbage are common breeding grounds for flies, posing a serious health concern to humans (and animals). Disease can be spread via harmful pathogens which are on the flies body, in vomitus & defecation.  Bacteria, viruses, fungus & worms are all disease causing organisms that flies can spread to humans. 

Flies can feed on a wide variety of liquid food, but are also able to eat solids. To do so, they  regurgitate digestive juices from their stomach onto the food, liquefying it, they then suck up the liquefied food with specialized mouthparts. Defecation also occurs while the fly is feeding.

Preventing flies:  

As you can see, houseflies are a health problem & therefore measures should be taken to keep them out of your home & away from food. Methods to prevent houseflies include;

• Screening windows & doors with mesh.
• Keep household refuse in well sealed bins, clean regularly.
• Keep outdoor garbage bins as far away from your house as possible.
• Regularly spray the inside of garbage bins regularly with a fly spray.
• Removal of garbage from houses regularly (daily during warm weather)
• Bins can be fitted with larvicides to kill maggots. These are usually hooked over the lid & hang inside the bin.
• Do not leave food (especially moist food) lying around uncovered.
• Do not leave moist pet food out for extended periods.
• Remove animal feces (ie; from cat litter trays) regularly.

How to kill flies:

• Fly traps. There are numerous traps available to control houseflies. These can be purchased from your local hardware store & include ultraviolet fly zappers, fly traps that are bated with food or pheromones, sticky fly paper etc.
• Fly swats. If you're quick this is a more environmentally friendly & healthier way to kill flies. Reducing the need for sprays.
• Insecticides (fly sprays) can be used to kill adult flies in the home. Read the instructions carefully before spraying around food preparation areas.
• I have been told (I can't confirm if this is true or not) that flies, like most insects, are attracted to light. So, if you are having problems getting close enough to a fly to spray or swat, close the doors, darken the room only leaving one source of light (an open blind or a lamp). This will hopefully be enough to attract the fly to the light source, where you can quickly kill it.

Also see:

Maggot Prevention and Control, How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies