Heres how to keep these disease-carrying pests away from your family.
If we can be mindful about our behaviors, we can minimize our chances of getting sick.
Keeping them out of our homes in the first place is the goal.
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But we can take some basic steps to limit their access to our homes.
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What Types Of Flies Get Indoors?
You’ll be able to determine the bang out by their size and where they’re hanging out.
House Flies
House flies are about 1/4 inch long with four dark stripes down their middles.
In ideal conditions, flies reproduce in less than a week, says Oi.
The warmer the environment, the faster they progress through the life cycle from egg to adult fly.
They breed in animal waste and carcasses.
Youll see them in the kitchen near drains and garbage disposals.
Theyre about 1/8 inch long and have red eyes.
They lay eggs on the surface of fermenting produce or in trash cans, drains, or recycling bins.
Are Flies Harmful?
Depending on what throw in youre dealing with, your approach to controlling flies may differ.
These are your first defense against flies, says Gray.
Screens with holes and gaps provide easy access for flies and other pests to enter.
Place compost bins as far away from the house as possible, says Oi.
You should also clean up pet wasteeveryday, says Gray.
Protect Food Outdoors
When eating or cooking outdoors, it’s important to protect your food.
Coverpicnic foodswith fine mesh food covers, says Gray.
Flies carry pathogens on their bodies, but they also defecate and regurgitate while walking around on food.
Run a box fan if youre sitting or dining outdoors.
Flies dont like fast-moving air.
Enough air movement to be considered a bad hair day keeps them away, says Oi.
Keep Drains Clean
Flies are attracted to the gunk building up in your drain.
Drain flies will attempt to fly out and get stuck, says Oi.
If you have drain flies, use a stiff drain brush and a drain cleaner to clear out sludge.
Do Repellants Keep Flies Away?
Despite what youve heard, DIY repellants dont keep flies away.
None of these theories are supported by science, says Gray.
In addition, spraying insecticides to kill flies isnt a good option.
Flies are resistant to most of the pesticides registered for their management, says Oi.
And pesticides arent permanent.
If you have a major infestation, you must find the source.
Youll need to contact a professional pest control company for assistance.
Flies don’t like citronella and other strong scents like lavender, rosemary, catnip, and basil.
A few plantings outdoors may help deter them.
White outdoor lights may also attract flies, so switch to yellow bulbs.
You should also remove any stagnant water or moisture sources where they may breed.
As for how to kill flies that make it indoors?
Both Oi and Gray say the use of good, old-fashioned fly swatters is best.
Its an effective, pesticide-free way to kill them, says Gray.
Jacobs, Steve.House Flies.
Smithsonian Institution.True flies (Diptera).
(Diptera: muscidae).Journal of Vector Ecology.
2019;44(2):256-263. doi:10.1111/jvec.12357
