Flies

Understanding Flies & How to Control Them

What Are Flies?

Flies are common flying insects known for their quick movements and attraction to food, garbage, and waste. The most common species include house flies, fruit flies, and blowflies. Flies can carry and spread harmful bacteria and diseases, making them a significant pest in homes and businesses.

Why Fly Control Is Important

Health Risks: Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage, faeces, and decaying matter to human food, causing illnesses like food poisoning, dysentery, and typhoid.
Nuisance: Their constant buzzing and landing on food and people make flies highly annoying.
Rapid Breeding: Flies reproduce quickly, with some species laying hundreds of eggs at a time, leading to large infestations.
Food Contamination: Flies contaminate food surfaces, utensils, and open food, posing risks in kitchens and restaurants.

Effective Fly Control Solutions

Sanitation

Keep garbage bins sealed, clean up spills promptly, and remove decaying organic matter to reduce fly breeding sites.

Screens and Barriers

Install window and door screens to prevent flies from entering indoor spaces.

Fly Traps and Zappers

Use sticky traps, UV light zappers, and baited traps to capture and reduce fly populations.

Insecticides

Targeted sprays and residual insecticides can be applied by professionals to control flies in problem areas.

Proper Waste Management

Regularly dispose of waste and maintain clean outdoor areas to prevent fly attraction.

Fun Facts About Flies

Fast Reproducers: A single female house fly can lay up to 500 eggs in her lifetime!
Short Lifespan: Most flies live for just 15 to 30 days but breed rapidly during that time.
Taste with Their Feet: Flies have taste sensors on their feet, allowing them to taste whatever they land on.
Excellent Flyers: Flies can beat their wings up to 200 times per second, enabling quick and agile flight.
Eyes on the Sides: Their compound eyes give them nearly a 360-degree field of vision, helping them detect movement from almost any direction.
Disease Carriers: Flies are known vectors of over 65 diseases, including cholera, tuberculosis, and salmonella.
Attracted to Light: Flies are naturally drawn to light sources, which is why they often gather around lamps and windows.