How To Get Rid Of House Flies?

Infestations of house flies can be easily controlled with the information provided in this guide. Most flies found in homes are house flies, which account for around 90 per cent of all flies. Even though they don't bite, house flies can transmit disease and food poisoning due to the millions of microbes they carry on their feet. The good news is that you can keep house flies at bay without using harmful chemicals. 

In this blog, professionals discuss their best ways of avoiding these troublesome insects. Many fly treatments are natural and can be made using common household objects. Additionally, we have given effective methods to eliminate house flies from your home and surroundings.

Understanding House Flies

The Musca domestica, or housefly, is an insect that belongs to the Diptera order and the Muscidae family. Two practically transparent wings, big red eyes, and a grey or black body characterise these creatures. They have a body length of about 0.2 to 0.3 inches. The female housefly is bigger than the male, and both sexes have somewhat hairy bodies. 

Upon finding decaying organic materials, such as food scraps, spoiled meat, or human excrement, house flies will lay clutches of approximately one hundred eggs. Within 12 to 24 hours, the eggs will hatch. Legless and whitish, the newly hatched flies are known as maggots. From there, they transform into pupae and, finally, adult flies. The average lifespan of an adult fly is between two and four weeks, even though their reproductive rate is rather high.

House flies threaten human health because of the pathogens they carry in their saliva and droppings, even though they do not possess any poison. Through their contact with food, they are also capable of transmitting diseases that are transmitted by food. 

Common Pest Fly Species

House Fly

They multiply rapidly and are a frequent household pest largely because they feed on yard debris. The adult fly propagates disease by feeding on liquids and has a sponging mouthpart used to sucke food. During the day, they go about their business, but at night, they do nothing. Hotter places are more appealing to them. The typical lifespan of an adult housefly is 2-3 weeks, and its body size is around 4–6 mm. The grub or larva only takes a week to develop into a pupa.

Lesser House Fly

Houseflies and smaller houseflies are closely related species of flies. Even though they seem and act similarly to house flies, the lesser house fly is smaller and has different habits and habitats.

The ideal habitats for house flies and less common house flies are places where organic matter decomposes, and trash and animal waste are present. They seek out environments conducive to egg-laying and larval growth in terms of food sources and breeding locations.

Stable Fly

House flies are similar to these, but they have mouthparts that can pierce and suck, and they also draw blood from animals and people. As a result of their preference for outdoor environments, they are considered a nuisance at dairy farms and stables, where they can receive the blood meals essential for the development of the young. Additional flies commonly encountered include blowflies, moth flies, flesh flies, vinegar flies, and biting midges.

Bush Fly

Adult bush flies are distinctive from house flies, measuring 5 mm long and featuring two longitudinal stripes on the thorax. They have beaks that they use for sucking and sponging. They are pesky outdoor pests that can annoy both people and animals. Conditions like conjunctivitis, which affects the eyes, might be brought on by them.

What Are Fly Infestation Signs?

One of the first indications of a fly infestation could be buzzing in your room. While a small infestation may not seem like a big deal initially, you'll soon notice that the bug population is rapidly growing. Because of their ability to taint food and spread diseases, these pests will make your work more difficult. Keep reading to learn more about telling if your building requires pest control services!

Dark Spots All-Around

Indoors, fly swarms will form on surfaces such as floors, walls, and ceilings as the day progresses. When you let them outside, they'll cling to things like garden plants, trash cans, and fences. Nighttime finds them dozing off inside nooks and edges 5 to 15 feet from the ground, as their daily activities predominate.

You might also find their droppings when you least expect it in the spots they frequent. About the size of a pinhead, these are black dots. These can eventually form clusters if left unchecked. Flies leave a trail of excrement wherever they land, so finding a lot of it could indicate an infestation.

Additionally, inspecting the areas around your windows, lights, walls, and drains for signs of fly droppings would be best. Be sure to get under the sinks and above the cabinets, two notoriously difficult places to reach.

Frequently Seeing Fly

Among the most noticeable indicators of an emerging infestation is the frequency with which flies are observed. You should know their appearance because most people mistake them for mosquitoes and other flying pests.

The hairy bodies of typical houseflies are striped with black, and they have a very greyish colour. Besides that, there is a white patch under their crimson, bulging eyes. A pair of see-through wings and six slender legs provide them stability. Most adults measure approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch in size.

On the other hand, fruit flies are characterised by their black rings and beige or tan bodies. Additionally, unlike other species, their eyes are red. Their six stick-like legs and transparent wings make them similar to house flies. They are usually smaller, measuring around 3/4 inch in diameter.

Disease And Infection Transmission

House flies are parasites that mostly devour rotting food, dung, and garbage. When they land on these things, they spread disease from their bodies and legs to other areas. You risk food poisoning with an infestation as the kitchen is one of their favourite hangout spots.

Diseases such as dysentery, food poisoning, and diarrhoea can be transmitted to humans by some of these bacteria. In addition to gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, conjunctivitis, salmonellosis, and TB, they cause other diseases. You can spread germs and viruses by eating tainted food, using contaminated cutlery, or touching your eyes or wounds after handling these items. A call to pest control might be in order if you or a loved one has experienced these issues lately.

Discovering Maggots

There are four phases to a house fly's life cycle. A fly goes through its whole life cycle in six days, from the egg to the adult. Despite having a single mating opportunity, female houseflies can deposit as many as 900 eggs and have up to six clutches throughout their lifetime.

Eggs of this type are typically one millimetre long and have a white colour all around. Young flies are likely to be visible to you in the larval or maggot stage of their development since they are difficult to spot.

The normal length of a larva is 3–9 millimetres, and its colour is a delicate white. You can commonly discover them near their food supply in damp, dark places. They often make their homes in garbage cans, where food is rotting or eaten.

Do-It-Yourself Fly Traps And Treatments

There are numerous effective methods for eliminating houseflies, even though they are annoying and might cause health problems. Here is some information that should help you get rid of houseflies fast. 

Natural Oils

Keep house flies at bay with the help of an essential oil spray—a practical and all-natural solution. Natural fragrances from eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and citronella keep houseflies away. Houseflies love to congregate around windows and trash cans, so try spraying the regions around them with a mixture of one of these oils and water.

Light Trap

A box that has a light inside of it that draws flies to it is what these fly traps are made up of. Whenever flies approach the light, a weak electric current kills them, or they become trapped inside the apparatus. While putting up these traps, read and properly follow the directions.

Trap Sweet Soda Bottle

This clever trap may be made from an empty plastic drink bottle. Remove the upper one-third of the bottle and fill it with a sugar-and-water combination to make a tasty lure. After you've poured this sugary mixture into the bottle's base, turn it upside down and place the upper third inside, shaping it into a cone. The tasty solution will attract flies, who will become caught in the bottle.

Herb Garden

Planting herbs and flowers on a balcony or other outdoor area will help keep flies at bay. Planting herbs around entryways and windows is the best technique to eliminate flies. To make your home less appealing to house flies, use herbs like basil, tansy, bay leaf, mint, and rue as a natural deterrent. 

Dish Soap + Vinegar

Everyone knows about this natural fly trap. Prepare your dish soap and apple cider vinegar by placing them in a bowl that is not too deep. After adding one tablespoon of sugar to the bowl, the food processor should add approximately one inch of apple cider vinegar. The next step is to incorporate dish soap, preferably with a fruity smell. The presence of this will attract and capture houseflies if it is left in a room.

Repellants And Insecticides

You should use insecticides and fly repellents to eliminate a more serious fly infestation. In a short amount of time, these will eliminate the flies. Indoor fly infestations are typically treated with insecticides based on pyrethrin. Before using, read the instructions carefully; afterwards, ensure enough ventilation in your home to prevent inhalation of fumes. You could use natural repellents after usage to ensure that the flies stay gone and that an infestation does not happen again.

Salt And Pepper Spray

Bring the two cups of water to a boil, then season it with salt and pepper and let it cool. You can easily prevent flies and mosquitoes from entering your home by transferring the solution to a spray can and using it.

Ginger Liquid Spray

When you have a cup of water and a tablespoon of dried ginger powder, shake the mixture thoroughly. This mixture should be transferred to a spray bottle and then applied to locations with a high concentration of flies. This highly effective spray is an excellent weapon against flies and other types of insects.

What Are Some Ways To Keep Flies Away?

Prevention is key to keeping those annoying house flies at bay. Preventing these flies from entering your home is the surest approach to keep their numbers down. Covering food and trash cans, wiping down surfaces often, and eliminating pet waste (like litter boxes) are all basic hygienic habits that can significantly reduce smells and fly attractiveness.

• Inspect the area surrounding the windows and doors for any signs of damage. Put up mesh screens and keep bugs out of your house.
• Make sure to cover any food that is left outside. Keep all pantry staples (such as rice, grains and sugar) in their original containers when unused. If you want to keep flies away from condiments like tomato ketchup and jam, keeping them in the fridge is better.
• Before putting soiled dishes in the sink to be washed later, give them a quick rinse. Flies might be attracted to food and drink remnants.
• Keep your kitchen countertops clean by wiping them down regularly and immediately removing any spills, no matter how small.
• Be careful not to eat or cook anything that could spill. Flies can be attracted to small crumbs left on the floor, under tables, or on the stove.
• After each usage, wipe down any kitchen utensils that may have gotten food on them. This includes toasters, egg beaters, food processors, and mixer grinders.
• Make sure to cover and clean your trash cans frequently.

Conclusion

House flies, which account for around 90% of all flies in homes, can transmit disease and food poisoning due to the millions of microbes they carry on their feet. They are a common pest and can be controlled without using harmful chemicals. House flies multiply rapidly and feed on yard debris, with the average lifespan of an adult fly being between two and four weeks.

Lower house flies and smaller house flies have different habits and habitats, preferring environments conducive to egg-laying and larval growth. Stable fly flies have mouthparts that can pierce and suck, and draw blood from animals and people, making them a nuisance at dairy farms and stables. Adult bush flies are distinctive from house flies and can cause conditions like conjunctivitis.

Inspecting for fly infestation signs includes buzzing in rooms, dark spots all-around, black dots droppings, and frequent observing flies. House flies are typically striped with black and greyish colors, with red eyes and see-through wings. Fruit flies are characterized by black rings, beige or tan bodies, and red eyes.

In summary, house flies are a significant pest that can transmit diseases and food poisoning through their contact with food. To control infestations, it is essential to use natural treatments and avoid harmful chemicals.

House flies are parasites that consume rotting food, dung, and garbage, spreading diseases such as dysentery, food poisoning, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, conjunctivitis, salmonellosis, and TB. They can transmit germs and viruses through eating tainted food, using contaminated cutlery, or touching eyes or wounds after handling these items.

The life cycle of house flies is six days, from the egg to the adult. Female flies can deposit up to 900 eggs and have up to six clutches throughout their lifetime. Do-It-Yourself fly traps and treatments include essential oils, light traps, sweet soda bottles, herb gardens, dish soap + vinegar, repellents and insecticides, salt and pepper spray, and ginger liquid spray.

Natural oils can be used to repel house flies, while light traps draw them to a box with a weak electric current. Sweet soda bottles can be filled with sugar-and-water mixtures to attract flies. Herb gardens can also help deter flies by planting herbs around entryways and windows. Dish soap and vinegar can be used as natural fly traps.

Repellants and insecticides can be used to eliminate more serious infestations, but it is important to read instructions carefully and ensure proper ventilation. Salt and pepper spray can be used to prevent flies and mosquitoes from entering your home. Ginger liquid spray can be applied to areas with high concentrations of flies.

Prevention is key to keeping house flies away, including covering food and trash cans, wiping down surfaces, and eliminating pet waste. Inspecting the area surrounding windows and doors for signs of damage, installing mesh screens, covering food and pantry staples, rinsing dishes before washing, keeping kitchen countertops clean, and being cautious about spills.

Content Summary

• Controlling house fly infestations is achievable with the tips shared in this guide.
• House flies make up about 90% of all flies found in homes, posing health risks through disease transmission.
• The good news is, you can keep house flies away without resorting to harmful chemicals.
• Professionals in this blog share natural and DIY methods to combat these pesky insects.
• Understanding the Musca domestica, or housefly, reveals their breeding habits and life cycle.
• House flies, with red eyes and transparent wings, lay clutches of around 100 eggs in decaying organic matter.
• Maggots, the larval stage, transform into pupae and then adult flies within two to four weeks.
• House flies, while not poisonous, carry pathogens in their saliva and droppings, posing health threats.
• Common pest fly species include house flies, lesser house flies, stable flies, and bush flies.
• Lesser house flies differ in size and habits compared to their larger counterparts.
• Stable flies have blood-sucking mouthparts and are nuisances in outdoor environments.
• Bush flies, measuring 5 mm with distinctive markings, can cause conditions like conjunctivitis.
• Buzzing in a room is an initial sign of a fly infestation, with populations rapidly growing.
• Fly swarms form dark spots on surfaces, and droppings, the size of a pinhead, indicate infestations.
• Check windows, lights, walls, and drains for signs of fly droppings to identify infestation areas.
• Frequent sightings of flies, with grey bodies, red eyes, and transparent wings, signal an emerging infestation.
• Fruit flies differ with black rings, tan bodies, and red eyes, measuring around 3/4 inch in diameter.
• House flies spread disease by landing on rotting food, dung, and garbage, causing health issues.
• Diseases like dysentery, food poisoning, and conjunctivitis can be transmitted by house flies.
• The life cycle of a house fly, from egg to adult, takes about six days, with females laying up to 900 eggs.
• Larvae, 3–9 mm in length, are visible near food sources, like garbage cans.
• DIY fly traps include essential oil sprays, light traps, sweet soda bottle traps, and herb gardens.
• Essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and citronella deter house flies.
• Light traps use a box with a light that attracts flies, killing them with an electric current.
• Sweet soda bottle traps are made by cutting and inverting a plastic bottle with a sugar-water lure.
• Herb gardens with basil, tansy, bay leaf, mint, and rue deter flies from entering homes.
• Dish soap and vinegar traps are effective, combining them in a bowl with sugar to attract flies.
• Insecticides and fly repellents can be used for more serious fly infestations, based on pyrethrin.
• Salt and pepper spray, made by boiling water with salt and pepper, helps repel flies and mosquitoes.
• Ginger liquid spray, made with water and dried ginger powder, is effective against flies.
• Prevention is key to keeping house flies away, focusing on basic hygiene and cleanliness.
• Covering food and trash cans, wiping surfaces often, and eliminating pet waste reduce fly attractiveness.
• Inspect windows and doors for damage, installing mesh screens to keep bugs out.
• Covering outdoor food and storing pantry staples in original containers helps prevent fly infestations.
• Quick rinses for soiled dishes and regular wiping of kitchen countertops deter flies.
• Avoid spills and crumbs to keep flies away, especially on floors, tables, and stoves.
• Wipe down kitchen utensils after use, including toasters, egg beaters, food processors, and mixer grinders.
• Regularly cover and clean trash cans to prevent fly infestations.
• Maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen is crucial to avoid attracting flies.
• Use a mixture of natural fragrances like eucalyptus and citronella to deter flies around windows and trash cans.
• Light traps with electric currents or trapping mechanisms can effectively reduce fly populations.
• Utilize a sweet soda bottle trap made from an inverted plastic bottle with a sugar-water lure to catch flies.
• Planting herbs like basil, tansy, and mint around entryways and windows serves as a natural fly deterrent.
• Dish soap and vinegar traps, combined with sugar, attract and capture houseflies when left in a room.
• Insecticides based on pyrethrin are effective in eliminating indoor fly infestations, but proper ventilation is crucial.
• Salt and pepper spray, made from boiled water with added seasonings, helps keep flies and mosquitoes at bay.
• Ginger liquid spray, using water and dried ginger powder, is a potent weapon against flies and other insects.
• Basic hygiene practices such as covering food, wiping surfaces, and cleaning trash cans are essential to prevent fly infestations.
• Installing mesh screens on windows and doors helps keep flies out of the house.
• Regularly covering and cleaning trash cans is a crucial step in maintaining a fly-free environment.