What do house flies look like?
House flies are usually very easy to identify, not only do they have some unique features, but as their name suggests they are one of the most common species of flies to be found invading homes. House flies are dull gray in color and grow to between 1/8th and 1/4 of an inch in length. They have black vertical lines located just behind their head on their dorsum. Adults have two noticeable, velvety stripes on their face, one is silver in color, and one is gold in color. Their larvae (maggots) are off-white in color and have a pointed head and no appendages. The pupa is dark brown, round in shape, and tapers from front to back.
Are house flies dangerous?
While house flies are extremely annoying to have inside of your home, they are also considered to be very dangerous. Before finding their way inside of your home, house flies were most likely feeding on and landing on some less than desirable items including excrement, carcasses, and garbage. House flies host a lot of dangerous bacteria and viruses on their bodies and legs; bacteria and viruses that they will spread throughout your home and onto your family’s food sources. House flies cause even more contamination because of their physical need to regurgitate their food before consuming it.
Why do I have a house fly problem?
House flies often enter into homes through open windows or doors or through cracks and crevices found around their exterior. They are attracted to homes and properties that offer them easy access to food, water, and breeding sources. Vegetable gardens, fruit trees, compost piles, unsecured garbage, and animal excrement can all attract house flies to your property; once on your property, unless deterred, they are likely to find their way inside of your home.
How do you get rid of house flies?
Prevent them from coming inside in the first place. At Spencer Pest Services, our belief is that it’s much easier to prevent than to control. We’ll work with you to create a pest control program that discourages house flies and other common home-invading pests. If you’re already infested with house flies, we can help with treatment that is safe for people and pests. Contact us today to learn more about our home pest control services in Greenville and throughout Upstate of South Carolina and northern Georgia.
House fly prevention
To prevent house flies from choosing your property to live, feed, and breed on, you need to eliminate the things around your property that have the potential to attract them. House fly prevention tips include:
- Store compost piles/bins away from the exterior of your home.
- Reduce water sources by making sure that gutters are unclogged and by fixing leaky outdoor pipes and fixtures.
- If you own pets, make sure to clean up their waste on a daily basis.
- Outdoor garbage cans should have tight-fitting or lockable lids on them and they should be stored a distance away from the exterior of your home.
- Make sure that all door and window screens are intact, that gaps found around windows and doors are caulked and that doors and windows are never left open for long periods of time.