Flies
STOP THOSE FILTHY FLIES FROM FLYING INTO YOUR HOUSE
• Flies affecting urban areas can be categorised into the following groups:
• Large filth flies
• Biting flies
• Small filth flies
• Other small non-biting flies
• Non-biting midges
• Overwintering flies
• Fruit flies
The flies that affect us the most are the Filth flies. These are divided into two groups, separated by their appearance and food preferences.
Large Filth Flies
• Includes the House fly, Lesser house fly, Bush fly, Flesh fly and Blow fly
• Strong fliers (up to 8 kph).
• Soft bodied insect with large eyes
• Breed outdoors in decaying organic matter – manure, meat, garbage.
• Contaminate people, their food and food preparation surfaces when they land on them.
How to control large filth flies
An inspection of the area will show where flies congregate and the materials that attract that species eg. dog manure in the yard. These areas and the breeding areas are targeted first. Sprays are directed at the breeding site of the maggots eg bins as well as where the adults land and rest. Areas treated includes walls, around door and window frames, in and around rubbish bins and in bands along window sills where flies gather.
Whether a treatment is successful or not is dependant on several factors:
• general area conditions – the number of flies in the environment (including breeding sites and attractions nearby) eg. if the property is situated next to a dog boarding kennel, there may be more flies.
• local attraction of flies – manure of pets, poultry and other animals attracts flies and is a potential breeding site eg a property with dog manure in the yard will attract flies to that property and to the neighbouring property.
• actions to reduce flies outdoors- use of baits, lures and insecticides where flies congregate; as well as the reduction of available harbourages (long grass etc).
• level of exclusion (eg flyscreens).
What you can do to prevent flies on your property
Effective sanitation is the most important part of any fly management program. All moist organic matter eg garbage bins within the property must be treated or removed. As temperatures increase, the fly life cycle shortens, so sanitation efforts must be increased.
• remove/treat garage bins regularly
• removal of pet and poultry manure in the yard.
• elimination of areas of excessive moisture.
FLY FACTS:
• flies defecate every 3-4 minutes
If you need help with flies, give us a call now on 3293 4475
