Of all the pests that can give you a headache, flies are certainly one of the most unpleasant. These little flying bugs can do a lot of damage to your health by contaminating your food and annoying you with their buzzing.
And to our chagrin, houseflies are one of the most common and widespread pests in the world. Since ancient times, flies have been with us, infesting kitchen utensils, food and garbage. When they gather, things can get complicated, especially if you run a business.
In addition, these vermin are known vectors of many serious diseases (such as cholera, typhoid, typhus, etc.). All these aggravations caused by flies should not be taken lightly, as these unwanted insects pose many dangers to your well-being and that of your loved ones.
Fortunately, getting rid of them is not a thing of the past. You can try different extermination methods, or you can hire a professional pest control service to take care of your infestation. You will also need to take many preventive and hygienic measures.
You need to act quickly, as a spread of houseflies can not only affect your health, but also lead to many secondary problems such as lawsuits, loss of food and products, criticism, poor image, and low income (in the case of businesses).
If you are suffering from these pernicious bugs, and want to know how to get rid of them, then you have come to the right place!
As AKL Exterminator, the best experts in extermination and pest control in Quebec, we give you here a short guide to prevent a fly infestation, how to recognize an infestation of these insects and the essential sanitary measures to keep them away from your property.
Don’t wait for the plague to spread, let’s start!
Everything you need to know about flies
Before talking about preventive actions, you need to know your enemy. Houseflies are dipteran insects that measure between 4 and 7 millimeters. Their bodies are slightly hairy, have two very agile membranous wings and red eyes composed of thousands of lenses.
They are usually black or grayish in color, and have four stripes on the thorax. Their legs are long and hairy, which serve as taste organs. Their vision is very good thanks to their compound eyes, which allow them to see a wide field of vision that they process seven times faster than humans!
In addition, houseflies do not have teeth or stingers, but have a kind of proboscis, with which they suck in food and with which they soften hard food by distributing saliva.
Life cycle and reproduction
Houseflies have a very short lifespan, but reproduce in incredible numbers, resulting in rapid infestation – a female can lay up to 100 eggs six times in her lifetime! In favorable, warm environments, the eggs hatch into larvae within 24 hours.
Typically, female flies lay their eggs in food, garbage or decaying organic matter. Here, the larvae will develop and feed on it. It is easy to recognize their eggs because they look like grains of rice.
Then they transform into nymphs (like butterfly cocoons), where they will finish their development in 6 to 20 days. After this period, the metamorphosis is complete and the adult fly will emerge from the pupa. In just one day, the adult flies will be able to reproduce again! It’s terrible, isn’t it!
What do flies eat and how do they do it?
Flies are omnivores and decomposers par excellence. They eat a wide variety of things, human food, garbage, feces, and all kinds of organic waste. Since they have no jaws, flies “liquefy” their food by regurgitation.
This means, in somewhat unpleasant terms, that they vomit enzymes and liquids onto their food to dissolve it, then digest it again. Disgusting, right? Once their food is soft, they suck it up. But they usually prefer to eat wet or decaying material (especially if it has a strong odor, like your pets’ feces).
How to recognize a fly infestation?
Identifying a potential invasion of these disgusting insects is simple and obvious to the naked eye. The main sign of an infestation is the presence of the flies themselves. You’ll see them flying around and hear their irritating buzzing, especially in your kitchen, although they can also be found in other corners of your property.
Another sign of the spread of these insects is the presence of their eggs in food or trash. Their larvae are also recognizable, crawling on surfaces (implying that they are breeding somewhere). Another sign is the observation of dark spots and empty pupae of these insects.
Tips for fly prevention
If you’ve identified the signs above, or if you want to prevent flies from doing their thing on your property to that extent, these tips will help! As AKL Exterminator, we provide you with a guide here to prevent an infestation of these two-winged pests.
You can follow these great recommendations to make sure your home, office, restaurant, or commercial space is fly free. Let’s review what they are!
Constant cleaning and hygiene
Sanitizing your property is the most effective preventative measure. Dirt attracts flies, so clean everything (kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, spills, crumbs, dirty dishes, drains and utensils). Also pick up and clean up pet waste and store pet food when pets are not eating.
Reduce food sources and household waste
Flies are adept at scavenging waste, debris and exposed food. Therefore, eliminate any potential food sources left available to them. Be sure to cover all trash cans. When you go out to dispose of them, leave them away from your property and cover them well.
You should also store all your food properly, preferably in airtight containers. Keep all unrefrigerated food and keep garbage cans away from your pantry. Another important tip is to pick up all decaying organic waste from your property.
Take the garbage out frequently and keep it away from your home. Make sure the bins are securely closed or covered. Store all unrefrigerated food safely.
Blocking flies from entering
To prevent flies from entering your property, you need to repair holes, dry out wet areas, and seal any cracks or holes where flies can get in. You can also install screens on windows and doors to eliminate potential entry routes.
Set traps and use insecticides
If you want to keep flies at bay, you can set up traps, from sticky paper to pheromone baits to ultraviolet light lures. And if you want to be even more careful, you can use over-the-counter insecticides in areas most vulnerable to fly infestations, like kitchens and attics.
Now that you know all about flies and have a helpful guide to preventing a fly infestation on your property, what are you waiting for to apply these effective tips? You’ll reduce the risk of disease, contamination of your food and the annoying buzzing of these pesky insects.
Don’t forget to watch for any signs of infestation! Flies should not be allowed to spread, as they reproduce excessively.
And if you are suffering from the ravages of flies, or any other vermin, and urgently need the help of a pest control company, don’t hesitate to contact us! At AKL Exterminator, we are professionals in the extermination and control of all types of pests.
We will help you without saying a word! In addition, we offer different services and products that you can find in our amazing online store, to control all kinds of invaders, from spiders to rodents. We offer our services in the different provinces of Quebec.
You can find us at 5333 Boul. Laurier, suite 128 Terrebonne, J7M 1W1. We guarantee the quality of our products and services, against any invasive pest. Do not hesitate to contact us by clicking on the image below! We take calls all the time!
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