When To Call The Pros
The faster you can get rid of a house fly, the better. If you’ve tried these methods and still have an unwelcome housemate , call in an expert as soon as possible. They’ll assess potential areas in and outside of your home that could potentially be breeding sites, then apply insecticide or leave out traps, whichever is applicable to the house fly situation in your home. In the meantime, perhaps memorize a few summer quotes to keep you calm.
Flies That Breed In Houses
If flies are breeding in your house, you will notice a lot of flies over a long period of time as each generation lays eggs that produce more flies that lay eggs, and so the cycle continues. To get rid of such an infestation, youll need to find the source of the problem and break the breeding cycle.
If you have a lot of flies in the house but their numbers vary sometimes there are a lot and other times none flies might be coming in for food or shelter before dying off or leaving, and they are probably not laying eggs in your home. You should focus on finding the breeding area outside if this is the case.
Small flies are more likely to breed and live in a house. When indoors, they usually lay their eggs in trash cans, in the kitchen, in the attic, or in the garage. Small flies that commonly breed in houses are cluster flies, drain flies, fruit flies, fungus gnats, and phorid flies.
Small flies breed in houses when there is a moist, dark place to lay eggs and food for the maggots to eat when they hatch from the eggs. But small flies also breed outdoors and might just be in your house to eat or stay warm.
Large flies tend to breed in houses when theres a dead animal in a wall or in the roof of the house. Once the animal carcass is removed or fully decayed, these flies leave the house because they prefer to lay eggs and breed outdoors.
Tools & Materials To Drive Flies Out Of Your Yard
These uninvited insects cant fly well in strong breezes, so set up an oscillating fan on an extension cord near your backyard grill, picnic table, or any other area where you congregate outside. When flies feel the gust, theyll head in the opposite direction.
Roll a stiff piece of paper into a cone long enough to reach from the top of the jar to just above the level of the liquid, and snip off the tip. Tape the cone inside the jar with the wide end filling the jars mouth and the cones tip right above the sugar water.
Citronella, a highly aromatic oil distilled from several varieties of lemongrass, repels both flies and mosquitoes. Light a few of these fragrant candles and set them on your picnic table, porch, or grill area the strong scent serves as a not welcome sign to winged nuisances. Its immediate, effective, and strangely satisfying to swat flies dead.
These devices electrocute flying bugs with a loud zap. Flies hate the smell of this liquor, so fill a few small plastic sandwich bags halfway with the cheap stuff, zip the bags most of the way shut, and then use twine or string and some heavy-duty clothespins to hang the bags around your yard.
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Can Fruit Fly Infestations Be Dangerous
A fruit fly infestation can be dangerous to your health if left untreated. Fruit flies are known for picking up germs and then depositing them on fresh foods.
Theyre drawn to dung and another excrement, which can include pathogens like E. coli. They then spread the bacterium throughout. Female fruit flies also inject batches of eggs into fresh fruit after mating. The fruit becomes contaminated. Use sprays as house fly killers.
The best way to get rid of flies quickly and permanently is to combine many types of treatments and prevention methods. Start with the use of a trap or other fly-killing treatments to deal with the immediate fly problem, then move on to incorporating repellents and natural solutions to keep more flies out. Once you know how to get rid of flies and they are out of your home, start preventive measures to keep them away for good.
However, if youre dealing with a large infestation, and tried all the above-said things then probably its best to call the professionals. Contact NoBroker for your house inspection today!
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Too Many Mosquitoes In Your Yard Attract Dragonflies
Nothing can ruin time spent outside on a beautiful summer day quite like having to swat away mosquitoes. You can improve your odds of enjoying your time spent in your yard by planting plants that repel mosquitoes, but another strategy would be to attract insects that will eat the mosquitoes.
Among the best contenders for insects that will patrol your yard and eat mosquitoes are dragonflies and damselflies, which can eat upwards of 100 mosquitoes a day, according to Treehugger.
So how can you attract these bugs to your yard in an attempt to control the mosquitoes? The best thing you can do to encourage dragonflies and damselflies to visit your yard is to provide a water source.
Dragonflies start their lives as nymphs, which live in the water. They remain in the nymph stage for as long as three years, molting between six and 15 times as they grow, according to National Geographic. With their final molt, they emerge as adults with wings. The adults live only about a month. They can fly away from their watery homes, although we still often see adult dragonflies near aquatic habitats.
Because water is essential for their life cycle, having a small pond will certainly help attract dragonflies and damselflies to your yard. Bird baths and other shallow water sources aren’t deep enough for dragonflies, which is why a small pond is best.
Here are a few more tips from SCARCE to prevent your yard from becoming a mosquito magnet:
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Is It Common To Have So Many Flies In My Yard
It is not necessarily normal to have a great number of house flies around your home or yard at any given time, but it can be common if you live in an area that has standing water or you feed them too much. Some people have and use compost piles, which will attract flies as well.
A few things to note are that there are several different types of flies worldwide with varying characteristics, but unless you know your fly type, its probably best to call them all just flies. All flies do not bite nor transmit any diseases to humans, so you do not have to worry about getting any illnesses from them. Most are just annoying because they like the warmer environment of your house or will try to eat some of the food that you leave on your countertop or open.
Flies in your yard can mean a few different things:
- If you live near a river or lake, you may have flies attracted to the water, as many species do.
- If there is a large amount of rotting food around or near your house, this will attract flies, which will be carried away wherever the wind goes.
- Some areas become more prone to fly populations because their trash cans may not all be covered or because some people do not compost and throw away their food scraps.
- If there is standing water on your property in a birdbath, dog bowl, rain barrel, etc., it will likely be visited by many different species of fly, which will then blow into your house due to the wind.
- In general, you may have just noticed a few flies and have no idea why.
Best Way To Get Rid Of Flies On Patio And Porches
If flies are a nuisance in areas where you like to spend time, such as your patio or porch, there are some things you can do to deter them. They include:
- Using fans: The breeze prevents them from flying.
- Lighting citronella candles: The scent deters flies as well as other flying pests.
- Planting certain flowers and herbs in the area: Marigolds, lavender, nasturtium, mint and bay leaf all deter flies.
- Creating vodka deterrents: Flies hate the smell of vodka, so consider keeping bowls or bags of it around the area. If you dont want to use vodka, consider essential oils, like pine or citrus.
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What Do Flies Hate Most
The smell of basil, rosemary, catnip, mint, and lavender plants is bad for flies. The scent of apple cider vinegar, cloves, and pine is repelled by flies.
If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have an allergic reaction to that item: hives difficulty breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat wheezing tightness in your chest or chest pain shortness of breath itching red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin with or without a rash or any other symptoms that may be related to the item being handled.
Make Your Own Fly Strips
Instead of buying commercial scented fly strips to deter the pests, make your own with the essential oils that fly hate. Simply cut a piece of cloth into strips 12 inches long and one inch wide. Moisten each strip with several drops of any of the following: clove, lavender, lemongrass, citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary, or mint.
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Our Top Tricks To Get Rid Of Flies In The Chicken Coop
If you have chickens, you probably have flies. We did too, until we learned the best ways to get rid of flies in chicken coop!
Flies. Theyre pesky, disease ridden, and abundant. Once they invade, theyre quick to colonize and almost impossible to exterminate.
Outdoor flies are especially drawn to livestock. If you have chickens, you probably have them buzzing around the chicken coop at this very moment.
We did too, and now were practically fly free!
Lucky for you, were here to share our tips and tricks that finally were able to get rid of flies for good.
During our first summer with backyard chickens we endured the epic fly battle. They were absolutely everywhere, and it seemed there was no stopping them.
We tried every simple tactic we could find on the internet.
- Vanilla scented air fresheners hung around the coop? Check.
- Plastic baggies filled with water and a penny? Check.
- Homemade natural fly repellents with various scents and herbs? Check.
- Dinky little Fly ribbons hanging from the ceiling? Check.
- Use essential oils and fresh herbs to get rid of them the natural way? Check.
None of these attempts worked.
In fact, I saw flies just hanging out on the air freshener and plastic bags, so its pretty clear those werent going to work for us. The hanging fly strips sort of worked, but did more damage than good. They would catch about five flies a day, and honestly did a better job of catching our flying chickens than they did with the insects.
How Do Pennies Keep Flies Away
So, when light hits the bag of water filled with shiny pennies , the thought is that it refracts and confuses the insects. The insect then picks it up and carries it back to its nest. And so on, and so forth, until the entire bag is full of penny-sized insects, each of which has its own unique set of behaviors.
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Best Way To Keep Flies Away Outside
If you have a fly problem outdoors once, theres a good chance youll have one again. The best thing you can do to prevent another infestation is to create an unwelcoming environment.
Start by eliminating scents that may attract them. Clean up after your dog. Keep your outdoor garbage cans covered and cleaned regularly. If you have a compost pile, consider covering it.
Next, get rid of any standing moisture. It creates a rich breeding ground for flies. This can even help you with mosquito control in your yard. Take care of any leaks that may be causing standing water puddles.
Mow your lawn regularly and get rid of any debris or brush that has built up around your house. Long grass and weeds also attract flies.
Ready to start your pest control project?
Smoke Flies Out With Citronella Candles
Citronella is a great fly repellent but it only works effectively in a small area per candle. The amount of candles it would take to be effective would be so costly that this is really not a viable solution either.
3. Use Fly traps
Since fly traps actually attract flies the best way to use a fly trap to repel flies is to place them as far away from where you dont want the flies as possible. You can make a mix of Sugar Water to get a few flies to the trap. Once the flies become trapped and die the dead flies will start to become an attractant to the live flies. NASTY!
4. Install Yellow Light Bulbs to Keep Flies Away
Everyone has seen those yellow light bulbs right? Well studies have shown that the color yellow is the number one color that repels flies. Unfortunately you would need to completely surround your home in yellow light bulbs for it to have any real effect.
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How To Repel Backyard Flies Fast
11. Keep window screens in good shape.
If your patio or outdoor dining area is screened in, it is important and a good idea to keep the screens in good shape. Quickly patch any holes or tears where flies can enter.
If you notice any fraying or other damage to the screen, be sure to replace the screen as soon as possible. Keeping your window screens in good, working condition will help keep a protective layer between you and the flies.
When using any outdoor areas that are screened in or sectioned off, dont get into the habit of propping open doors. Instead, remember how important it is to create this barrier between you and the bugs.
12. Try a light trap.
This is a more expensive option, but you can invest in light traps. These look like a light that when plugged in, will attract the fly and then zap it.
The zap will kill any flies it comes in contact with. While an effective way to trap flies, the light and zapping noise could be annoying while you are enjoying your outdoor space.
13. Make your own bug repelling spray.
You can use a spray bottle, essential oils and witch hazel to make your own effective bug spray.
The nice thing about this method is this recipe is chemical free AND takes care of pesky flies! Take a look at how to make your own bug repelling spray below.
This simple recipe can help keep biting bugs away so you can enjoy your time outdoors. It takes just a few ingredients and a few minutes to make. See the full DIY Bug Spray Tutorial here.
Why Are There So Many Flies Outside My House
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Flies may be mostly harmless, but that doesnt mean theyre pleasant to have around. Theyre annoying and having them around just makes you feel kind of dirty. We associate flies with filth and decay, and for good reason. So, naturally, when there are a bunch of flies around, we tend to assume somethings is rotting or unusually dirty. In this article well try and figure out why there are might be so many flies outside your house.
Lets have a look!
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The Problem With Flies
Flies are more than a nuisance. They are intermediate hosts to many parasites that can affect your pets. They also carry harmful human diseases, such as tuberculosis, salmonella, and cholera. That makes getting rid of them imperative for you and your family. The other issue is sanitation since its a likely attractant. More often than not, it doesnt stop at flies.
You may find that some of the things weve listed will also bring other unwanted pests to your yard and possibly the house, such as rodents and raccoons. Therefore, you can think of flies as the proverbial shot over the bow that you must take action quickly.
Use A Gazebo To Keep Flies Away
Houseflies live everywhere that humans do since our trash production is part of what helps them survive. Their survival instinct tells them to stick around us. The unfortunate aspect of this is that we can never get rid of all of them for long durations of time.
Instead of constantly trying to shoe them away, keep yourself, your guests, and your food protected under a backyard structure. Not only will this separate you from those pesky flies, but a quality outdoor structure can also increase the value and aesthetic of your backyard.
The following structures are best if you are trying to enjoy time outside but want to stay protected from the housefly nuisance.
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