The common housefly presents itself as an annoying pest that can be difficult to get rid of, and often ends up being the object of frequent swatting attempts. They typically live for two to four weeks and will feast on anything available to them. This could be a dead animal or bird, your leftover food or a pet’s food. In the process of eating, they will vomit their food – liquefied – and then ingest it again. This process leaves faeces and germs on whatever they land on.
The common female housefly can lay up to 9,000 eggs in her lifetime; these are tiny, but visible to the naked human eye. Once the white coloured eggs have hatched, typically within a day, they are pale, white and 3-9mm long. At the end of their third instar, they crawl to a dry, cool place and transform into pupae. The adult flies then emerges; 36hours after emerging, the females are ready for mating.
So how can these flies be prevented from infiltrating your humble abode? Well read on for a handful of top tips to keep them at bay.
Cover all food
This is particularly important if you are having a party or gathering, like a BBQ. Be wary of leaving food uncovered or unattended for too long as this will attract flies, and they may have been and gone by the time you turn around. Try popping some cling film or tin foil over the dishes, or use a specially made fly net that stops all manner of bugs getting to your tasty food.
Be wary of pet food
When you go out, you will normally have covered all your food or put it in the refrigerator. However, pet food is often left out for animals when their owners have left the house to go out or go to work. Uncovered pet food offers the perfect source of food for flies to eat, and also for them to lay their eggs in. This could potentially cause undesirable effects for your pets, including worms and diarrhoea.
Check your bins
A prime place for flies to congregate is your bins, particularly in warm weather when waste decomposes quicker. Try to ensure that the lid on your bin is sealed, perhaps by putting a brick on the top to keep it down in windy conditions. It is also very important that all rubbish is in bin bags and not thrown into the bin as it is; this will also help reduce the stench that comes from outside and indoor bins.
Empire Pest Control London can supply a variety of fly prevention and control products, to help you manage and eliminate a large proportion of fly-related problems. These products include; fly screen doors, chain-link curtains and electric fly controls, plus many more. Take a look around our site for further details and products that will help you to eliminate these pests from your home or workplace.
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