Common New England Fly Problems

Whether it is a single fly, or a swarm of flies, it is no fun to have flies. There are all kinds of problems that can arise from having flies in your home. Here are a few of the most common flies that can bug us, and some ideas that will help you fight back.

Flies That Swarm In Your Kitchen

Are you inhaling tiny flies every time you go into your kitchen? It doesn't take long for fruit flies or fungus gnats to take over. And, when they do, it can become maddening. Both of these flies can reproduce extremely quickly, especially if they have access to a food source. And, both of these flies can spread harmful bacteria from trash cans to counters, cutting boards, dishes, and food.

How do they get in?

While fruit flies and fungus gnats can come in through an open door or window, they often get carried in as well.

Fruit flies lay eggs on overripe produce. These eggs are so small, they are almost undetectable. When you buy fruit at the grocery store, they can come with fruit fly eggs on them. That is why it is always best to put fruit in the fridge until you're ready to eat it. If the flies manage to hatch in your fridge, they won't last long in that environment.

Fungus gnats prefer to lay their eggs in soil. If you bring plants into your home in the fall, to protect them from the winter cold, you may accidentally introduce fungus flies into your home. But, fungus flies don't need plants to reproduce. They can lay their eggs in any decaying organic matter.

How do you control them?

Get rid of all the food options in your home, by cleaning your counters and sealing your trash. These flies don't live long. If you want them gone faster, a vacuum cleaner attachment will suck them up quick. Be sure to dispose of the bag outside when you're done. The last thing you need is for any of those flies to escape and lay another batch of eggs.

Flies That Spread Illness

There are many flies that can spread illness in a home, but the worst of them all is the common house fly. Not only do they carry harmful bacteria from trash cans to cooking surfaces, they also leave their feces and stomach fluids on the foods we eat. Since flies eat rotting organic matter, this can be a significant health threat for humans. House flies are directly connected to the transmission of over 60 human illnesses, among them are salmonella, dysentery, tuberculosis, cholera, anthrax, and typhoid fever. You should never share your home with house flies.

How do they get in?

As you can probably guess, house flies fly in. If you have a damaged screen, these insects will take full advantage of it. They'll also be happy to fly through an open door. Keeping your door shut as you bring groceries in can help prevent entry.

One of the contributing factors to having flies in your house could be an outside food source near your exterior walls. If you have open trash that flies can feed on and breed in, you'll have more of a chance of getting an unwanted visitor.

How do you control them?

Good sanitation and a reduction of breeding sites is key to keeping house flies from taking over. If you already have flies buzzing around, hang something sticky for them to land on.

Flies That Bite

In New England, we have a few frustrating flies that bite. Black flies, deer flies, and horse flies, are the most common. If you live near the coast, you may see a lot of sand flies. Sand flies are so tiny, they are often called no-see-ums. These flies don't eat fermenting food. They feed on blood.

How do they get in, and how do you control them?

All of these flies can get in through an open door or window. That is why we have screens. Screens are the best defense against these little biters. But, a fan blowing toward an open door can add a little more protection.

If you're dealing with flies in your New England home, find out if you're in our extensive service area. There is no better way to control flies than to have ongoing pest control service from American Pest Solutions.