Four methods to eliminate flies from your house

Houseflies are well-known pests in homes around the world. Various methods can help get rid of houseflies. The common house fly, scientifically known as Musca domestica, is a fly that does not bite. However, each can carry more than a million bacteria that can be transferred to food and surfaces. Several methods can help control house flies, including drainage treatments and insecticide sprays.

In this article, we will see how to get rid of house flies. We also examine whether they represent a health hazard.

4 ways to get rid of house flies

There are a variety of techniques to eliminate houseflies. Here are four of the most effective methods:

House cleaning.

Water is necessary for flies to reproduce. It is an essential part of their diet, as flies cannot live more than 48 hours without access to water. Many house fly infestations are caused by excess moisture and debris buildup in the home. Water can often collect in damp or wet areas like sinks or drains.

The following areas should be checked and cleaned:

soils, food disposal or food waste
bathtub or shower sinks and drains
drains
dirty mops
inside trash cans
under appliances, such as refrigerators
cracks in floor or wall tiles where bacteria can grow.

Houseflies usually enter from the outside, but sometimes they breed indoors. Indoor hatcheries are more common in buildings with indoor trash rooms and compactors.

Keeping clean places where houseflies tend to breed can prevent future infestations. Special attention should be paid to:

to areas of standing water, such as gutters
keep doors or other entry points closed
clean pets
keep trash cans and surrounding areas clean
clean up rotten food, such as apples that have fallen from a tree
regularly clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces
Use of pipe treatments

Constant moisture in pipes provides an environment conducive to fly breeding. They can sometimes land on the walls around a sink or shower.

To check for flies in a drain

Put clear tape over the drain inlet.
Make sure the sticky side is facing down.
Leave a little space to allow air to flow through the drain and encourage flies.
Periodically check if there are flies attached to the tape. The number of flies that stick indicates the extent of the infestation.

Cleaning the drain should destroy the hatchery and kill the infestation. There are several options to clean them. However, regular bleach or drain cleaners are not effective at killing bacteria. A person can:

– Use a pipe cleaning brush to scrub the sides: The brush should be abrasive, such as a wire brush. Use several pots of boiling water to remove residue after brushing.

Combine baking soda, salt, and vinegar to make a solution: Pour the solution down the drain and let it sit overnight. Then come back in the morning to pour boiling water down the drain to remove debris.

– Use antibacterial drainage treatments: However, these may take several weeks to work.

Placement of fly traps

There are many types of fly traps that can help eliminate fly infestations. These devices include:

Light traps that use ultraviolet light to attract flies and a glue board to catch them. They are more effective against large flies.
Traps that use low voltage electrical current to eliminate flies.
Traps that use bait to attract flies, such as honey or other sweet flavors.
Devices that use pheromones to attract flies. These fly traps are helpful in identifying an infestation, but they rarely fix the problem.

Try fly sprays or insecticides

Various sprays and insecticides can help control flies. If they can eliminate the flies individually, there are more effective ways to eliminate an infestation.

Pyrethrin, a pesticide toxic to insects, can be purchased as a spray to treat adult flies. These sprays are a temporary solution that can be useful in combination with other techniques. People who use insecticides or fly sprays should be careful to avoid direct contact with the skin or eyes and not to inhale them. Pyrethrin is not very toxic, but it can irritate the skin or trigger other mild symptoms.

Health risks of houseflies

Flies are generally not dangerous, but they can be pests. A person can find a variety of them around the house, including house flies or fruit flies. Some flies carry germs, such as bacteria and other infectious agents, that are spread when they come into contact with people or food. These germs can cause illnesses and symptoms, such as:

dysentery
Diarrhea
typhoid fever
anger
trachoma
epidemic conjunctivitis
skin infections

However, houseflies are not considered to be a major disease vector.

Summary

House fly infestations are rarely harmful. People can try different techniques to control house flies. It is important to keep the house and outdoor areas clean to treat and prevent problems that may arise. Various products can help with house flies, including traps and sprays. Caution should be exercised when using insecticide sprays, which may cause mild skin irritation.

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Khamesipour, F., et al. (2018). A systematic review of human pathogens carried by the house fly (Musca domestica L.).