Flies: The definitive guide and how to eliminate them
Flies are, by far, one of the most annoying animals we can find in our homes, especially in the kitchen and in the dining room, and especially during the summer. These unpleasant bugs not only bother with the buzz they make when passing, but also are carriers of various diseases, as they perch on excrement, rotten food and all kinds of crap.
Fortunately, you do not have to share your home with these pests, because here we will tell you what you can do to fight these insects and make them disappear once and for all.
What are flies?
Flies are quite common insects in all parts of the world, and are considered arthropods of the order of the Diptera. There is a wide variety of flies but the most abundant species is the common fly or house fly, which lives in very diverse territories. Many insects have been included in the category of flies, despite not belonging to the same order as the common fly, which is due to the great physical resemblance they have with this species.
The flies have very large eyes and sensitive to light, which function as a kind of lens, and are composed of head, thorax and abdomen like other insects such as spiders, ants and bees.
It is possible to differentiate the females from the males by their size and the space between their eyes, since the males usually have both eyes a little closer together than the females.
Being a cosmopolitan insect, the fly can be in regions with almost all types of climates, from tropical to polar, and has accompanied man for a long time. These animals are especially active during the day, and at night they enter a state of rest, similar to what happens with humans, although they sleep much less than we do.
As for its life expectancy, it is fairly imitated compared to other similar bugs. In general, flies can live up to a month, taking about 10 days to become adults, although this is something very relative, because the life time of a fly depends on the species of the fly.
Why do flies appear?
There are several factors that can cause the appearance of flies, for example, if you accumulate garbage at home or leave the kitchen countertops dirty and full of unwashed utensils, it is very likely that you attract them directly to your space, since these small bugs are always looking for some food, and are so undemanding that they will not mind eating the waste or waste that you have left there.
Also, if you leave food in view of these insects, you will be inviting them to settle in and stay in your home for as long as possible, in order to take advantage of your “generosity”.
Now, these little animals tend to be almost everywhere but prefer to leave when temperatures are warmer, so it is very common to see thousands of them flying everywhere during the summer season.
Finally, if you are experiencing an infestation because of the flies, you should avoid creating the conditions for their survival, although you can also resort to some of the solutions that we have proposed later.
Types or species of flies
Flies are one of the most abundant animals in the world and there are so many species that, if we describe them all, you would spend the rest of the day reading about them. Therefore, this time we will talk about the most common and problematic fly types that you can find there.
Blue bottle fly
This species develops especially in substances derived from the meat in a state of decomposition and, sometimes, in the leftovers of cheeses. It is easily found living in the corpses of animals such as birds and rodents.
Gadfly
The female of the gadfly is one of the most worrisome species of fly, since it tends to feed on the blood of animals, especially cattle. As for the male, it feeds on the pollen of the flowers.
Cluster fly
It is a type of fly on swarms and that needs warm climates for its survival. They are attracted to light and tend to fly in the direction of the windows, attracted by the reflection of the sun.
Fruit fly
They live in places full of fermenting debris, whether fruits, vegetables or beer, although they are also seen in the drainage areas and on the dirty cleaning instruments.
Housefly
It is the most common species within households. They are attracted to all types of food, even in a state of decomposition, and are especially active during the day. This type of flies tend to be raised in the garbage and in the food of domestic animals.
Drain fly
It is frequently found in the wastewater channels, feeding on the organic matter of its sediments. They usually appear in sewers and drainage sites. They are characterized by flying very slowly and spend most of the time at rest.
Green lacewing
They feed on the pollen of flowers and other secretions, as well as insects such as red ticks, piojillos, aphids and other smaller bichillos. They tend to be more active during the afternoon and night, and when they flutter they create a very characteristic buzz of the species.
Flesh fly
They appear mainly on the remains of meat in decomposition, reason why they represent a great propagating threat of pathogenic agents. In general, they deposit their larvae in the places of decomposing organic waste and on the excrement.
Sting of the flies
In addition to the unpleasantness that can be, flies are also harmful to our health, especially if we refer to some tropical species, which can even cause death. An example of these are the tsetse flies, which feed only on the blood of animals and people, and whose bite is simply deadly.
Once this insect attacks its victim, it transmits a fearsome protozoan, called trypanosome, which causes lethal diseases. This species of fly is very feared by those who live in the Congo, in the Tanganyika region, since it is the propagator of the terrible sleeping sickness.
In addition to these species, there is another called gadfly, whose bite is usually very painful; and is that, unlike other insects that only pierce the skin, as does a needle, the gadfly has a kind of small knives in its mouth, which serve to cut the skin with a movement similar to that of scissors.
Are flies dangerous?
As for its danger, we can say that it is a very dangerous bichillos for people and animals, since not only transmit diseases through its bite, as we saw in the previous section, but also can do so with the simple fact of perching on our food and beverages, spreading a large number of bacteria that they collect in the garbage dumps and in all the little neat places where they usually are.
Since very remote times, the fly has caused great losses for men, not only human due to typhus, but also at the level of crops, depositing their larvae in them and spoiling them.
In short, although they may seem harmless, these pests are to be feared and should be eliminated as soon as possible, since they can represent a real problem if they are not controlled in time.
How to get rid of flies
Of course, no one likes to have flies hanging around, but to fight them, it is necessary to take certain measures and begin cleaning.
As we have already said, flies love to walk among the garbage in search of sandwiches, in addition to depositing their eggs in places loaded with waste ororganic substances in the process of decomposition.
While it is unlikely that hygiene measures will eliminate all of these pests, it is a very powerful weapon that can at least prevent their entry into our home.
Measures to avoid flies
Thus, to combat them, it is important to comply with the following hygiene rules:
- Remove the remains of food during and after its preparation.
- Remove trash frequently and keep containers or containers covered.
- Keep food well sealed and out of reach of these bichillos.
- Prohibit the entry of pets into the kitchen.
- Keep all rooms in the house clean, this includes the garden or patio, especially if you have pets that do their needs inside the house.
Although they are quite simple, these measures can help us reduce the presence of these bugs in our home. However, it is important to be constant and comply with the cleaning rules throughout the year and especially in the summer, since it is the most favorable time for the development and proliferation of flies.
Additionally, we can resort to traditional aerosol products, designed to kill flies and other flying insects, or even acquire a fly swatter, to avoid the use of chemicals and toxic elements.
Now, if the problem is quite serious and what is experienced is an infestation, it is best to resort to experts in pest control to solve the issue. They can offer us mechanical control measures, which include electric traps and screens that prevent the passage of these insects to our home or, on the other hand, may consider the use of chemical products such as insecticides or mosquicides by spraying, brushstroke or pills.
Home remedies to eradicate flies
We have already said that cleaning is not enough to keep these bugs away, and you might find it a bit annoying to have to go after them with a fly swatter or spraying them with the odorous sprays of the market. Well, if you are looking for some simpler measures to put an end to the asuntillo of the flies, these home remedies may fall as a ring to the finger.
Lavender oil
The smell of lavender works as a natural repellent against many insects, and flies are no exception.
To benefit from their properties, take a little watercup and place it over high heat until it boils. Then, take a sponge, place it on a plate and add 1 tablespoon of lavender oil and 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Let it absorb all the liquid and then rub the windows, the frame of the door and all the equipment in which these ugly animals usually land. You can repeat the procedure as many times as you want, moistening the sponge with boiling water every day and replenishing the oil once a week.
Onion juice
This is one of the oldest and most useful home remedies available. It may sound strange, but rubbing onion juice in the door and window frames is a great help to prevent the access of these insects to our home. If you do not get this juice in the super, you can do it yourself, pulverizing the onions and extracting all the liquid from them, and then spread it with the help of a brush or a brush.
More tricks to kill flies
If the home remedies have not left you satisfied, maybe these tricks to kill the flies do it.
Flytrap strips
To catch the flies and get rid of them, you can mix ¼ cup of corn syrup or any other sweetened syrup together with ¼ cup of sugar. The idea is that it is a sweet and pasty mixture to attract the flies and get them stuck.
Take some strips of cardboard or brown paper, open some holes in the top, pass a thread through them and tie them so you can hang the strips.
With the help of a pince or brush, take some of the mixture and spread it on the paper strips. Once they dry, hang them in the kitchen and in the places where there are more flies. The smell of the sweet will attract them and the stickiness of the syrup will keep them attached to the strip. Thus, you will only have to discard the traps when you can not see so many flies attached to them.
Bags with water
One of the simplest but effective alternatives to scare the flies is to fill a transparent bag with water, tie it and hang it on the outside of the house, so that it is close to the doors and windows. The reflection of the sun in the water will create an optical effect that will ward off these unpleasant insects.
Now that you know everything you should about flies, we hope you can get rid of them with the help of our practical tips.
