House Flies Homeowners typically find house fly eggs in moist, decaying organic material like trash, grass clippings, or feces. Elongated and pale in color, they appear in clusters and hatch quickly after being laid by the female fly.
Different flies have different breeding sites, but examining your compost, garbage cans, uncovered fruit or produce, and drains for maggots is a good place to start.
The common house fly is a dull gray fly, ¼-inch long with four dark stripes on the middle section (thorax) of its body. House flies typically lay eggs on animal feces and garbage. White, legless maggots (the larval stage) hatch from the eggs and grow to about ½ inch.
Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.
Flies get inside for a number of reasons, usually in pursuit of trash, rotting food, or moisture. A common house fly is attracted to decaying organic matter like feces and rotting meat. Drain flies, on the other hand, are attracted to moisture and will lay their eggs inside of drains.
Most of the time, flies live in organic materials. Check for flies in places like the soil around houseplants or in your trash. They're also commonly found in bathrooms or in areas around or inside drains. You should also check for gaps along your house's foundation, windows, and doors.
The best homemade fly trap is one that can attract both house flies and fruit flies. To lure both outdoors, mix scraps of rotting meat, like fish or chicken, with sugar or honey. When indoors, the best bait is old fruit or honey. Liquid dish soap is exactly what you need to drown the flies.
Flies rub their hands together to clean themselves off.
Flies have small sensors all over their bodies that carry taste receptors. When flies walk around, these sensors can get clogged with dirt, dust, and food particles. So when a fly rubs its little hands together, it's getting ready to taste its next delicious meal.
Flies are just like us – they spend the entire day buzzing around with their friends and get pretty tired at bedtime. Before sunset, a sleepy fly will try and find a safe place to rest. Some favourite places are on the undersides of leaves, twigs, and branches, or even in tall grass or under rocks.
In either case, flies may enter rooms by crawling under baseboards and attic doors, around window sills, through window pulleys or damaged screens, or through electrical fixtures. They are usually found in window sills and other out of the way places, moving sluggishly.
The myth that flies lay eggs every time they land is not supported by scientific evidence. Flies are selective about where they lay their eggs and do not lay them on every surface they land on. However, flies can still transmit harmful bacteria and pose a health risk to humans.
In addition to making your house smell minty fresh, herbs like spearmint and peppermint can also keep flies at bay. Mint grows quickly and makes an excellent addition to your backyard garden or your windowsill. For those who lack a green thumb, spearmint or peppermint essential oils can also prevent fly infestations.
Yes, using Pine-Sol to keep flies away is safe. According to the Pine-Sol product page, it is biodegradable and safe for use around pets. However, Thaeler suggests waiting until treated areas have dried before letting children or pets near to be safe.
Vinegar and Dish Soap - Fill a bowl slightly with apple cider vinegar, wine or honey with some dish soap (washing up liquid). Cover the bowl with plastic wrap with punctured holes or leave uncovered. Flies will be attracted to the smell and will get stuck within the liquid.
Not only that, but adult flies lay their eggs in the matter as well – and they lay a whole lot of them. Dead animals, rotting meat, or open compost heaps can draw these pests into your home. Structural gaps, such as cracks in walls or poorly sealed windows, provide entry points for flies seeking warmth or shelter.
Moist, decaying organic material is the preferred spot for a female house fly's breeding grounds. Garbage cans, compost heaps, and animal feces offer the perfect blend of moisture and decay to serve as nurseries for their young, eventually giving rise to adult house flies.
The entire life cycle of a cluster fly generally takes four to six weeks to complete. However, by invading and overwintering indoors, a cluster fly infestation can persist for several months and continue to be a nuisance until proper removal measures are implemented.
Mix one cup of water and one teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a misting bottle and spray it near entryways and wherever you see flies. Other natural fly repellents include lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, camphor, and cinnamon.
Flies in the bedroom may be attracted to food crumbs, fruits, or organic waste. Ensure proper food storage and disposal. Check for any damp or decaying materials that may attract flies. Keeping the bedroom clean and implementing preventive measures like using screens can help eliminate the issue.