We’ve long awaited the moment when the weather would be decent enough to spend some time outside. Everyone loves Spring and the warmth it brings, even the pests! We aren’t the only species emerging from our homes because the weather is favorable. Butterflies are breaking free from their cocoons, birds are hatching, and the flies are beginning to buzz once again. Everyone hates flies, but the good news is, there are ways to keep the flies at bay in your yard. A Five Star Termite and Pest Control will tell you how!
Are Flies Dirtier than Cockroaches?
If we asked you what the dirtiest insect was in the world, would you know it was the fly? That’s right, flies are twice as dirty as cockroaches! They carry more disease causing pathogens than roaches and have the ability to infect more spaces, more quickly than a roach too. In fact, a study conducted by Penn State confirmed that blowflies and house flies carry more than 100 different species of bacteria, many of which are harmful to humans. They are also responsible for transmitting more than 65 diseases including, typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, tularemia, anthrax, leprosy and tuberculosis to name a few. Flies spend the vast majority of their time congregating in garbage piles, decaying organic matter and feces, to lay and hatch their young. The average female house fly will have a lifespan of about a month in favorable conditions. During that time, she can lay as many as 500 eggs. So, one or two flies in the backyard can get out of hand very quickly. If you have pets, your backyard is a hospitable environment due to pet feces and can host copious amounts of flies as opposed to a home with no pets.
How to Keep Flies from Swarming Outside Your House
Keep your yard clean – Quite simply stated, flies are attracted to stinky, moist areas with an ample food source and a place to lay their eggs. By making your yard less hospitable to flies, you can drastically reduce the number of flies you see this Spring and Summer. Start by making it a daily habit to clean up pet feces. By doing so you will be eliminating places for them to lay their eggs. As you clean up your pet’s feces, be sure to place it into a sealable bag before placing it into the garbage can. Next, ensure each garbage can you use has a lid that tightly seals to eliminate odors and store the garbage can away from the home’s structure.
Keep vegetation trimmed – Flies love bushy areas and tall grass. Keep the weeds pulled, vegetation trimmed, and your lawn mowed this season. Be sure to properly dispose of trimmings once you’ve finished grooming your yard.
Remove standing water – Flies love moist environments. Be sure to empty and turn over any buckets in the backyard that may be holding stagnant water, dispose of tires or other clutter that may be holding standing water as well, because it will attract flies (mosquitoes too!). If you keep a water bowl or bird bath available for your pets, be sure to clean it out and add fresh water daily or consider using a fountain to keep the water circulating.
Fly traps – A great tool in reducing the number of flies you see are to add fly traps and electrically charged fly zappers to your yard. With pets in the yard, you will want to be sure these traps and zappers are hanging up high where pets can’t get to them. You can trap and kill hundreds of flies a day with one of these affordable, yet effective tools.
Fly Pest Inspections, Control Services & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
By following these simple yet effective steps, you can have a yard free of fly infestations and drastically reduce the number of flies you see this Spring. If you have further questions, call A Five Star Termite and Pest Control today!
