The Ultimate Guide To Control Flies

A sight of hovering flies, flying from one corner of the house to another or around your food stuff, is not pleasant at all. They can be irritating and to extremity, bring a lot of health issues to you and your loved ones. It is therefore necessary to get rid of this annoying two-winged insects at all cost. The ultimate guide to control flies provides you with distinctive measures and procedures to help you terminate and prevent flies infestation in your home as well as your surrounding environments.

The Life Cycle of Flies

Flies have no specific time periods for reproduction and varies depending on how suitable the conditions are to favour the flies to reproduce. Flies are part of the many insects that undergo metamorphosis with the first stage being the egg stage, followed by larvae (commonly known as maggots) stage, progressed by pupa and ends at the adult stage. The average lifespan of a fly is 2 weeks to a month depending with temperature and the living conditions. Those living in the wild develop slowly and have a shorter life span compared to those living in warm areas. Visit the link below, To learn more on the life cycle and lifespan of the fly;

Life cycle of Flies 

How Long does A Fly Live

Types Of Flies

There are several kinds of flies that are common around farms, residential areas and food-handling establishments. Like-

• House Flies
• Stable Flies
• Biting Flies
• Flesh Flies
• Blow Flies
• Bottle Flies

Click here to learn more about types of Flies: All About Flies

How To Get Rid Of Small Flies

Like the name dictates, this flies are tiny in size and can be a nuisance if allowed to dwell in homes or around the garden areas. Small flies include various gnat species e.g. house plant gnat found along potted plants in houses and the drain fly often found within the bathroom as well as the fruit flies. It is necessary to get rid of this annoying little flies as they reproduce fast hence can trigger a huge problem when it comes to getting rid of them.

Fruit flies and gnats have a close resemblance to each other, however being small flies there’s a difference between the two. Gnats are larger in size compared to fruit flies and are black in appearance while fruit flies have a distinguishing brownish head colour. You can get rid of this small flies by;

• Using a red wine trap

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• Measure half a cup of red wine and pour it into a container then add half a cup of water. NB: cheap red wine works as effectively as expensive red wine would.
• Add a few drops of dish washing soap and mix the solution through thoroughly using a spoon.
• Pour out the solution into smaller containers and cover them using a plastic lid.
• Punch holes on the lid big enough to allow the small flies get inside the container where the solution is.
• Place the containers in areas where the small flies have infested. Since the wine smell will attract the flies, they will fall right into the trap.
• They’ll then drown in the solution resulting in their death.
• Once dead small flies fill up the container, dispose the contents properly and clean up the container for later use.

NB: if dealing with gnats around the kitchen or bathroom sink, you can first pour some bleach and let it drain into the sink. As for the houseplant gnats, you can change the soil of the potted plants or stick some gnat stix in the soil.

Find out more on;   How to Get Rid of  Drain Flies

How To Get Rid Fruit Flies Naturally

The Drosophila Melanogaster’s, commonly known as the fruit flies/ vinegar flies are often found where fruits are rotting or fermenting, no wonder their name. The adult fruit fly is about 1/8” long and closely resemble the gnats which is often confused with. The most natural ways to get rid of fruit flies include;

Apple cider vinegar fly trap

• Since fruit flies are attracted to vinegar, you can us this to lure them into a fly trap.
• Pour about ½ a cup of apple cider vinegar in a pan and using a gas burner, heat it.
• In the meanwhile, make the trap base by preparing a container with a lid, and make holes on it, large enough to allow the flies into the trap.
• Alternatively, use a funnel to lure the fruit flies into the container.
• Fold a paper into a cone-shape with a larger opening at the top and a small one at the bottom to allow easy passage of the fruit fly into the container.
• Fill the jar with the heated apple vinegar sider and place the funnel/ lid with holes on it, covering the mouth of the container.
• Strategically place the trap where fruit flies are often sighted for a couple of days, and check daily on the effectiveness of this method on trapping the flies.

Lemon grass spray

• All insects, including this fly species (fruit flies) are deterred by any natural oil sprays.
• Pour twelve drops of lemongrass essential oil into a clean container.
• Boil ½ a cup of water and pour it in the same container, containing the lemongrass essential oil drops.
• Using a spoon, stir the mixture to form a solution and pour it into a spray can.
• Shake the mixture thoroughly before applying around the entry points such as windows, which the fruit flies use to access inside your house.
• Similarly, directly spray the fruit flies when in sight to make the solution most effective on them.

Find out more on;   How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies.

Homemade Fruity Fly Trap (how to make one)

This is the widely and commonly used method to attract and get rid of the Drosophila Melanogaster’s. With the necessary materials, i.e. a glass jar, tape, paper, fly attractants e.g. apple cider vinegar, two drops of dish wash soap, a piece of ripe or overripe fruit (optional), a fly trap will be up in no time, as long as you have the will to make one. This is cost effective compared to buying since they’re as efficient in trapping the insects as the already made fly traps. The link below provides you with guided steps on how to make a fruit fly trap and its application;

Make A Fruit Fly Trap at Home

How to Get Rid of Black Flies Outside

Pesky black flies are very irritating and getting rid of them only makes the situation worse, as they are very persistent. The black fly, also known as the buffalo/turkey gnat is commonly found alongside rivers and streams. This being the root of their migration, you can consider initiating your control methods there and climbing up all the way until their existence is no more. Black flies need to be taken care of since they’re known for blood sucking and often attack around the animals eyes causing the river blindness disease. The following guidelines will help you succeed in getting rid of the black fly:

Environmental hygiene

• This involves tackling black fly infestation from the root i.e. damming rivers and streams as well as clearing bushes and debris near your residential home.
• Since black flies depend on moving water to migrate from one place to the next, you can block the water to ensure that they don’t inhabit other areas.
• Create a temporary dam along running water in time before the black fly larvae matures into adults for efficient results.
• In approximately two weeks, you will note that the black fly population will decline significantly.
• Then clear any bushes and debris surrounding your home as the black flies tend to attach themselves on them, so that they can acquire the right nutrients for their development.
• Cutting down the bushes and debris will save you a lot since the chances of black fly infestation around your home declines highly and it doesn’t matter with when you do this since it is a long lasting black fly control method.

How To Get Rid Of Biting Flies On Animals/Pests and On Your Garden

There are a variety of flies which are known for biting and they include the horse flies, yellow flies, deer flies, midges, to mention but a few. This little pesky flies are very aggressive and their bites are quite painful and since they can transmit diseases, they’re health hazardous hence vital to get rid of them. Since they’re often sourcing out for a blood source, you’ll often find them attacking livestock, humans and pests. The procedures outlined below will surely help you get through with getting rid of any kind of biting insects.

Use a homemade fly repellent

• Mix a cup of liquid dishwashing soap with a gallon of water and stir thoroughly.
• Add 1 cup of lemon-scented ammonia and continue stirring through the solution.
• Then add a cup of mint flavoured mouthwash.
• Pour the solution into a spray can and shake well before applying on the affected areas and animals as well.
• Spray the solution on the biting flies directly as well as on the animals and since the solution is harmless, your animals will not be in danger.
• For application on plants, grass or shrubs, use a garden spray to ensure that you reach out on all the areas the insects may be hiding.

How to Get Rid Of Flies On Your Dog(s)

Dogs always fall victim of bites from various insects especially flies. The common flies known to attack dogs include the bluebottle fly and rodent bot fly. They are often attracted to dog’s poop and dog food, where they breed from.

To eliminate flies on your dog, you can;

• Collecting dog’s poop which is left lying around outside immediately or train your dog to use the toilet.
• Then ensure that you keep your dog’s feeding bowls clean and if there’s any left overs, pick them up and store them properly.
• You should also wash your dog regularly. Let’s say twice or thrice a week. Add a few drops of apple cider vinegar in the bath water to enhance repelling the flies.
• Alternatively, make some fly repellent for dogs using citronella oil/dishwashing detergent, apple cider vinegar, and water as well as basil leaf.
• Mix the ingredients all together and pour them into a spray bottle.
• Spray the repellent on the dog’s coat avoiding the nose, mouth and eyes.
• You can also apply some petroleum jelly around the dog’s ears which are mostly affected by the fly bites.

How To Get Rid Of Flies In Your House

Flies dwell inside homes since there are factors attracting them there and supporting their being there. There are various steps you can take into consideration to prevent fly infestation in your house. This include;

• Proper hygiene

• Observing proper hygiene not only keeps your house fresh and clean all the time but also helps in keeping away flies and other insects.
• Wash your utensils immediately you are done eating on them and wipe them dry using a clean cloth.
• Clean your kitchen tables thoroughly using soapy water and a cloth and collect any fallen food particles on the kitchen floors.
• Discard any food particles and crumbs in a dustbin and cover it up to make sure that you don’t attract flies into your house.
• Food leftover or uneaten should be well kept and covered to ensure they also don’t attract flies.
• Keep pet food dishes clean and cover up pet foods when not being consumed.
• As for clean foods, especially fruits, wash them up before placing them on the fruit tray or keep them refrigerated.

• Using homemade fly strips

• Flies are attracted to sweet sugary substances e.g. syrup.
• Mix golden/corn syrup with sugar in the ratio 1:1 in a bowl and stir thoroughly with a spoon.
• Cut rectangular pieces of brown paper and make holes on one end and tie a thread on it forming a loop.
• Apply the sweet sugary mixture on both sides of the paper strip and leave them to dry.
• Then hang them where the flies often lurk and fly around and since the mixture will attract them, they will get stuck on the strips, and when several have been caught, you can dispose of the strips.

How To Get Rid Of Flies Outside

Flies do not only reside inside home but also outdoors. There are a variety of fly control methods you can use ranging from chemical, electric to natural remedies to help you get rid of flies easily and quick. The commonly used outdoor measures include;

• Planting fly repellent and carnivorous plants

• This include mint, lavender, rue, tansy, basil, pennyroyal, etc.
• If there’s a small gardening space in front of your house, you can plant this plants there.
• Alternatively, use flower pots to as planting vessels for the plants and since they will not cause a mess with the soil, you can place them near your entrance door.
• Plant them all around your house to ensure that you seal off any potential entry points into your house which will prevent the flies from getting into the house.
• Similarly, you can plant some carnivorous plants e.g. Pitcher plant and Venus Fly Trap on the garden or in pots and place them outside the house.
• This plants trap the insects and feed on them hence a very natural method to consider as a fly control measurement.

• Use of fly traps

• This can either be a commercial fly trap, a homemade one or a disposable one.
• Place them in strategic places around your house, in areas where flies are likely to fly around.
• To ensure the traps are efficient, you can use some sweet sugary food substances or solutions made with syrup and sugar, placed inside the trap.
• The fly attractants used attract the flies which makes it easy for the flies to be trapped inside, and since the flies can’t figure out how to escape, they will be stuck inside where they’ll die after several days of starvation.