subject: Got Flies? Call A Pest Control Professional [print this page] While flies can truly be a nuisance and annoyance in a home, they can also post serious health threats to the home's occupants. Even though flies do not bite or sting, they can spread diseases such as salmonella and cholera. Flies breed and feed on things such as food waste, decaying animal carcasses, and animal excrement. Disease may be spread by flies when they land on food and feed. While feeding, they defecate on their food source. Flies have the ability to reproduce rapidly; therefore, it is crucial that homeowners employ pest control methods as soon as possible. Otherwise, flies could quickly infest the home.
Flies Commonly Infesting Homes -
They type of fly with which most homeowners in Australia have to deal is the green blowfly. The green blowfly is metallic green in colour and 12mm or less in length. This insect makes a loud buzzing sound when it flies, which makes its presence in a home quite evident. While the blowfly is most active during the summer months, these flies may also be found in homes during the winter months as well. Blow flies typically develop in feeding mediums such as food waste, manure, or other animal materials such as decaying carcasses.
How Infestations Develop -
Green blowflies generally breed on decaying flash or animal excrement. Dead animals around the home such as birds and mice or left over food scraps may attract blowflies. Flies lay eggs in batches of 100 to 200, and these eggs will hatch within a day. The life cycle of the fly is: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. From the time the egg is laid, it takes about 20 days for the fly to become an adult. The life cycle of the fly is usually 5 weeks or less.
Pest Management Techniques -
Generally managing blowflies can be challenging for many as these little creatures bread on a range of food sources and as such, they can reproduce very quickly. A pest inspection may be required in order for homeowners to determine the source of the fly infestation. Once the source has been located and removed, proven pest control techniques can then be used to eradicate the infestation. One weakness of the green blowfly is its tendency to rest during the night-time. Quite often a professional pest control is an effective method at eliminating fly infestations as surfaces on which flies rest can be treated. Baits will also produce desired results.
