Flies: Pests To Homes, People, And Animals

December 13, 2019


We all probably know that cockroaches are the gold standard for filth, which is enough reason to abhor them; but do you know that there is another insect that can rival roaches in that regard? 

Roaches, after all, thrive on filth. 

Yes, there is another, and these are what we know as flies.

Like roaches, flies feed on human and animal wastes, spoiled foods, dead animals, and garbage. They eat anything. They even feast on an open wound, making things more uncomfortable as they are for the wounded person or animal. Because of this habit of eating filth, flies are more than just a nuisance; they are also one of the major transmitters of diseases.

As for pest control experts in North Carolina, there are so many reasons why each one of us should take extra steps to get rid of these pests before we start to get sick because of them. Truly, they have few peers when it comes to dirtiness.

Description

Flies are tiny insects with 2  pairs of wings: one used for flying and the other pair of wings that are used for balance. There are probably millions of them and can be found in all parts of the world, except for Antarctica (though with the way humans disregard nature with their filthy ways, it could just be a matter of time). There are 190,000 identified species of flies that have already been identified, yet there are still more out there that need to be studied. Flies have compound eyes, and that gives them a 360-degree vision. They have movable heads and are equipped with mouthparts that can pierce and suck.  

Their diet is very diverse. They eat anything and are not very picky about what to eat. They feed on human and animal wastes, spoiled foods, dead animals, and whatever is in your garbage.  Due to these dirty feeding habits, they carry with them a lot of bacteria and viruses.

Flies go through four distinct life stages: egg stage, larval stage, pupae, and adult in their development. Adult female flies lay eggs. When the eggs hatch, they become larvae, wherein they spend most of their lives in more than the adult stage.  After the larvae stage, the pupa stage comes next, then the adult stage. Those that we consider as pests are the adult flies. This is a short stage,  with their only real purpose at this stage in their lives is to mate and lay eggs. Their species are very successful because of their ability to find their mates effectively and very quickly during mating season.  

Their Role In Disease Transmission

Flies carry with them so much bacteria and viruses because they thrive on filth. For this reason, they are able to transmit several diseases to humans. It is estimated that flies transmit around 65 types of diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Among these diseases are cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and salmonellosis. Since they do not bite humans. they transmit these diseases indirectly by contaminating food that we eat by simply crawling on them.  Flies can only eat liquid or semi-liquid food because they are not capable of biting. They vomit liquid made of saliva and digestive juices that can break down solid food. When we eat food that a fly once fed on, we are in effect ingesting feces, saliva, urine, and vomit coming from flies. These bacteria and viruses get ingested at the same time. 

Common Types Of Flies In The United States

There are 190,000 identified species of flies. Thankfully, not all of them are here in the United States. Here is a rogue's list of flies that are usually found here.

1. Housefly-  These flies are what you usually find at home. Their size is about ⅜ inches in length. They come in gray or black colors with four dark lines in the thorax.  They are found in greater numbers during the hotter months. The female house flies are slightly larger than the male house flies. They have large compound eyes that enable them to see things from any angle, even behind them.  This makes it harder to surprise them. They have hair-like projections found all over their bodies. 

House flies can also be both a nuisance and a health risk in restaurants. They also are the top causes of disease among restaurant workers. 

Aside from being a nuisance, house flies are vectors of disease, transmitting these diseases to humans. They carry bacteria and viruses that come from feeding on animal feces, body excretions, garbage, and dead animals. Diseases caused by bacteria and viruses include diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, and food poisoning.

2. Little house fly -  Unlike the house fly, little house flies are plentiful during cooler months because they cannot tolerate hot temperatures. They have brown-grey thorax with three black longitudinal stripes.  The size of the adult little house fly is just about 3.5 to 6 mm in length, which is just ⅔ the size of a housefly. Unlike the house flies, the little house fly does not transmit diseases but is just simply a nuisance pest, as they have the habit of flying around us.  They are not fond of getting indoors because they prefer to live outside houses. They tend to bunch together outside the house, like in the patios and garages. When temperatures drop, they simply take cover in buildings.

3. Horseflies - Because of their yellow markings, horseflies look like bees. They have large eyes, small antennae, and sharp mouthparts that can bite.  Their length is about ½ to ¼ inches long and comes in black or gray colored bodies with green eyes. They can grow to as large as an inch in length. Horseflies bite animals and humans.They bite during the daytime. They like to breed in moist soil near a large body of water. 

4. Cluster Fly  - Cluster flies have checkered marks on their bodies.  They are slow-moving, compared to house flies. When at rest, their wings would overlap.  They are called cluster flies because they like to live in clusters along the windows of houses on a warm, sunny day.

5. Black fly - These flies are tiny, annoying insects that bite.  Black flies are capable of sucking blood.  They also pose a threat to animals because they transmit quite a number of diseases to them.  Fortunately for us humans, they do not transfer diseases to us.  Black flies are 5 to 25 mm in length and come in black color.  Similar to mosquitoes, most female black flies need to feed on blood for the development of eggs. 

6. Stable fly -  Also known as the “biting fly”, they are known to attack humans living near areas where there is livestock or livestock facilities.  They usually appear during mid to late spring and become severe during summer. They finally decrease in numbers during the cooler months.  They appear similar to house flies, but with the bayonet-like mouth, parts protruding from the front of their heads.    

Pest Management

Flies are extremely annoying and are unwelcome visitors in any household. Aside from being a nuisance, they are also sources of diseases. No wonder, nobody wants a fly.

Not to worry though, since there are ways to get rid of these flies. Here are a few tips you can follow:

1. Practice good housekeeping. Always sweep the floor, mop, and vacuum. Do this to your furniture as well. Wipe off any food residue and drink spills.

2. Do not leave food exposed. Put them in sealed containers.

3. Place a cover to your trash cans.  

4. Eliminate excrement at once, especially if you have pets.  

5. Install screens around windows if you cannot have it closed at all times. 

6. Regularly dispose of your garbage properly.  

7. You may use a fly swatter to kill them off. 

If you still find the fly infestation problem severe in your home, do not worry.  You may still call on the professionals, and you have the option to call the best local company near me for bugs: Go-Forth Pest Control. 

Why Go-Forth Pest Control?

Finding the best pest control management is important if you want to completely eradicate these troublesome pests in your home safely and efficiently.  For their pest control needs, people from North and South Carolina trust only one name: Go-Forth Pest Control.

We bring in a new and fresh approach to the pest control industry, using family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination that caters to your specific needs. Our expert experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, wasps, weevils, mosquitoes, mice, flies, termites, ants, and spiders can really make you say goodbye to these pests in your home. You may check us on Facebook or Google us to see what our satisfied customers have to say about us.

Go-Forth Pest Control has earned the trust of residents and businesses in North Carolina for more than 50 years. If you have these unwanted pests in your home,  be sure to contact the best pest control management in the Carolinas, Go-Forth Pest Control.

For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial 336-841-6111.  Our friendly operators are standing by.




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