Do you know that flies have a difficult time reproducing inside your Greensboro home? Do you know why? It is because flies reproduce in things that are far too stinky to have inside your home. Flies lay their eggs in rotting organic matter and feces. This is so their offspring (called maggots) have an abundant food source when they hatch. As unsavory as it may sound, maggots and flies would choose these filthy things over a grilled hamburger or hamburger bun any day of the week. So, one of the first things you need to understand about fly control is that there is a pretty good chance that flies are not reproducing in your home. If they are, you should know that you're looking for something stinky and likely disgusting.
Indoor Breeding Sites
-
If a mouse, rat, squirrel, or some other animal gets into your home and dies, this can be a source for a fly infestation. Take note of whether or not the flies are emerging from a vent. Mice and rats can get into vents.
-
If you have children, you should inspect your home for rotting fruit. An apple left in a finished attic space can be a source for a fly infestation.
-
If you have a pet that isn't potty trained, their feces left in hidden places can lead to an indoor fly infestation.
Turning Your Attention To The Exterior Of Your Home
Once you've considered interior breeding sites, it is time to look to the most likely source of your infestation: An exterior breeding site. There are many stinky things on the outside of your home that can be a source for flies, such as:
-
Trash receptacles
-
Compost
-
Dog droppings
-
Livestock waste
-
A dead animal that has gotten under a structure
-
Fertilizer
-
Rotting vegetation
-
And more
If it is stinky or gross, there is a good chance flies will lay their eggs in it. Sanitation is key to fly control.
Exclusions
Another reason flies become a problem inside is that they find entry points. Do a detailed inspection of your exterior and consider entry points like these:
-
Damaged screens
-
Gaps around screen frames
-
Damaged window or door frames
-
Holes in wood created by wood-damaging pests
-
Cracks in foundation walls or holes in concrete supports
-
Gaps around plumbing and electrical wires
-
Missing door sweeps on exterior doors
-
Damaged weatherstripping
-
Gaps around double doors due to improper alignment
-
Unprotected weep holes or vents
General Fly Prevention
You are probably aware that one of the most likely ways a fly will get into your home is by going right in through your door when you open it. You can deter this from happening if you use the following tips:
-
Refrain from storing garbage in your garage.
-
Make sure glass, plastic, and metal recycled goods are properly cleaned before storing them in your garage.
-
Move trash receptacles away from the door to your garage.
-
Keep exterior lights off, particularly around exterior doors. Flies are attracted to light.
Consider replacing exterior white lights with yellow lights. The yellow light spectrum is less attractive to insects.
Why Fly Control Is Important
As you can probably imagine, it isn't good to allow flies in your Greensboro home. Flies are exposed to harmful microorganisms from the moment they hatch from their eggs. When they develop from maggots to adult flies and take to the air, they're immediately ready to make you sick.
According to PennState Extension, flies are strongly implicated in the transmission of at least 65 diseases that impact human health, including dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, poliomyelitis, anthrax, yaws, leprosy, tularemia, and tuberculosis. They also spread a long list of harmful bacteria. While you're not going to get sick every time a fly lands on your food or crawls on your skin, the risk is real. Why take the chance of your body fighting off fly-related illnesses? It is best to deal with fly control issues quickly and decisively.
Fly Control
When you invest in a residential pest control program, one of the benefits is routine perimeter treatments. These work to address breeding sites and knockdown flies before they get inside your home. If you live in Greensboro, North Carolina, you know that flies are just one of the many pests that can get into your home. They're also far from the only pest that can make you sick. If you're dealing with flies, reach out to Go-Forth Pest Control for residential pest control that includes coverage for house flies.
It's easy to get started. Hop over to our service page and check out The Basic, My Elite, and My Elite Plus to see which one sounds right for you, or request a pest control evaluation for your Greensboro home. We look forward to guiding you toward the right solution for you.
