Fly season – how best to manage flies

Flies are more than just the nuisance factor they create, but what people don’t see is how flies are inherently dangerous because they are carriers of diseases due to where they land and distribute germs. They frequent rotten food manure, trash and even dead animals.

Flies may transmit everything from Typhoid Fever, Cholera, Dysentery, Leprosy and even Anthrax as well as various types of parasitic worms.

Although most of these may be uncommon to contract, however, due to their vile life cycle and areas they land on and fly around, the health risk is significant and fly problems should not be left unattended.

Best strategies in managing flies

Identification & inspection

This is the first step in finding a solution to a fly problem, is to determine the origin or the source of where the flies are coming from. If the source of where they coming from can’t be located in or around your premises, which is normally due to the fact that flies can travel vast distances, one then needs to look at possible attractants that are drawing flies to your property.  Once this source has been located, one needs to look at steps in managing these.

These attractants may be found to be items such as open food stuff within one’s home or building, where flies are drawn through windows, doors etc and attracted to the food area. Other attractants could be food waste, or waste bins that are not removed and cleaned very regularly. There may be blocked drains, a broken waste or sewer line or even a dead rodent carcass or any other animal that could attract certain species of fly, and even sometimes certain species of plants can attract flies. Some of these plants are fennel, parsley, dill and sunflowers. Other factors in gardens to consider is over watering where the ground is very damp, poor soil quality or decaying matter in flowerbeds are further attractants, so be sure to check that none of these possible attractants are causing your fly problem.

Sanitation

This is one of the most vital steps when it comes to controlling flies and limiting their numbers. One needs an effective and regular waste disposal program or waste management system in place to limit or exclude any food matter for flies to be attracted to and feed on. Wet and over damp areas, as well as wet organic matter must be removed, along with strict discipline adhered to when it comes to routine and regular cleaning practises stuck to and maintained. All sources of water, dampness and fly food sources must be removed.

Exclusion

The simplest and easiest way to manage, prevent and control a fly problem is by exclusion. One needs to first look and consider the type of business you operate, as some businesses that operate in the food industry would be an automatic fly attractant, or if your business is not the cause of the fly problem, one should look at businesses or properties nearby your business or even your home is situated, as these potentially may be the primary source or cause of flies being attracted to your business or home.

To effectively exclude flies, it’s best that all possible entry points are identified and sealed off. Delivery/ receiving doors in factories should have strip curtains or air curtains fitted. Doors should be fitted with automatic closing doors or flyscreens fitted to them. As flies are attracted by heat and by smell, it is best as mentioned above to have effective sealing of any potential entry point covered, including cracks, air vents, gaps in walls/ windows etc. These practices including the fitment of small mesh sized mesh fitted to all doors and windows will go a long way in keeping flies out.

The use of air conditioning systems will further help, as windows and doors will be kept closed, as this practice will keep a positive air pressure within the building, and thus assist in keeping flies out, as negative air pressure will suck flies into the building.

Integrated pest management services

Flick would need to assess the problem at hand and will guide you through the best solutions for effective control. These measures would be either external fly trapping devices to lure flies away from the premises, and secondly applying residual pesticides to waste areas and walls where flies would land on to rest. Insect light traps can further aid in controlling flies on the inside in key areas where they will work best, such as kitchens and food-handling areas. Our sales representatives would be able to guide one further on this and provide recommendations and a proposal.

Remember “One Flick and They’re Gone”

Flick Pest Control is here to provide a solution for any pest query you may need help with, or for any other pest control solution, advice or concerns you may encounter. Give us a ring on 087 056 1021, drop us an email on enquiries@flickpest.co.za or drop us a comment on our blog or social media platforms.