1-800-781-PEST (7378)
It’s springtime and that means windows and doors are open and the fresh warm air can flow through your home like nature wanted it to be. This also means other things will be flowing through your home as well: Pests! Specifically flying insects known simply as “flies” make their way into your home and annoy its occupants. How can you prevent this from happening?
Fruit flies are small, winged insects scientifically classified under the family Drosophilidae, with Drosophila melanogaster being the most common species. They are typically 2-4 mm long, with tan or brownish bodies, red or dark eyes, and translucent wings.
House flies are common insects scientifically classified as Musca domestica in the family Muscidae. They are medium-sized flies, typically 6-7 mm long, with grayish-black bodies, four dark stripes on their thorax, and large, red compound eyes.
There are some general and specific steps you can take to prevent flies of all kinds from getting into your home. Make sure all screens in your doors and windows are in good working order. Even the smallest amount of damage to the screen itself is a gateway to flying insects getting into your home.
Take your trash out regularly and make sure it is stored away from common points of entry. Trash attracts flies and the open door is an invitation to them getting in. Having a trash can right by an entryway to your home is the #1 way flies of all kinds get inside.
For houseflies, you want to make sure to clean up after you pet as often as possible. This includes taking out the litter box every several days. Houseflies can sense feces from a very long distance. Any kind of excrement is very attractive to these pests. You can hang flypaper in the problem areas until you get it under control.
Fruit flies are attracted to rotting fruit. They often hitch a ride into your house on fruit from the store. It is advised that you wash all fruit when you bring it home. There are DIY ways to get rid of fruit flies.
