Few things are more annoying than flies! They seem to appear in your home from out of nowhere, and they will stay as long as you allow!
Flies come in different varieties, but common house flies are the type we usually see around our homes. Most people think of them only as nuisances, but flies are actually quite dangerous! They can transfer more than 65 different diseases to humans, including heavy-hitters like typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, anthrax, leprosy, and tuberculosis.
When you consider that one fly can carry over a million bacteria, you can see how important controlling them is!
What’s worse is that flies have nasty habits. They taste with their feet so they have to walk on everything to decide if they want to eat it or not. They’re quite likely to “taste” some dog poop before sampling the fried chicken and fresh fruit on your picnic table.
Speaking of “poop…” On average, flies relieve themselves every 6 seconds! They vomit, too, but only on items (or people) they think would make a good meal. If a fly thinks you’re kinda tasty, chances are good you’ll be the recipient of a little fly barf. While they’re tasting you, they may just need to “go,” too…
Of course, all this happens on your food, too! That’s one of the main reasons you need to eliminate flies from your house or business.
When dealing with pests, prevention is your first line of defense. Check out these tips for keeping flies from becoming a problem at your place:
– Don’t leave food in the open for long periods of time, and when finished eating, store leftovers in airtight containers. Flies can’t contaminate what they can’t reach! Plastic containers are good. Your refrigerator is even better…it’s like a bank vault for your valuable edibles!
– Wipe spills off tables, food prep areas and stoves. Thoroughly clean cutting boards, especially if meat has been on them.
– Clean dishes after every meal and…this is important…do not leave dirty items in the sink overnight.
– Keep trash cans clean and tightly covered and empty them frequently. If you use plastic trash bags, make sure to tie the opening in so that flies can’t crawl inside.
– Use window and door screens to keep flies out of your house. Make sure screens fit tightly and have no holes.
– Close doors and make sure there are no openings at the top or bottom. Caulk or plug openings around gas lines, etc.
– Flies hate the smell of basil! Keep a pot of basil in a sunny area in the kitchen, on your table, or outside. Rub the leaves together occasionally to keep the scent strong. The flies will be gone in no time! Also…
– They dislike pine-based cleaners (like Pine-Sol.) Make a solution of half water and half cleaner, pour into a spray bottle, and spray surfaces with it. Wipe counters and even patio furniture with the solution before going outside for dinner.
Although house flies don’t live very long, they quickly reproduce in large numbers. One female can lay 500 eggs in a couple of weeks. Taking precautions will help reduce infestations around your house or business.
If, despite your best efforts, flies are still overtaking your home, we can help! Contact KC Pest Control at 405-679-8729 for a free consultation. We can inspect your house, confirm the species and recommend a course action for getting rid of the flies.
