Common house flies look harmless but can actually cause serious problems for you and your family. While a buzzing housefly is simply annoying, these pests also spread diseases like dysentery and diarrhea. A housefly collects germs from landing on garbage and brings them straight to your food. They leave dark spots of fecal matter where they land. Do you really want that on your dinner?
Houseflies reproduce quickly and regularly. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, houseflies reproduce every two weeks and in Florida’s warm climate they do it all year round. Houseflies lay eggs, which become maggots in about a day. Consistent warmth helps them grow into mature adults in about six to ten days and live for about a month.
Often mistaken for stable flies, houseflies are in the same family. House flies are bigger, have larger wings and a larger area of dark coloring on their bodies. Stable flies bite while houseflies do not.
To eliminate houseflies, treat the outside of your home first. Houseflies breed outdoors in yard waste like grass clippings or compost and the adult flies easily get into homes. Remove warm, moist materials from your yard and seal any tears in screens. Keep a lid on garbage cans and protect frequently opened doors and windows with a sturdy screen.
The Consolidated Pest Control Total Home Protection Plan helps eliminate houseflies and other destructive and disease carrying insects. This convenient and affordable service covers both outdoors and in. We use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to only apply pesticide judiciously so it doesn’t cause problems with your family, pets or the environment. For help in elimination houseflies and other insects, contact us.
