House Flies

What are house flies?

House flies have a distinct appearance and a buzzing sound that allows people to identify these common household intruders. Despite your best efforts, these pests always seem to find a way into your home where they not only become a huge annoyance, but a danger.

House flies have a dull gray body, four black vertical lines on the top of their bodies, and one velvety gold and silver stripe on their face. They are a medium-sized fly with adults growing to between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch long. Their large red compound eyes help provide them with excellent vision and help people to recognize these pests.

Just as the adults are easy to recognize, so are the larvae of house flies. Their larvae (maggots) are off-white with a darker head, are similar in appearance to a grain of rice, and are legless. 

Why do I have a problem with house flies?

If flies are living, breeding, and feeding in or around your home, the likely culprit is the house fly. As their name suggests, they are among the most common species of flies that invade our homes.

Each female house fly can lay between 100 and 150 eggs, and after hatching, the flies tend to stay close by. The more house flies that are living and breeding outside, the more likely they are to find their way into your home to do more of the same.

Our yards provide plenty of places for these pests to feed and breed and make themselves at home. Gardens, garbage cans, recycling bins, compost piles, pet excrement, and outdoor eating areas all attract house flies.

Some of the house fly’s favorite entry points include open windows and doors, torn screens, spaces in exterior walls, and vents.

Are house flies dangerous?

With the ability to spread hundreds of disease-causing pathogens and parasites, house flies are certainly dangerous pests that do not belong inside any home or business.

Before finding their way inside, they spent time on things like trash, manure, pet excrement, rotting fruits and vegetables, and other decaying organic matter. As they move about your structure, they will contaminate surfaces, dishes, utensils, food, and more.

Do house flies bite?

While there are many species of biting flies that live near people, but luckily for us, house flies are not a biting fly. House flies are only able to feed on liquids and have specialized sucking mouthparts, not biting mouthparts. 

How do I get rid of house flies?

The house fly is a frustrating pest that is difficult to prevent, and even more difficult to eliminate. If you have a house fly infestation in your home or business, contact a pest control company specializing in fly control. At Prosite, we offer onsite inspections to accurately identify the fly problem, evaluate the severity of the infestation, and then develop a plan of action that will deliver results. Contact us today to learn more about our pest control treatments for flies or to schedule your inspection.

How do I prevent problems with house flies?

At Prosite, in addition to our professional pest control services, we recommend implementing these helpful house fly prevention tips:

• Stop house flies from being attracted to your yard by cleaning up pet excrement daily, keeping lids on trash cans and recycling bins, and keeping outdoor eating areas free of leftover food and drinks.
• Empty, wash out, and sanitize trash cans and recycling bins located both inside and outside of your home regularly.
• Pick up fruits and vegetables that fall to the ground in garden areas.
• Inspect your home’s window and door screens, repairing or replacing any that are damaged or loose.
• Caulk spaces in exterior walls and around windows and doors.
• Do not leave windows and doors open for long periods.
• Keep your kitchen clean and tidy. Wash dishes, take the trash out, wipe down counters, and vacuum floors daily.
• Don’t leave food out in the open on counters or tables.
• Repair leaky pipes, dripping hoses, and clogged gutters that provide house flies with a water source.