We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Show Houseflies are one type of fly in the insect order Diptera, all of which have one set of wings. They are also known as “nuisance” flies. House flies are about ¼-inch long and gray. Houseflies are found almost everywhere people live. They lay their eggs on animal feces, garbage, and in rotting organic material. A housefly infestation may not be a major concern, but it can also spread disease. There are many safe and easy ways to prevent infestations or get rid of them when they happen. It’s possible, and often even preferable, to get rid of houseflies naturally, without pesticides. Potential methods include: Herbs and flowersHerbs and flowers can be planted both in your garden and outside to keep flies away from your house. Herbs and flowers that can repel flies include:
As a bonus, some can be used for cooking as well. Vinegar and dish soapA mixture of vinegar and dish soap can help you trap flies. To use this method, mix about an inch of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a tall glass. Cover the glass with plastic wrap. Secure the plastic wrap with a rubber band and poke small holes in the top. Flies will be attracted to the vinegar in the glass and will fly through the holes. However, the dish soap causes the flies to sink instead of being able to land on the vinegar. Cayenne pepper and waterCayenne pepper can help repel houseflies. Mix it with water and spray around the house to deter flies from coming in. Venus flytrapVenus flytraps are carnivorous plants that eat insects. If you plant them outside, they’ll naturally eat flies. Inside, you might need to feed the plant flies. When a fly gets in the plant’s trap, it closes around the fly. It then secretes digestive fluid to dissolve the insect’s soft insides. It breaks down the insect over 5 to 12 days, then spits out the exoskeleton. Natural trap baitYou can also use foods or drinks to which flies are attracted in order to entice them into traps. These include:
In addition to natural ways to get rid of houseflies, you can use insecticides and traps to kill or remove the flies. Check out the following flytraps available online. Pyrethrin-based insecticideWhen you have a large housefly infestation, insecticides can be effective because they work quickly. However, they’re not effective in the long term, because flies have short life cycles and will develop resistance. Additionally, the effect of the insecticide goes away quickly. If you do need or want to use insecticide, pyrethrin-based insecticides are most common for indoor fly infestations. Be sure that you buy an insecticide specifically for indoor use, ventilate the area well, and follow the directions exactly. Light trapLight traps are boxes with a light in the back that attracts flies. When the flies try to get to the light, they’ll either be killed with an electric zap or trapped, depending on what kind of light trap you choose. Be sure to mount light traps away from entrances and windows, so they can’t be seen from the outside. They should also be mounted within 5 feet of the floor. Sticky trapsSticky traps are strips of sticky paper that can be hung or laid down throughout your house. They’re not as effective as other traps, but can be added to help remove infestations. Many natural and other fly repellents can be used outside to keep flies away from your house. You can try planting herbs and flowers such as basil or marigolds around the house, or even plant a few Venus flytraps. You can also use sticky traps outside. You can also use insecticides outdoors, although flies will still develop resistance to them. Residual pesticides, which remain active for longer than indoor pesticides, can be sprayed around your house. Houseflies are mainly attracted by material in which they can lay their eggs. This includes:
Bright lights at night can also attract flies. The best way to deal with a housefly infestation is to prevent it in the first place. Make sure they don’t have areas to lay eggs and remove things that can attract the flies.
Housefly infestations aren’t just a nuisance. They can also be hazardous to your health. By keeping your house clean — especially free from food waste — you can help prevent a housefly infestation. If an infestation does occur, there are many natural and trapping methods to try.
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The housefly, or Musca domestica, can be found across the globe both inside and out. Commonly found in places that are in close proximity to humans and animals, the housefly is attracted to a number of different surfaces. They prefer locations with high rates of decay, both to lay their eggs and to feed. There are four stages in the life cycle of Musca domestica. They begin as eggs laid in decaying matter, which hatch to the long, whitish yellow maggot (larvae) stage within 8 to 20 hours. The larvae stage takes between four and thirteen days, but only within optimal temperature range. The third stage is the pupa. During this time, the insect completes the development stage inside its new casing -- this time a dark brown color. In between two and six days, the fly will break free into the adult stage and begin the process again. Houseflies are numerous in areas with a large animal population due to the presence of animal fecal matter. Flies land to feed, so on land that has many animals, the flies will be more abundant. Feeding on decaying matter, flies tend to congregate near horses, cows and pigs. They use the manure piles as well as any open orifice on an animal as a way to gather food, but they do not bite. Animal manure is not the only food source for flies, but because it's so abundant in these locations, it can sustain a large fly population . Many flies can be found in homes and buildings where humans are present, too. Unlike the outdoor locations, indoor fly sustenance is gained through decomposing trash and other food waste. Moist, damp foods provide the fly with the nutrition it needs, which is why decaying organic material is the ideal meal. In homes, the temperature tends to speed up the decomposition process, providing the right environment for a fly's food to spoil properly, as well as for the insect to thrive. Flies are active during the daytime hours, spending their nights away from humans and animals. In outdoor locations, flies rest in branches, bushes and shrubs overnight. In homes and barns, they can be found near or in ceilings. Wires and beams are typical resting locations for the housefly during the nighttime hours. During the day, flies are most active during the hottest hours, as the rate of decomposition of their food sources speeds up, making the scents more appealing and pungent, and creating an environment ideal for a large fly population. Flies are not only attracted to these locations as food sources. They use dark, moist areas for breeding purposes, too. Manure heaps, trash piles, dumpsters and even decaying animals provide ample breeding locations to the housefly, and food to the larvae that hatch soon after. The life cycle of the fly only spans about three weeks in optimal conditions, so this process is ongoing throughout the warmest months of the year. Even during cold months, flies can lie in wait in their larval or pupa stages until it's warm enough to continue the growing process.
The best way to control house flies is to understand what attracts them to your house in the first place. In a home setting, they're probably most attracted to kitchen waste (especially sugar and fermenting vegetables) as well as feces. Pretty gross, right? It doesn’t end there. When a fly lands on your dinner (or your pet’s feast), it can also be dropping off some pathogen it picked up from the garbage or some other source of filth. Meaning you or your pet could get sick. Bottom line, flies are unsanitary and it's important to take steps to keep them out of your house. How to keep flies awayRepair points of entry. Check windows and doors, and fix any gaps or screen holes that could grant flies easy entry. Regular clean up. Clean up crumbs, food remnants and spills from counters, floors and tabletops as soon as possible. Make it a practice to limit eating to the kitchen and dining areas. Take care of the trash. Store kitchen waste and pet waste in a tightly fitted garbage can. Before taking out the trash, keep it packed in tightly closed plastic bags. Trapping fliesIf you still get unwanted visitors buzzing around, try one of these trapping methods before you call a pest control company. Insect light trap: In addition to flies, these also catch mosquitoes. Since they are drawn to the light, you’ll have to be smart about where you hang it, or you’ll have extra (and unwanted) visitors swarming around you as well as the light. Keep away from windows and doors, and, if using outdoors, hang it in an out-of-the-way place. Fly paper or ribbon: This is paper coated with a sweet and sticky substance that attracts and entraps the flying pests. Once you’ve gathered a few, these can be dropped in the trash. These are available at hardware stores and other retailers, or you can try homemade flypaper. Bait traps: These are containers that hold an attractant and are designed to make it difficult for flies and other unwanted insects to find an escape route. Disposable traps offer a hands-off method to catch and dispose of flies, without mess or cleanup. Next: Keep termites out and know the sure signs of an infestation |