How to get rid of flies
Flies can be a real nuisance when they buzz around your home or business. You can try ignoring them but if you start seeing lots of flies building up, you could be facing an infestation that needs professional fly control. There are over 100,000 species of flies worldwide. In the UK they are considered pests because they can transmit diseases, contaminate food and even carry the eggs of parasitic worms.
How to prevent a fly infestation
You can take some easy, cost-free measures to deter flies, like cleaning or using DIY fly products. Windows can be fitted with fly screens and food should be covered. Dustbins should be placed away from doors and windows and have tight-fitting lids. You could also spray or dust inside bins with insecticide during warmer weather.
How to get rid of flies
If you already have a fly infestation then you could try a homemade deterrent. Apparently flies hate lemongrass, cloves and even vodka! You can also buy over the counter fly sprays and sticky papers.
However if you prefer a long-term, effective solution to your fly problem then we recommend calling in a professional pest control company like Masons Pest Control.
Scientific name
Formicidae
Life span
28 days
Did you know
Flies don’t have teeth. Instead, they have a long tongue called a proboscis which sucks up food like a straw. When a fly lands on your lunch, it vomits on the food. Acids in the vomit dissolve the food so the fly can suck it up.
Type of flies
Bluebottles
Bluebottles or blow flies are large, buzzing flies with a shiny blue metallic body that is 6-12mm long. They are scavengers, often found hovering around dustbins. They are attracted to pet faeces and dead animals and are known carriers of disease. Bluebottles can lay hundreds of eggs which in warm weather can hatch in less than 48 hours, producing maggots that develop into more bluebottles in a week.
House flies
Like bluebottles, house flies are known carriers of diseases and can infest all types of premises. They are attracted to all types of food as well as faeces and dead animals. House flies are smaller than blue bottles at 5-8mm long, and are a greyish-black colour.
Cluster Flies
Cluster flies are a dark grey colour with yellowish hairs on its back and overlapping wings, and are about 8mm long. In autumn they gather in large numbers in the attics and wall voids of houses or businesses to hibernate. They are attracted to light on sunny winter days so you may also find them gathered around windows. They are more sluggish than other flies and when clustered together have a strong, unpleasant smell.