Flies - How To Kill And Get Rid Of Flies

Flies have been a major nuisance to humans and animals for thousands of years. Many transmit disease causing organisms and are linked directly to typhoid, cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms and tapeworms. Most flies have filthy habits that make them efficient disease transmitters. Disease causing organisms are picked up by flies from garbage, sewage, rotting debris, dead animal carcasses, animal excrement, etc and are directly transmitted to us by way of their mouthparts or through their vomit or feces to our food, our food preparation surfaces, our sanitary items and to almost anything that we contact.

Most flies lay their eggs in warm moist materials that will furnish a food source for the developing larvae (maggot). Animal and human feces, garbage, diaper bags, rotting vegetables, and even ground with excess organic matter will provide a suitable egg depository. Once deposited the egg hatches and a larvae resembling a small yellowish worm called a maggot emerges. Fly larvae will normally pupate or form a hard brown colored pupa shell around their body in 4 -7 days. When fully developed the adult fly breaks open the end of the pupa shell and emerges. Adult flies are often ready to mate within hours of pupating. During warm weather, most flies can have 2 or 3 generations per month. The average adult fly lives about 20 days.

Normally, fly populations build over the summer and are the greatest during the early fall months. At the end of the fall, flies prepare to overwinter and will remain in their pupal casings where they are protected from the elements. It is thought that flies like most insects will secrete an "antifreeze protein" while in their pupal casing which protects them from the cold and the harsh winter elements. This is why flies are found as far north as Alaska and Northern Canada.

Right - fly eggs, Bottom -fly larvae (maggot), Left - Pupae, Top - Adult House Fly

During the summer and fall months, controlling flies can be a never ending task. Any flying insect can travel hundreds of feet or yards, even miles in some cases away from their breeding areas. Caught up in a wind current, flies can literally travel the from region to region or State to State in some cases. This is why taking a few extra precautions against flies can save you from a big fly headache down the road. Knowing and understanding the species of the fly that you are dealing with is very important.

This page gives you general fly control procedures. If you need specific fly control methods for a particular species of fly, click here.

How To Kill And Get Rid Of Flies

Proper sanitation and housekeeping are crucial in controlling flies. No amount of chemicals or traps will control flies if a few basic steps are not followed. Implementing the following steps is the very basis for fly control in and around homes and buildings.

Fly Control Tips - Indoors and Outdoors

House Flies come from the outside. The treatment strategy for flies is to reduce the outside attraction if at possible. This includes removing garbage, eliminating odors such as those caused by pet droppings, animal droppings, stagnant water, mold, mildew, etc. If the outside conditions cannot be controlled such as those on farms, ranches, commercial properties, lakeside or ocean side communities, etc., then your fly control efforts will have to be through a continual ongoing program.

Fly Control Indoors
Garbage should be removed on a daily basis. Use plastic trash liners and twist and tie them when disposing of them. Do not empty garbage or trash into metal trash cans without liners. Not using a trash can liner will cause odors and organic residue inside cans that will attract flies. If you cannot use a liner for whatever reason, wash the trash can out with a disinfecting cleaner such as Lysol or Mr. Clean on a regular basis.

Indoor sprays such as Conquer or Demon WP are somewhat effective in controlling flies. Be sure to spray window sills and other fly resting spots. Do not spray TV's, lamps, etc. with insect sprays. CB 80 Pyrethrum Aerosol contains Australian pyrethrum that is lethal to flies. Fog CB 80 liberally into the air in rooms, garages, etc, where flies congregate. A quick spray around windows will kill flies that are trapped behind curtains and blinds.

Maxforce Fly Spot Bait is a newer product that is actually a bait, but is diluted with water and sprayed. This product is safe enough to be used indoors, even in restaurants. It can be sprayed directly on walls, trash cans, door frames, window sills, etc., even in dining areas and kitchens. When the flies land on it, it kills them in seconds. It is very effective and highly recommended.

Commercial kitchens and bars should be aware that fruit flies love the smell and taste of beer. Beer spilled on floors should be mopped or rinsed off every night to prevent fruit fly infestations. The use of a commercial floor cleaner/sanitizer also helps. Drain Gel helps to remove the organic buildup caused by washing grease and food down floor drains. Use Drain Gel on a weekly basis. Fruit fly traps such as the Natural Catch are very effective at catching fruit flies and can be placed directly on bar tops and other food preparation surfaces where regular pesticides cannot be placed. Commercial Fly Traps such as the Vector Fly Trap are the industry standard for capturing house flies and keeping a fly free kitchen.

Fly Paper and glue strips are somewhat effective at capturing flies, but in most cases do not attract them and depend on an attractant of some sort or a shiny surface. Fly paper is messy and not very sanitary. For this reason, fly paper is not recommended for use in kitchens or other indoor sanitary areas.

Time Release Misters that dispense pyrethrum on a regular basis are also somewhat effective at controlling flies. Place time release misters away from food areas and do not place in areas where people will remain for extended periods of time.

Electric Fly Light Traps - Light traps are highly recommended for fly control indoors. They are safe, capture the entire fly and are easily maintainable. Light traps work best at night when there is no other light sources to attract flies. Light traps should only be placed indoors. The UV light emitted from Light traps will attract flying insects from hundreds of yards. Light traps contain a glue trap that catches flies and does not cause them to explode. Place them near food, garbage, in kitchens, in offices, in bedrooms, living rooms, and anywhere flies are a nuisance.

Electric Fly Zappers - Fly zappers are recommended for use outdoors only. Fly zappers contain an ultraviolet bulb that attracts the fly, and a metal grid or screen that zaps the fly when it lands on it. Fly zappers usually contain a holding bin at the bottom of the unit that captures dead fly particles and body parts. This bin must be emptied and cleaned on a regular basis. Due to the fact that Fly zappers do not capture the fly, but cause it to explode when it lands on the electric grid, fly body parts can become airborne and float. For this reason, Fly zappers are not recommended for use indoors, and are not to be used in kitchens or sanitary areas. Only use Fly Traps that contain a glue board or some way to capture the fly in these areas.

Fly Control Outdoors

Outdoor fly control can be a non-stop, extremely challenging task. Using the right products in combination with sanitation (where possible) can provide satisfactory results. 100% control of flies outdoors in rarely possible, as flies can come from anywhere at anytime. Even in cold or frigid conditions, given the right circumstances such as heat, water, etc, Flies can propagate in as little as 3 days, and leave you wondering where they came from.

Liquid sprays such as Vector Ban, Riptide, BiFen and others work well to kill flies on contact and provide some continual effectiveness. These products can be sprayed by hand with any pump type sprayer and can also be used in misting systems for barns, and outdoor areas where a continual spray is required. For more about misting systems, visit our Mosquito page, and how to get rid of mosquitoes. Handheld fogging of outdoor areas, yards, barns,etc, is also possible with the Hurricane Dynamite Fogger. This fogger works well and can be attached to a long extension cord and carried around for fogging away from buildings, etc. A back pack fogger such as the Solo Power Mist Blower is the standard of commercial pest control companies and lawn maintenance firms.

Electric Fly Zappers will attract flies from a great distance. Placing Electric Fly Zappers close to the building will attract them to the building. Be sure to use Fly zappers as far from the building as possible, but not more than 100 feet.

Fly Baits such as Golden Malrin and Maxforce Granular Fly Bait work especially well to attract flies and kill them. Use these baits either as a scatter bait on the ground in and near areas where flies congregate such as around dumpsters, doors, etc. Do not use scatter fly baits in areas where animals or pets can pick it up and eat it. Where animals, pets, or children can possible gain access to the bait, use EZ Strike Fly Bait Stations attached to buildings, fences, etc. Be sure to attach these stations at height not reachable by animals or children.

Maxforce Fly Spot Bait is a newer product that is actually a bait, but is diluted with water and sprayed. Use Maxforce Fly Spot Bait in and outside of dumpsters, trash cans, doorways, and anywhere flies land. When the flies land on it, it kills them in seconds. It is very effective and highly recommended.

Don’t Buy Retail Fly Control Products !

Most over the counter fly control products sold at hardware stores and retailers do not contain the same attractants or active ingredients as professional use products. Although the packaging and advertising may appear convincing, millions of dollars are wasted by consumers annually on over the counter products that simply do not work. For this reason, ePestSupply is committed to offering only the finest Professional Quality fly control products and at the lowest possible price. You can depend on ePestSupply and our commitment.