Are Mayflies In Saratoga Springs Dangerous?

May 14, 2021

As spring comes to a close and summer begins here in Saratoga, many pests will be popping up inside area homes. One pest that regularly visits and causes trouble for homeowners is mayflies. These tiny, slender insects are nothing short of annoying. The question is, is annoyance the only problem these pests cause? To help you better understand mayflies in Saratoga, here are some of the issues they cause inside area homes and what you should be doing to keep them outside.

What Are Mayflies?

Mayflies go by many names. You may know these pests as lake flies or shadflies. Outdoors you are most likely to find these insects around bodies of water trying to avoid being eaten by fish and reptiles. As their name suggests, mayflies typically emerge around May. This, of course, is the average. Depending on the species and current weather climate, you might see these pests earlier or later in the year. 

As flies go, mayflies are quite unique. You can identify one of these pests by its long body, two to three tails, clear wings, dull color, and six legs.

How Mayflies Get Into Homes

As mayfly populations increase on your property, the likelihood of finding these pests indoors rises exponentially. The question is, how are these insects getting inside? Most often mayflies invade homes through an open door or window. They also find entry points in damaged screening, cracked foundations, and spacing around framing/weatherstripping. 

The Problems Mayflies Cause

The good news is that mayflies are not considered dangerous or destructive pests. They do not sting, cannot bite, do not stain furniture, don’t smell, and aren’t known for spreading any dangerous diseases. These pests might be a problem if you have allergies or asthma as their dead bodies and molted skins break down easily and are picked up into the air like dust. Beyond this, the main issue these pests cause is being annoying. If you have ever experienced one of these tiny bugs flying around your TV screen or computer monitor, just out of reach so you can’t smack them, you already know how frustrating they can be.

Some Strategies To Prevent Mayflies

If your home is not already swarming with these pests, we highly recommend taking some precautions to make sure they stay outside. To help you with this, here are some basic pest-prevention methods to try around your Saratoga Springs property.

• Check your home’s exterior foundation for gaps, cracks, and other damage. Repair major damage you find and fill in small openings using a caulking gun or some liquid cement.
• Inspect window and door frames for any spaces or air leaks. Fill in these spaces using a caulking gun.
• Make sure your home’s window and door screens are in good working condition.
• Install door sweeps under all exterior doors that lead out of your home.
• Replace exterior light bulbs and lamps with insect-resistant light sources.
• Turn off exterior lights before going to bed at night.

Why Professional Pest Control Is Best For Mayflies

When mayflies start multiplying, there isn’t much that will keep them from trying to invade area homes. If you are looking for a sure-fire way to keep these pests outside where they belong, look no further than the professionals at Avenge Pest Control. Our team is highly trained and licensed to use industrial-grade pest control products and solutions to help area properties fight back against pests like mayflies. We will address attractants on your property and implement the needed solutions to get your home the pest protection it needs.

Call us today for more detail and schedule your Saratoga Springs property for a service visit.