Pest Education

Flies

While a significant nuisance when living in our yards and homes, flies are actually an essential part of the ecosystem. They act as a food source for many fish, frogs, and other animals. Flies feed on and reduce decaying organic matter like excrement, carrion, and decaying vegetation. These insects belong to the order Diptera, which means “two wings.” Unlike other insects, all true flies have two pairs of wings instead of one.

Since flies feed and breed in less than sanitary areas, it only makes sense that these pests carry and transmit various diseases and parasites. Having these pests living in or around your home is a health risk, and their presence should always be discouraged. Knowing what some of the most common things are that attract flies to your home is the best way to avoid them. Standing water, clogged drains, and leaky pipes provide them with water. Open trash cans, outdoor eating areas, pet food, gardens, and pet waste provide food and breeding sites and are where homeowners often discover large numbers of flies.

When flies are inside a home, they tend to hang out in areas most likely to provide them with feeding and breeding sites such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.

The list below will provide you with some helpful tips to prevent flies from taking over your Utah property:

• Place lids on trash cans and recycling bins and regularly empty and sanitize them.
• Maintain vegetable gardens to keep them free of rotting fruits and vegetables.
• Keep drains and sinks free of debris. Make sure drains don’t become clogged with debris.
• In your kitchen, store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator instead of on counters or tables.
• Pick up pet excrement from your backyard daily.
• Do not prop exterior doors and keep screens in open windows to keep flies from moving into your home.