ABOUT FLIES

Flies can be a nuisance when buzzing around your premise, particularly if in large numbers. However, some species of fly also pose health risks to humans. House flies transmit a wide range of diseases including salmonella, dysentery, tuberculosis, cholera and parasitic worms. In India, there is a high risk of disease transmission through flies. During emergency situations, when hygiene conditions are less than optimal, flies often are the main reason for cholera and dysentery epidemics. But even under normal conditions, children and elderly are at a greater risk of conducting more common diseases such as salmonella food poisoning from fly contaminated food.
Flies spread diseases because of their breeding and feeding habits. Bacteria from where the fly usually feed on would get stuck on their mouthparts and footpads eventually spreading onto places they land on. Imagine if it’s exposed food that you are about to eat. There are different kinds of Flies i.e. House Fly, Drain Fly and Fruit Flies.


House Flies (Musca domestica)



Appearance - Usually gray, less than 4 to 7.5 mm long with four black stripes on the thorax.

Signs of a House Fly Infestation - The adult flies are the most common sign of activity. Larvae also may be seen as they crawl out the breeding material to pupate. Lastly, the pupae themselves may sometimes be observed nearby the breeding material.

House Fly Control - House fly control is not always as easy as it sounds. There is often more involved than a fly swatter. The first step is identification. It is easy to confuse house flies with several other fly species, including cluster flies. The different types of flies may look similar, but they require different control methods. It is very important to identify the places where the flies have been depositing their eggs. It may be something simple like an uncovered trash can or a bowl of pet food on the patio. However the house fly breeding site could be something that is not obvious. The breeding site must be cleaned up or removed. If the breeding site is not removed, the flies will continue to be a problem.

Our Pest Control Technicians are trained to spot these breeding sites during the inspection. He will also point out any structural issues, like torn screens or damaged weather stripping that the flies could use to get inside your home.

The next step is to eliminate the adult flies. Depending on the situation, it may be necessary to use fly bait, traps or an insecticide application.

DRAIN FLY (Family Psychodidae)



Appearance - Drain flies measure about 1.5 to 5 mm long with a light gray or tan body and lighter-colored wings. The body and the wings are covered with long hairs, giving the fly a fuzzy appearance. When at rest, the drain fly folds its wings over the body in a characteristic roof-like manner.

Drain Fly Infestations - The drain or moth fly is named because of the scales on its wings, similar to a moth. When touched, these yellow to gray or black scales will come off, leaving a residue. The moth fly is small, typically less than 55 mm long.

This fly lays its eggs in the drain on the gelatinous material which normally forms around the inside of drain lines. Larvae emerge from the eggs, and the cylindrical larvae will extend breathing tubes through the film for air while feeding on the microbes inside the drain.

Adult drain flies emerge, typically when warm conditions exist. These flies are not excellent fliers, and the flying pattern appears to be jerky and irregular. Rarely does the homeowner see the full infestation of these flies; more likely, only adults are observed. The best way to control drain flies is to control adults and to keep the drains clean using periodic cleaning. A pest control professional can use an enzyme to break down the film that is hospitable to drain flies.

Drain Fly Control - The best control for these flies is to remove the breeding site, which is the organic material that collected in the drain. If these flies are present in the house there is almost certainly a slow or clogged drain.

Find the drain and physically clean it out. All the liquid drain cleaner in the world will not solve the problem; you’ve got to physically remove the material causing the clog. Once the material is removed (along with the larvae) the problem is solved, except for the adult flies. They will live about 20 days, but since they will have no place to lay eggs, the problem will disappear when they die.

Drain flies can be very difficult to control. The eggs are laid in the gelatinous mass which lines drain pipes, and larvae hatch and feed on the plant and animal forms found in the mass. The most modern control is to remove the film through the use of enzymes. Foaming enzymes applied by professional pest control companies will break down the film through the action of the enzymes. Enzyme treatment will not form any dangerous byproducts nor should it harm pipes.



Fruit Flies (Family Drosophilidae)



Appearance - Drosophila melanogaster is a species of small fly. Adults are 3 to 4 mm long, may have red eyes, though some are dark eyed, and a tan thorax. The abdomen is black on top, gray underneath. Fruit flies can appear to be brown or tan in color.

Signs of a Fruit Fly Infestation - The two most visible signs of fruit fly activity would be the adult flies and the pupae. Adult flies often are seen flying around in kitchens or trash cans near the decaying fruit or vegetables. They also are attracted to liquor and liquor/beer bottles. The mature larvae of fruit flies crawl out of the breeding material to pupate in a dry nearby spot. They sometimes are mistaken for cockroach or rodent droppings but can easily be differentiated by a pair of horns on one end of the pupae.

Fruit Fly Control - It is extremely difficult to rid a home of the common fruit fly. Fruit flies are attracted to sugary, organic materials. As their name suggests, they are commonly found infesting fruit. However, fruit flies are also capable of breeding in decaying meat, trash bins and large spills of soda or alcohol. Any fruit brought home following that should be stored in the refrigerator if appropriate. Regularly wipe counters, clean spills and empty your trash cans to help prevent fruit fly infestations.

The first step in addressing a fruit fly infestation is the destruction of their feeding and breeding grounds. Fruit flies often lay their eggs in rotten fruit and other soft, sweet, organic materials. If you identify a fruit fly infestation in your kitchen, dispose of all over-ripe or damaged fruit. Any subsequently purchased fruit or vegetables should be kept in the refrigerator until the fruit fly infestation dissipates.

If there is no fruit or vegetable matter in your kitchen, check your garbage and recycling bins. Fruit flies may also use unclean drains as breeding grounds. Outdoor drains are likely sources of yard-based fruit flies, as are overripe fruits beneath the trees from which they have fallen.

After isolating the fly breeding ground, control methods may be utilized. Although eradication may require several treatments, the lack of food available to fly populations will eventually cause them to die out.



Worried about pests ? Call MASA at our Unified Number 920001330 for a free inspection. Our pest control expert will schedule an inspection to assess your problem and recommend an effective solution for the same.