What Are Flies?
Flies are insects that wear many hats; they are predators, scavengers, parasites, and prey for other animals. In our homes, flies also wear the unfortunate hat of an unwanted pest.
Flies are insects, and the easiest way to tell flies apart from other insects is that they only have one pair of wings instead of two. Their second set of "wings" have become small numbs used to balance themselves. Having only one pair of wings means that flies aren't strong fliers, which is why you see them constantly landing and taking off of surfaces.
Flies that home and business owners come across regularly in the Inglewood California area include:
- Drain flies
- Fruit flies
- Fungus gnats
- House flies
Are Flies Dangerous?
Flies pose significant health risks to people, and they should never be allowed to take over our indoor or outdoor spaces. Flies are not known for living in sanitary places; they feed and breed in garbage, excrement, decaying vegetation, standing water, sewers, drains, and other areas of decay.
Flies carry many bacteria, parasites, and human pathogens on their bodies that contaminate surfaces and food. Flies are pests that are also responsible for causing a lot of food waste.
Why Do I Have a Fly Problem?
Flies are a problem anywhere they can feed and breed; populations of these annoying unsanitary pests seem to pop up within hours. Things in our homes and yards like pet excrement, trash, recycling bins, gardens, standing water, and clogged drains attract flies and allow them to develop large populations.
If flies live outside your home in large numbers, it won't be long until they find their way into your home. Flies move into our homes through open doors, tears in screens, or openings they find around windows and doors.
Where Will I Find Flies?
Where flies prefer to feed and breed depends somewhat on their species:
- As their name suggests, house flies are common in and around our homes. They are attracted to damp areas of decay, and you'll find them around trash cans, compost piles, pet excrement, and decaying vegetation in gardens. They also like to hang out in kitchens where they'll contaminate food left out on counters or tables.
- Drain flies also have a descriptive name and lay their eggs in the moist, decaying debris found in the drains of sinks and tubs. They also become a problem inside wall voids near leaking water pipes, tubs, sinks, or air conditioners.
- Fruit flies are most active and live in their largest populations during the late summer and fall or harvest seasons when there are plenty of decaying fruits and vegetables to feed and breed on. Homes, restaurants, grocery stores, and farmer's markets often experience problems with these pests.
How Do I Get Rid of Flies?
Flies are extremely annoying to deal with and dangerous to have in our homes and businesses. If flies have taken over your property, it is best to partner with a local pest professional to stop the infestation and put in place the services necessary to prevent a reinfestation.
At A Step Above Pest Control & Termite, our professionals are dedicated to our customers and perform thorough inspections, accurate identification, and tailored home pest control and commercial pest control treatments that will solve your property's fly problem. To learn more about ridding dangerous and annoying flies from your Los Angeles area home or business, reach out to us today!
How Can I Prevent Flies in the Future?
Keep flies out of your Los Angeles area home with the following prevention tips.
- Always keep lids on trash cans and recycling bins to stop flies from getting inside and using them as feeding and breeding sites.
- Regularly empty and completely clean debris out of trash cans and recycling bins.
- Make sure screens in windows and doors are intact and working to keep flies out of your home.
- Never prop open your doors.
- Repair leaky pipes, clogged drains, or areas of poor ventilation that provide standing water flies will use as a water source or breeding ground.
- Maintain a clean kitchen, quickly cleaning up sticky spills, washing dirty dishes, and storing leftover food in the fridge or airtight containers.
- If you own pets, clean up their excrement from your yard daily.
- Remove damp piles of leaves or grass from your yard.
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