Houseflies, which are the most common kind of pest fly, are known to reproduce quickly and in great numbers. They are also known to enter homes through open doors and windows or by riding on food items like produce.

Life Cycle

Flies start life as tiny eggs that resemble rice, laid by an adult female on garbage, food or feces. They then hatch into larvae, or maggots, which resemble tiny worms and are about ¼-⅜ inch long. Maggots feed in the area where they hatched until they finish the process of growing into pupae, when they develop wings, legs and hard outer shells and begin to look more like adults. From there, they grow into adult flies and begin the cycle all over again. The entire growing period of a fly often lasts about a week, and once a fly is fully-grown, it can easily access any home that doesn’t have preventative pest measures in place.

The length of a fly’s life depends on what kind it is. Houseflies usually live about 15-25 days as adults.

There are a couple of signs that could signal a fly infestation. The most obvious is seeing flies around the house in a greater number than usual or groups congregating in a certain area. Another sign is finding a nesting site where eggs have been laid or larvae are feeding. Finally, you may hear them buzzing around before you even see them.

Most flies do not bite. Flies eat by using their spongy mouthparts and saliva to dissolve food and suck it up. The main kind of fly that bites is the horsefly, a large insect that bites mammals and is known for attacking moving, dark-colored targets.

While most flies do not bite and therefore are not harmful to the surface skin, they can carry a lot of diseases. This is a result of them feeding on everything from garbage to fecal matter to rotting produce. In the various places where they find their food, they pick up numerous pathogens that they then carry around with them, such as salmonellosis, typhoid and tuberculosis. They contaminate food and eating surfaces when they land on them, so if you find that flies have landed en masse on a particular item of food, it’s probably best to throw that food away.

Preventative measures are the best way to avoid a fly problem. Here are a few measures you can take:

• Routinely take out the trash, removing it as a source of fly attraction
• Keep surfaces clean and free of leftover food or dirty dishes to prevent them from finding places to land
• Keep doors and windows closed (or keep screens closed while doors and windows are open) to prevent them from entering the home
• Use insect repellant and outdoor fly guards like candles to keep them away
• Use simple fly traps to lure them in and kill them before they have a chance to infest your home.

However, if you’re dealing with a large infestation, it’s best to call the professionals. Contact Dodson Pest Control for a free inspection today!