Have you ever found yourself blindly swatting into the air or nearly slapping yourself silly after hearing that annoying buzzing sound coming close to your ear? If you have, it's likely because you were in the presence of flies. 

Here in Plano, residents can experience many different types of flies, including drain flies, fruit flies, and the most common, house and blow flies. Sure, each one of these types of flies is a nuisance pest. However, studies suggest they’re more than just a nuisance. They’re carriers of many different types of bacteria, germs, and pathogens. Therefore, having a fly population in your home poses serious health risks. 

If you’re noticing an influx of flies in your home or want to know how to get rid of flies in your house, it’s time to call All-Safe Pest & Termite, your local Plano pest control pros.

Habits And Behaviors Of Common Flies

Flies are most certainly an annoyance to have in your home, whether it's the faint sound of buzzing in the distance or a sudden landing on your burger that just came off the grill. Flies contribute significantly to homeowners' grief, especially when trying to enjoy peace within your home. Some of this hardship might be avoided by understanding fly behavior.

Although most flies in Plano share some characteristics, fly behavior varies depending on the species, including a general attraction to rotting food or manure and the four-stage fly life cycle. Examine these habits of common tiny flies:

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  Blow fly behavior: Blow flies don't sting or bite. However, they have a strong attraction to the garbage and human food, which makes cooking outside challenging when they are around. They might contribute to the spread of disease agents picked up from animal or garbage waste and then spread to human foods, just like house flies. The main threat posed by blow flies is the spread of pathogens that affect humans, such as those that cause cholera, salmonella food poisoning, parasitic worms, dysentery, and many others.
• House fly behavior: Fermenting vegetables, manure, dumpsters, and garbage cans are places where house flies frequently breed. A female house fly can lay up to 150 eggs in one batch. She has a lifetime of about 30 days and can lay about six batches of eggs. When the eggs hatch, larvae emerge. Warm temperatures are the best for these maggots' survival. To transition into the third stage of their life cycle and become pupas, however, they look for cool, dry areas once they reach maturity. Adult house flies emerge from the pupal stage within four to six weeks and can fly over 12 miles, though they hardly ever do.
• Drain Fly Behavior: Drain flies grow in slop or congealed matter that builds up in moist compost, septic tanks, filthy garbage cans, or sewage disposal beds. They might also appear in sink or bathtub drains, tree holes, bird nests with feces-filled accumulations, or rain barrels. Drain flies congregate, mate, and lay eggs in areas with moisture or still water. Sewers and drains' slimy film are ideal breeding places. They also will be on glass windows and indoor lighting. Drain flies don't bite people, pets, or other animals, nor do they cause property damage or harm plants. These flies can potentially transmit diseases mechanically because they come from filthy sources. These insects can become a nuisance in homes in large populations, and they are almost always associated with clogged drains. Bathroom drains are the most typical breeding places in residential homes. Because they can't fly well, you will see drain flies crawling on walls and other surfaces.
• Fruit Fly Behavior: Fruit flies come in at least 177 species, and most need moist environments to reproduce. The average female can produce 500 eggs in her lifetime. They lay their eggs in wine or beer, open fruit or vegetable containers, floor drains, on the edges of vinegar or cider bottles, and occasionally on mops or rags with food residue. A fruit fly's entire life cycle takes about 22 days. These flies can be found all over the world.

If flies in your home are becoming too much to handle on your own, don’t hesitate to call All-Safe Pest & Termite.

The Problems Flies Can Cause In Your Home

Having to deal with flies can be annoying. Anyone would be irritated when they land on food or drinks, silverware, or any part of the body. It's almost intolerable how persistent and constant the buzzing is. When these pests are present, it's simple to understand their annoyance, but another issue easily gets overlooked as people swat them away.

Do house flies actually pose a serious health threat? The short answer is yes. The house fly is the type that inhabits a person's home most frequently. They make up 90% of all fly infestations, so, likely, you've already come across these flies. They have black lines on their backs and are about 6 to 7mm long. They have a pair of wings and red eyes. They are one of the primary bacteria-spreading flies and the most common to infest a home. Despite not biting, they can spread disease by flying from one location to another. Because of this, house flies can be very dangerous. Consider how quickly these guys are moving as they buzz by you. Just imagine they're crawling over rotting food in the dumpster one minute, and the next minute, they're crawling all over the dinner you just made. 

Prevention is crucial to avoid the health risks associated with flies, not to mention their pure annoyance. Your neighborhood Plano home pest control professionals, All-Safe Pest & Termite, will successfully eliminate these filthy flies from your home.

How To Remove Factors That Attract Flies Into Your Home

It's critical to recognize the types of flies you are dealing with to eliminate the factors that draw them to your house. Unlike fruit flies, which prefer sugary substances and are more frequently attracted to overripe fruit, spilled soda, and alcohol, common house flies, are drawn to decaying organic waste such as feces and rotting meat. Drain flies like moist environments and organic materials and lay their eggs in drains.

You can make adjustments to prevent the pests from reoccurring once you identify the species of flies infesting your home. Here are some preventative methods:

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  Eliminate moisture and potential breeding locations: Moisture attracts flies, so eliminate any sources and dry out any damp spots in your house. Examine inside and outside; rainwater-collecting containers, such as empty flowerpots and children's toys, and even a discarded mop bucket with water inside. Next, throw away rotting produce, like fruits and vegetables, where flies might breed and lay eggs. Additionally, regularly clean your plumbing and pipes to deter drain flies by removing the scum buildup that attracts them.
• Seal openings or gaps: Keep doors and windows closed whenever possible because leaving them open invites flies. Even when using window screens, be cautious about how long you leave your windows open because some flies are small enough to squeeze through the netting. Additionally, it's critical to seal any crevices and cracks that could serve as unintentional fly entry points. Install weather stripping to prevent flies from squeezing into the tight spaces around or beneath windows or doors. You should also use caulk or foam to seal openings where pipes enter the exterior of your home.
• Maintain regular house cleaning: Flies thrive in the garbage, filthy drains, and rotting food. By keeping your home clean and covering or removing these potential fly food sources and habitats, you can stop them from taking over your home.
• Secure lids on the trash and garbage cans: Keeping these containers sealed and closed is crucial because flies go to the decaying food in your trash can. Regularly empty your trash and garbage cans, and clip the lids back on after use. Clean any caked-on food, check underneath the plastic liners, and frequently wash the cans with soap and water.

You can try DIY solutions to eliminate the occasional fly problem, but a pest control expert is the best solution. At All-Safe Pest & Termite, we have the best field experts in the industry with years of experience managing infestations just like yours. Our specialists can accurately identify the species of flies you are dealing with and know what methods and products to use to control them.

How To Get Rid Of Flies In Your Home For Good

The best way to get rid of flies is with professional pest control services, especially if you’ve tried removing them on your own with little to no success. The reality is that finding the source of a fly infestation is difficult. Our pros at All-Safe Pest & Termite are your trusted fly control experts. Call today to get started.

Had my initial setup and install today, and everything went very well! Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Feel so much better after making the switch to All-Safe!!

K. Cloud

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