Get rid of flies and keep them from returning during the summer with these tips

Buzz, buzz, buzz. Flies are no fun when you’re trying to enjoy a backyard BBQ. They dart into your house as soon as you open the door. They’re just a nuisance all the way around. 

Houseflies tend to be active in Texas from spring through fall, with peak activity in the summer. Flies can carry a broad range of germs, including those that cause anthrax, typhoid, stomach ulcers, cholera, dysentery, and TB, as well as less serious ailments, which they deposit everywhere they land, even that cheeseburger you’re about to bite into.

It’s not just the flies themselves you have to worry about. You should also be concerned with maggots, the fly’s larval form. After mating, a female housefly usually lays more than 100 eggs, which hatch extremely fast. If the temperature is warm enough, maggots can spawn in less than eight hours.

Getting Rid of Flies

There are lots of things you can do to try to get rid of flies before calling Ladybug Pest Management.

Plug in a fan. These uninvited insects can’t fly well in strong breezes. You can set up an oscillating fan to send flies flying in the opposite direction. You can set a fan up on an extension cord near your backyard grill, picnic table, or any other area where you congregate outside. 

Light a candle. Citronella, a highly aromatic oil distilled from several varieties of lemongrass, repels both flies and mosquitoes. This is a good remedy for the outdoors. Just light a few of these fragrant candles and set them near the entrance of your home, on your picnic table, porch, or around your grill area.

Set up fly paper. These aren’t pretty to look at up do a fair job at attracting flies. The paper is treated with a sweet fragrance that attracts the insect pests and some include small amounts of pesticide. 

Keep Flies From Returning Outside

Here are a few things you can do outdoors to keep flies from returning:

Flies love open garbage pails, uncovered compost bins, and dog droppings, so keep everything tidy outside.

Surround your patio or barbecue with fly-repelling herbs. That includes basil, lavender, and mint.

Allowing pools of water to lie stagnant in your yard is not a good idea. Flies are attracted to puddles, birdbaths, and damp patches generated by dripping sprinklers.

Flies deposit their eggs in tall grass because it provides them with moisture and safety. To avoid an infestation, mow your grass once a week throughout the warm months.

Shoo Fly

Still have a fly problem? Ladybug Pest Management is equipped to help you get rid of flies so you can enjoy your home inside and out during the summer months.

By Leslie Radford, Advent Trinity Marketing Agency