Florida Black House Flies: How to Control, Prevent, and Deter Them
As their name suggests, Black House Flies are a species of fly that is black in color. They are commonly found in the southern United States, particularly in Florida. Black House Flies are attracted to garbage and decaying matter, making them a nuisance in residential and commercial areas. They can also transmit diseases, which makes them a health hazard.
Finding a stray fly in your house is relatively common, but when you start noticing buzzing bugs everywhere, it’s time to take action. Although flies can reproduce inside your home, preventing them from coming into the house eliminates this problem.
How to Control Black House Fly
Houseflies are controlled using three different methods: cultural, biological, and chemical. Professionals will typically use a combination of all three depending on your specific situation.
-
Cultural Control
Cultural control involves using physical and mechanical means to exclude or eliminate flies.
This can be done in several ways:
- Keep garbage in tightly sealed containers
- Remove garbage regularly
- Cover compost piles
- Seal doors and windows
You can also use traps to lure and capture flies. There are different kinds of traps available in the market, but common ones are:
- sticky traps
- electric traps
- ultraviolet traps
To avoid drawing additional insects to the structure, place the traps at least 15 feet away from doors and other entryways. To make them more visible to the flies in the room, select darker areas away from bright lights and sunshine. Place the traps at least 5 feet away from food preparation locations to prevent food contamination.
Maintaining the traps is critical. Because older bulbs lose their appeal to flies, they should be replaced each spring, just before the peak season of fly activity. Clean them out regularly because dead flies provide food for other insects.
-
Biological Control
Biological control entails using living organisms to eliminate or reduce the population of Black House Flies. The most common method is to introduce predators or parasites into the environment. For example, green lacewings and ladybugs prey on fly larvae, while parasitic wasps lay eggs in fly pupae.
People and animals are not harmed by parasitic wasps. They go after juvenile house flies and kill them. On the other hand, Parasitic wasps require time to act and cannot completely destroy a housefly population. Use this technique in combination with others.
-
Chemical Control
Chemical control refers to the use of insecticides to kill Black House Flies. Insecticides are available in different formulations, such as aerosables (bait), space sprays, and residuals. Bait should be used with extreme caution because it can be poisonous if not used properly. To reduce the risk of poisoning, keep bait out of reach of children and pets. Residuals, meanwhile, can be applied as a liquid or aerosol.
There are different products in the market that you can use to control Black House Flies. These products can be dangerous for children and pets, so these are best left to the professionals who can ensure the products used will address your problem without harming your loved ones.
But what will happen if preventive measures are not enough and Black House Flies have already infested your home?
How To Get Rid of Flies Inside and Outside Your Home
Once Black House Flies have infested your home, getting rid of them can be challenging. There are some strategies people have tried with some success.
-
Dish Soap and Apple Cider Vinegar
Combine equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water in a bowl. Add a few drops of dish soap to the mixture and stir well. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spritz it on Black House Flies whenever you see them. The dish soap will break the surface tension of the fly’s body.
-
Fly Sticky Paper
You can also make your own fly paper by coating a strip of brown paper with a mixture of honey and sugar. Hang the ribbon near Black House Fly-infested areas. The flies will be attracted to the sweet scent and get stuck on the paper.
-
Soda Bottle Trap
Another way to trap Black House Flies is to use a soda bottle. Cut the top off a 2-liter soda bottle and invert it. Place the bottom part of the bottle into the top position. Tape them together to secure. Pour some sugar, water, honey, or ripe fruit into the bottle. The Black House Flies will be attracted to the sweet scent and fly into the bottle. But they won’t be able to fly out because of the inverted top.
-
Keep Garbage Cans Well Sealed
Black House Flies are attracted to garbage. So, if you keep your garbage cans well sealed, the Black House Flies will have nothing to feed on, and they will eventually die.
-
Clean Up After Your Pets
Another way to get rid of Black House Flies is to clean up after your pets. Black House Flies are attracted to pet waste. So, if you keep your yard clean, the Black House Flies will have nowhere to breed and die off.
-
Call a Professional
However, if you really want to address your problem once and for all, there is no substitute for professional help. Problem Solved Pest Control specializes in all local pest control. They will be able to get rid of the Black House Flies so quickly you’ll wish you hadn’t wasted time trying to DIY this project.
Now that you know how to get rid of Black House Flies, you can keep your home fly-free. Just remember to prevent flies in the first place and call in the professionals if you see Black House Flies in your home. With a little effort, you can get rid of Black House Flies.
