How to identify and treat house flies

Even with the windows shut and the screen door closed, flies always find a way to get inside our homes. It's like they know how to perfectly annoy you when you want to relax and not be bothered. Despite their small size, these creatures have a fascinating life story, from their speedy growth to their surprisingly diverse diet. They are the most common flies that we find in our homes. But they are more than just a nuisance. They can be harmful to our health, too!

Why?

House flies lay their eggs in whatever rotting food or trash they can find. It seems like the smellier, the better! While crawling around in that filth, they pick up all sorts of bacteria and pathogens and then land on our food!

The eggs hatch into maggots that make quick work of any food or rotting organic matter they can find. They grow incredibly fast, only needing six days to go from egg to adult! The maggots have hook-like teeth that tear into their food. After molting four times, they will become pupae and emerge as adults.

They're not picky eaters at all. House flies feast on a wide range of food, from sugary substances to decaying organic matter. They're particularly fond of anything fermenting or rotting.

House flies are easy to spot flying around your home or in a trash can. They have dark gray bodies with large red eyes. You'll also notice four racing stripes or dark bands going down their backs. They have stiff bristles on their body. Also, they have a proboscis with a sponge-like mouthpart on the tip.

The maggots are cream-colored and start out pretty small but can grow to be 3/8 inch long.

If you start noticing these flies buzzing around more than usual, especially near food or waste areas, it might be a sign you've got an infestation. Key symptoms include seeing the flies themselves in large numbers, finding their maggots in moist, decaying organic matter, and noticing an increase in activity around garbage or pet waste areas.

How big are house flies?

House flies typically grow to about ¼ inch in length.

What other flies look like a house fly?

Other flies that might resemble house flies include:

• Cluster flies
• Blue bottle flies
• Green bottle flies
• Flesh flies

All of these flies look very similar but can be controlled with the same tactics and strategies.

You can find house flies everywhere! They are common throughout the United States and can be in both hot and cold climates. They are closely connected to human activity and can be found hanging out around all the dirty places, including:

• Near open food
• Trash cans
• Animal bedding
• Decomposing organic material
• Around pet waste

House flies will be coming from the outside and entering your home. So, the best way to keep them out of your house is to ensure there are no openings they can get through. This includes:

• Sealing up gaps and cracks around doors and windows
• Repairing window screens and screen doors
• Putting screens on vents

Additionally, you want to eliminate any food sources they may be looking for. Some tips for this are:

• Clean up any food spills
• Don't keep food uncovered
• Remove trash frequently from the home
• Clean out and sanitize your trash can inside and outside regularly
• Clean up any animal waste

You can also spray an insect barrier around and inside the home to prevent flies and other insect pests from entering your home. Consider subscribing to Pestie's DIY, pro-grade pest control plan if you want an easy way to keep pests out of your home all year.