House flies got their name because they love hanging around people; more so in their houses. Apart from being a major annoyance, houseflies also pose a real health hazard to people and animals. These insects are known to carry over 100 types of disease-causing micro-organism, which makes them very harmful houseguests to have.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly)
In warm weather, flies take a very short period to develop – about 7 to 14 days. This means that fly infestations become very prevalent during summer. Although flies are generally around throughout the year, their increased rate of breeding makes them a bit more difficult to control during summer. And that is why proper preparation should be done well in advance to make sure that you are protected against flies during this ‘peak’ period.
The life cycle of the fly
The fly develops in three distinct stages: egg larva pupa and adult. After mating, the female looks for a spot with dead decaying matter where she lays her eggs. The female can lay up to 150 eggs per day.
The eggs then hatch into larvae that will feed on the decaying organic matter for 1-3 days. When the larva has developed enough, it crawls to a dark place with little humidity where it transitions to the pupal stage. It is at this stage that the fly develops its different body parts before it emerges as an adult a few days later.
The whole process takes about 2 weeks but can be as short as one week in warmer conditions. A housefly can live for up to 30 days.
(Source: http://australianmuseum.net.au/decomposition-fly-life-cycles)
Controlling houseflies
House flies mostly come into your home in search of food. Eliminating food sources in your home will help you prevent house fly infestations. You should:
- Keep your bins covered at all times especially those used for food disposal.
- Empty your bins regularly before the trash starts decaying and attracting flies.
- Clean food and beverage messes.
- Keep your doors and windows closed.
Although effective, maintaining high levels of hygiene does not guarantee that flies will not come into your home. Other measures for fly control should also be used.
Pestrol insect screens
Fly screens, also known as insect screens, will not only keep the flies and insects out but will also help improve the indoor air quality. For people who like to open their doors and windows for fresh air, fly screens are a must have. These openings are major insect entry points, so screening them will lock out most insects.
Our insect screens are precision woven from fibreglass using the highest quality materials to ensure long lasting performance and consistent reliability.
Benefits of insect screens
- 24/7 protection. Fly screens offer continuous protection for your house ensuring that no insects gain entrance into your home.
- Economical. Fly screens are perhaps the most economical method of insect control. Once installed, it will take years before they require replacement.
- They are easy to install and maintain.
- They are environmentally friendly. Fly screens do not use chemicals. They also don’t kill the insects but keep them out. They simply act as a barrier between your house and the outdoors.
- In addition to letting you keep your windows and doors open for fresh air without having to worry about insects, fly screens also help improve the quality of air by trapping dust particles.
Start planning ahead for summer, install insect screens to make sure that your house remains fly free when their population increases.