Why Columbus has more flies this summer and ways to keep them out of GA homes
Summer nuisances never cease in Georgia. Not only are residents contending with the extreme heat and humidity, they’re suffering through an uptick in the amount of flies.
If you find yourself swatting the little critters in your kitchens, patios, garages or porches, you’re not alone.
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UGA has some disturbing news for folks trying to reduce their fly populations. The lifecycle of a fly is approximately 10 days long and one single fly can produce three or four batches of eggs, with more than 100 eggs per batch.
The most upsetting part of this data is that, “Theoretically, a single pair of houseflies mating in the spring could result in trillions of flies before the summer’s end,” meaning “the fight against them and the annoyance they cause is unlikely ever to be won.”
Really gross facts about flies
You may be annoyed by the amount of flies in your house, prepare yourself to be really grossed out:
Baby flies, maggots, thrive in moist, decaying material
Flies can’t chew food, so they spit on it to soften it before they “sop it up.”
Flies often defecate while they eat, so contamination is likely
They prefer to lay their eggs in sites like garbage receptacles and manure.
How to reduce the number of flies in your home
Although you’ll never fully rid your space of housefly, DIY Pest Control recommends a combined, mulit-front approach can help you manage.
Clean up: Remove food waste, dirty dishes, crumbs, pet food, and organic debris, take out the trash regularly, and keep bins sealed tightly.
Seal points of entry: Repair openings in window screens, door seals, and cracks
Consider natural remedies: Place basil, lavender, marigold, or parsley in entryways. Eucalyptus, peppermint or lemongrass essential oils can act as a deterrent.
DIY traps: Apple cider vinegar with dish soap, rotten food traps, red wine or fans and candles.
Mechanical traps: Fly paper or electronic light traps can help with larger infestations.
Insecticides: Aerosol sprays with pyrethrins or deltamethrin dusts , but make sure to keep chemicals away from food and pets.
Prevention is key
Don’t leave food or dirty dishes out, immediately wipe down surfaces, clean drains, and empty pet litter boxes frequently.
Pick up pet waste promptly, keep outdoor trash cans sealed, and remove rotten fruit or vegetables from gardens.
Keep compost piles turned and covered, and flush out drains with hot water or a cleaning solution.
Use yellow “bug” bulbs outdoors and limit unnecessary lights at night to make your home less attractive to them.
Common types of flies in Georgia
It may be helpful to know your critters so you can tailor the elimination process.
These are the most common types and where you’ll find them in your home:
House Fly (Musca domestica):Kitchens and near trash cans indoors
Fruit Fly: Kitchens near fruit, garbage disposals
Drain Fly (Moth Fly): Drains, bathrooms, kitchens
Cluster Fly: Attics, windowsills
Flesh Fly/Blow Fly: Garbage, near decaying matter
Hover Fly: Near outside flowers, sometimes indoors
Georgia’s humid summers always bring bugs, but this season’s fly numbers seem downright egregious. You may not be able to completely reclaim your home from these invaders but you can certainly hold your own in the elimination effort.
Do you have any remedies to keep flies at bay?Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.
