Prevention, rather than cure, is the best method of fly control

Mar 16 2010 By Mary Barabe

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Insects can not only be a nuisance in the home, they can also be downright dangerous. They spread a multitude of potentially lethal diseases, and need to be dealt with before they become a serious health hazard. The best fly control is to discourage them from visiting in the first place.

Apart from being a nuisance, most pests are a little annoying but nothing more than that. Flies, however, can also be a major health risk, so steps should be taken whenever they’re seen in or around the home. They can be extremely unhygienic, and can also spread diseases which are harmful to adults and children alike. They need to be controlled at all times, but especially in the summer months.

The common housefly is found all over the UK and Europe. It’s an irritation to most people, but few realise that it can also spread disease, including dysentery, cholera, salmonella and tuberculosis. It particularly relishes uncovered food, and can lay hundreds of eggs in decaying vegetable matter. Domestic cleanliness is vital when defending your property against this unwelcome visitor.

Blow flies are blue or green in colour, and also enjoy food waste. They are attracted in particular to old meat products, so pay particular attention to disposal of these. A large congregation of them can be an indicator of a dead animal in or around your property, such as a pigeon in the chimney or air duct, or a mouse under the garden decking.

Prevention is usually better than cure, so the most important aspect of fly control is to stop them from congregating in the home in the first place. There are several steps you can take which can help with this. The first, and most important, is simple, and that’s to avoid giving them access to uncovered food. Disease can be spread if they land on items before we eat them, so care should be taken at all times.

It’s equally vital that you carefully wrap food waste before throwing it away. Flies will be just as happy finding sustenance in and around your bins as they would inside the home. Also, make sure you wipe up all spillages as soon as they happen, because they like liquids, too. Additionally, crumbs under kitchen appliances are a good source for them.

Outdoors, all waste bins should have sealable tops, to make sure they can’t get inside. Remember, a fly is small so doesn’t need a large opening to gain access. If any dustbin lids are perished or damaged, be sure to replace them as soon as possible. They also find compost heaps extremely attractive, so keeping the area enclosed will help enormously.

In the garden, pet faeces provide flies with the perfect breeding ground, so always clear up immediately after your dog or cat. Remember that once an insect has landed on waste, it can then fly into the home, and possibly on to some food.

Standing water is also a potential hazard, so always cover water butts, and flush drainage areas regularly, with bleach if necessary. The bottom line, when it comes to fly control, is to make sure you do as much as possible to avoid the problem before you have to deal with it.

When it comes to fly control, prevention is always better than cure, so take precautions to ensure flies never become a problem.