Flies are common pests in the home and yard, but they do pose a health risk. A single house fly can carry over one million bacteria on its body. They can spread typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sickness, and dysentery. Flies taste, smell, and feel with the hairs that cover their bodies. The hairs on the fly’s mouth parts and feet are used for tasting. Flies taste what they walk on. If they walk onto something tasty, they put down their mouth and taste it again.
Facts about Flies
There are more than 120,000 species of flies worldwide. Most flies live an average of 21 days and take on various shapes throughout their short lives. Baby flies are called larvae but they are also known as maggots.
Flies and other insects, such as burying beetles, are very important in consuming and eliminating dead bodies of animals. Flies are also essential in the conversion of feces and decaying vegetation to soil. Flies serve as prey to many other animals. Some flies aid in pollination.
However, because of their habits of being attracted to feces and decaying meat, flies have been implicated in the transmission of disease.
Fly Prevention
Flies found inside a building have entered from the outside in almost all cases.
Therefore, barriers preventing access to the building are the first line of defense. Cracks around windows and doors where flies may enter should be sealed. Well-fitted screens will also limit their access to buildings.
Outdoors, regular removal (at least once a week) and disposal of organic waste, including dog feces and rotting fruit, reduces the attractiveness of the area to adult flies and limits their breeding sites.
Garbage should not be allowed to accumulate and should be placed in plastic bags and held in containers with tight-fitting lids. Garbage should also be placed as far from a building entrance as is practicable. In general, poor exclusion and lack of sanitation are the major contributors to fly problems.
Tucson Fly Removal
Do not try to remove an infestation yourself! Call the experts. Conquistador Pest Control knows effective methods for fly control and extermination, how to get rid of flies, and preventing flies from invading your home. Contact Conquistador Pest to help you with flies and other Tucson pest control services.
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