Flies are a common sight, especially in warmer weather. While often considered a nuisance, their presence is linked to specific attractants and favorable environmental conditions.
Understanding What Attracts Them
Flies are drawn to areas with available food sources and suitable breeding grounds. Many species, including house flies and blowflies, are attracted to decaying organic matter like rotting fruits, vegetables, meat, and animal waste. This material provides both sustenance for adults and a site for larvae to develop.
Flies are also attracted to sugary substances like spilled soda, fruit juice, or dish residues. Fruit flies, for instance, seek out ripened or fermenting fruits and liquids such as beer, wine, or vinegar. Moisture is another attractant, as flies need it for survival and their larvae require damp environments to develop. This explains their presence around garbage, pet waste, and other moist, organic debris.
Favorable Environmental Conditions
Temperature plays a role in accelerating the fly life cycle and influencing population size. Warmer environments speed up their metabolic rate, causing them to progress through all life stages more quickly. For instance, a house fly’s life cycle can shorten from about 45 days at 60°F to as little as 7 days at 95°F. This rapid development leads to a quicker succession of generations and larger populations.
Humidity also affects fly populations, as it is essential for egg hatching and survival. Many fly species lay their eggs in moist environments, such as compost heaps, rotting food, or animal waste. Increased humidity provides a richer environment for larval growth, ensuring sufficient food and moisture for development. Warm, humid conditions, particularly in spring and summer, create an ideal environment for flies to thrive and reproduce rapidly.
Managing Their Presence
Reducing fly populations involves disrupting their access to attractants and eliminating breeding sites. Maintaining rigorous sanitation, especially concerning food and waste, is a primary approach. This includes promptly cleaning up food debris and liquid spills, and regularly emptying and cleaning garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. Dirty dishes should be washed quickly, and food stored in airtight containers to prevent flies from accessing potential sources.
Addressing moisture is important for fly control. Flies require damp conditions for breeding, so eliminating standing water and ensuring good drainage are effective measures. This means cleaning sink and bathtub drains, checking for leaky pipes, and avoiding the accumulation of wet organic matter like grass clippings or compost near structures. Outdoors, proper disposal of pet waste and keeping garbage and compost bins sealed and away from entrances can reduce attractants and breeding grounds. Sealing entry points into buildings, such as installing screens on windows and doors and sealing cracks, prevents flies from entering indoor spaces.