House Flies

Appearance
These flies receive the common name of house from being the most common fly found in and around homes. The house fly is 1/6th to 1/4th inch in length. The area behind the head, called the thorax, has 4 narrow black stripes. This is a distinguishing characteristic between flies.

Problem
Although the house fly is often an unbearable nuisance, we are primarily concerned with it as a carrier of disease organisms. The house fly often feeds on fecal material and then can rest on human food.

Control
1. Be sure that the problem is house flies and not fruit flies, phorid flies, or fungus gnats.
2. Inspections involve locating the fly breeding and larval developmental sites. Interior breeding sites are not common except in interior garbage rooms and compactors.
3. Sanitation involves the removal or elimination of the larval developmental sites.

  a. Timely emptying and cleaning of garbage cans.
  b. Timely removal of pet droppings.
  c. All trashcans must have liners.

4. Mechanical controls consists of:

  a. Garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
  b. Screen doors fitting tightly.
  c. Windows fitting tightly.
  d. Keeping doors closed.

5. Cook's offers free inspections and stands ready to help solve your fly problem.