Fly infestation? Tackle it quickly and effectively

Are there a lot of flies in or around your home? Then you may have a fly infestation. It is important to take immediate action, because flies reproduce very quickly. One female fly can lay up to 900 eggs during her short lifespan of a few weeks. Within 7 to 10 days, the eggs develop into adult flies. Without action, the population can expand explosively.

Common types of flies in and around the house

1. House fly (Musca domestica)

• Features: 6–9 mm in size, grey-black body, reddish-brown eyes.
• Behavior: Attracted to food scraps, garbage, feces, animal remains and moist, warm places.
• Risk: Spreads pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria through paws and saliva.
• Cause: Often there is a rotting source somewhere in or around the house: garbage, food scraps or even a dead animal.

2. Cluster fly (Pollenia rudis)

• Features: Slightly larger than the housefly (8–10 mm), with a dark gray body and golden hairs.
• Behavior: Cluster flies are not attracted to food, but in the autumn (September/October) they look for sheltered places to hibernate, such as attics, cavity walls and lofts. They crawl in through small openings.
• Risk: No direct damage or disease transmission, but they cause nuisance by being indoors in large numbers.

How does a fly plague arise?

A fly infestation occurs when flies find a suitable breeding ground with sufficient food and warmth. Common causes include:

• Insufficiently closed waste bins or containers
• Rotting organic material (meat, fruit, food scraps)
• Dead animals (e.g. mice or birds in cavity walls)
• Humid weather and high temperatures, which accelerate reproduction
• Poor hygiene or insufficient ventilation

What can you do about a fly plague?

Find and remove the source

• Check trash cans, crawl spaces, basements, kitchens, garages and outdoor areas.
• Immediately remove food scraps, animal products and rotting material.
• Check for dead animals in or around the house.

Preventive measures

• Keep doors and windows closed or fit them with screens.
• Store food in sealed containers.
• Clean waste bins, sinks and floors regularly.
• Cover compost or green waste well.

Professional pest control
Is the source difficult to find or does the problem persist? Then it is advisable to call in a professional pest control company. They can specifically track down the source and combat it effectively with resources that are not available to private individuals.

Conclusion
A fly infestation is a nuisance and in some cases a health risk. Early detection, thorough hygiene and quick action are crucial to prevent worse. The sooner you tackle the cause, the easier it is to get the infestation under control.