Flies

The true flies are insects of the order Diptera (meaning: two winged) and include common pests like houseflies, lesser house flies, blowflies, cluster flies, midges, crane flies, fruit flies and other pest species that enter our homes and workplaces.

Flies are vectors of a large number of diseases including gastroenteritis, dysentery, typhoid, polio, salmonella and tuberculosis. Others, such as sandflies, are a direct irritant, biting humans and sometimes causing painful reactions.

Numerous bristles on the flies' legs pick up and distribute germ laden particles wherever they go from rotten animal waste to your sandwich.

In warmer climates, breeding continues throughout the year. Eggs are laid in moist decaying animal or vegetable matter and animal waste. The maggots (larvae) of flies feed voraciously on the food matter before pupating and emerging as adult flies.

House Flies

• House Flies: The most common pest flies in homes. Adult house flies are 8-12 mm long. Their thorax is grey or sometimes black, with four longitudinal dark lines on the back. Eyes are usually dark red. House flies feed on liquid or semi-liquid substances. Solid material is softened by saliva or vomit before ingestion. House flies will eat many types of food but usually feed on rotting vegetable matter such as composting lawn clippings and manure. Because of their large intake of food house flies deposit faeces constantly; one of the factors that makes the insect a dangerous carrier of pathogens. House flies are active only during the day and rest in corners or hanging items at night. Preferred resting places can be identified by the build-up of "fly specks," light coloured spots formed from regurgitated fluid and darker faecal spots.
• Lesser House Flies: Smaller than ‘standard’ house flies they are 4-6 mm long. The first two segments of the abdomen are dark brown and translucently yellow surface. Lesser house fly is known for its habit of entering buildings and flying in an angular circling flight path near the middle of rooms, often around hanging items such as lights. They may continue this flying all day and only land on surfaces at night. This makes them a little more difficult to control using a surface treatment alone.
• Both types of house flies breed in decaying matter, so search for these breeding sites around the affected buildings and remove the source or treat with NO Bugs Super.

Blow Flies

• Also known as blue bottle and green bottle flies have shinny metallic looking bodies and are larger than houseflies and are associated with rotten meat where their eggs are laid and the larvae (maggots) feed before pupating and emerging as adult flies. An infestation of blow flies suggests a dead animal carcass in the vicinity e.g. a dead rat in the roof space. Check for possible sources and carry out treatment as suggested above.

Fruit Flies

• The habits of fruit flies are so different to regular flies, we recommend you visit the fruit fly page to find out more about them. 

Cluster Flies

• Cluster flies are unique in the way that they breed, swarm and behave. Visit the cluster fly page for more information.

Easy DIY Fly Control Programme