How Flies Spread Disease and Ways to Get Rid of Them

There are more than 7700 species of flies in Australia, one of the most common being the housefly (Musca domestica). Flies live for up to three weeks and are particularly active in warmer weather. A female fly can deposit about 500 eggs over her lifetime, that's a lot of flies! They can be found breeding in all matter of organic matter including food for human consumption.

Flies can Spread Disease

There is no doubt that flies are annoying, but more importantly, they can pose a threat to the health of humans and domestic animals. Gerozisis et al. (2008) state “Diseases that can be spread by flies include salmonella food-poisoning, dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera, hepatitis, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, various parasitic worms and many others.” These are good reasons why there is a need to reduce fly population numbers.

Some Strategies to Keep Flies Out

There are some simple things that everyone can do to keep flies out of homes and businesses, most relate to reducing the availability of suitable breeding sites.

• Ensure proper disposal of organic matter,reducing the places where houseflies lay eggs
• Place rubbish in garbage bags and tie securely, and cleaning rubbish bins regularly
• Keep windows screened
• In food-handling premises, place air curtains/exhaust(blower) systems above doors
• Install doors that open and close mechanically

There are also ways to suppress housefly populations which include ultraviolet light traps, resin strips, and supermarket-bought spray insecticides.

SPM Uses Seclira Pressurised Fly Bait from BASF

The most effective way to suppress housefly populations can only be applied by a qualified and certified professional pest control company like Suburban Pest Management. Seclira Pressurised Fly Bait from BASF is one of the chemicals in the arsenal at SPM to rid houses and businesses of flies.

BASF have developed Seclira Pressurised Fly Bait to be a ground-breaking, ready-to-use pressurised fly bait, and one of the most effective on the market today. It comes in a ready-to-use pressurised spray, is applied to surfaces where flies feed and rest, and works best on non-porous surfaces. It dries colourless and with little odour.

It is not a conventional residual spray and does not work by flies contacting a sprayed surface. Attractants within the bait means that flies are unable to resist and will attempt to feed on treated surfaces.

It can be applied to surfaces as a spot or band treatment to control nuisance flies in seconds and provide up to 6 weeks residual efficacy.

Flies continue to be one of the most problematic pests that we experience each year. You can be reassured that Suburban Pest have the absolute best products available to use when it comes to controlling these annoying pests.

You can check out the Safety Data Sheet on our website if you wish to find out more about Seclira Pressurised Fly Bait or any other product that Suburban Pest uses.

At SPM, our local technicians have years of experience dealing with Brisbane and South East Queensland’s pest populations. For more information about the pest control products and services on offer for both residential and commercial applications, give SPM a call or enquire online today. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Sources:

https://texashelp.tamu.edu/browse/by-type/agriculture-disasters/insects/houseflies/#:~:text=Cultural%20control&text=The%20best%20cultural%20method%20is,clean%20your%20garbage%20cans%20weekly., accessed19/6/20

https://crop-solutions.basf.com.au/products/seclira-pressurised-fly-bait#how-it-works, accessed19/6/20

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housefly#:~:text=The%20housefly%20(Musca%20domestica)%20is,fly%20species%20found%20in%20houses., accessed22/6/20

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320179, accessed22/6/20

Gerozisis, J., Hadlington, P., Staunton, I., 5thEdition 2008, Urban Pest Management in Australia, UNSW Press, Sydney,p.p.169-172