Baits and Master Fly

The house fly (Musca domestica) – man’s “best friend”

Gal Cohen – Expert pest control consultant

Flies…undoubtedly the most annoying pest of all insects found in human surroundings. Hanging out in the garden or eating together by the table at home with a “friendly” fly hovering above is an experience we would gladly forego. The house fly, is one of the most common fly species in the world. It doesn’t bite (some species do), but is a real nuisance for man and the animals around him, and moreover, tampers with hygiene and sanitation standards in kitchens, factories, restaurants, and people’s homes. Flies feed on our leftover food, on waste and on animal feces, so when they visit human habitats, in order to reach our food, they might transmit different intestinal diseases. Many studies have already proven a rise in diseases in the same areas where the house fly is in close contact with humans.

The housefly (Musca domestica), is part of the Muscidae family and breeds wherever humans can be found.

Habitat: an organic platform rich with proteins and 40% humid, waste, dumpsters with rot at the bottom, chicken dung, cow dung, feces. Chicken coops, cowsheds, agricultural fields with unprocessed and exposed organic compost, compost sites and neglected composters. Body features: gray, with four dark stripes along its chest. 5-7 mm long. Life cycle: the life cycle of a fly to adulthood depends on the temperature, and during the summer lasts 6-12 days. The lifespan of an adult fly depends on the surrounding conditions and lasts 1 to 3 weeks. The development of larvae and pupae stops under 12-15 degrees (Celsius), and all stages cannot develop in over 45 degrees. Seasons: all year round, reaching its peak in spring and autumn.

Reducing the menace:

• Hygiene – keep the living habitat clean, dumpsters with lids, make sure to use containers with the right capacity to prevent overflow. In warmer regions, make sure waste is collected frequently and keep the bottom of dumpsters clean from liquid and rot residue. Washing the municipal dumpster from time to time is recommended. We recommend placing FLY-IN fly baits close to the dumpsters.
• Installing fly screens on windows, turning on the air condition and powerful ventilators to lower the temperature and create gusts of wind which will stop the flies from flying around and settling in one place.
• Treat every visible menace, whether it’s in the house, the garden, or in public areas surrounding the house, before it develops into a more substantial menace.
• Exterminate the adult flies with insecticides such as FLY-OFF or MASTER-FLY.