Flies are common house pests that many homeowners live with at some time or another. But it doesn’t have to be that way. They are a big annoyance, plus they can spread disease. Don’t let them set up shop in your home. Let’s go over how to identify common types of flies found in Nashville, the negative impact fly infestations can have in your house, and why you should work with a professional pest control company in Nashville to rid your home of flies quickly and safely.

What Types of Flies Are in My House?

There are many types of flies common to the Nashville area, including:

• House flies
• Blow flies
• Flesh flies
• Cluster flies
• Fruit flies

The house fly is the most common and the most easily recognizable due to their dark gray color. They measure between 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long, have an oval shape and four dark stripes with red compound eyes.

Fruit flies, the next common, are tan or yellow in color with a black and gray abdomen, measuring only 1/8 of an inch long. Just like house flies, they also sport oval-shaped bodies with compound red eyes.

Flesh flies measure ½ an inch in length, featuring a checker-board pattern on their abdomens. They like to eat garbage, fresh manure, and animal carcasses and are most active in the warmer months. Only alive for two to four weeks, the best fly management approach is to maintain good sanitation practices.

Blow flies are metallic green or blue in color, and are most active in spring and summer. They like to eat rotting meat and dead animals, and also only live for two to four weeks. Cluster flies are similar house flies, but are a bit bigger and move more slowly. They like to eat earthworms as parasites and are most active in spring and fall months. They live between four and six weeks.

There is another category of flies and that includes biting flies, which attack humans and livestock. They range from sand flies to horse flies to black flies and they can be the worst offenders due to their sting.

Health Risks and Concerns

Flies are problematic insects that will spread disease wherever they go, and have the ability to transfer more than 100 different harmful pathogens. Those include typhoid, salmonellosis, and tuberculosis. Defecating almost constantly, flies contaminate any surface they come into contact with.

How to Prevent Flies From Returning

Good hygiene and sanitation practices will be needed to prevent a return of the flies:

• Regularly clean trash cans and counters
• Ensure window and door screens are working properly with no holes
• Clean up pet waste and leftover food immediately
• Store food in tightly-sealed containers
• Take the trash out right away, especially when it contains rotting meat

Follow these tips to protect yourself and your family from the wrath of flies. Call us if you need help!

Fly Control in Nashiville, TN

Get a free quote and inspection on fly infestation in Nashville when you contact us at 615-502-2855.