Fly Control Services

Flies in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

Flies are an extremely common nuisance pest all over the world. They’re attracted to garbage and associated with poor sanitation. An increased number of flies doesn’t necessarily mean your home or business is a mess, though; there may just be a nearby food source, such as a dumpster or overfilled trash can, that is attracting the pests. Since they carry germs on their bodies, they can be a big problem for companies in food service.

If you’re dealing with a fly infestation, count on Assured Pest Solutions to get to the bottom of the problem.

Signs of a House Fly Infestation

House flies are attracted to sugary or pungent food sources, water, and light. Swarms of flies are common around decomposing waste, where they can get both food and moisture. Look for fly larvae (maggots) in waste and rotting food. Larvae that go unnoticed in garbage cans or drains can quickly lead to a fly-infested house or business. The small white worms eat hardily for several days before pupating into their adult form.

A fly on a white background.

Fly Pest Control by Lumnia

Assured Pest Solutions is proud to offer the Lumnia fly control system to our clients. These energy-efficient units safely and effectively attract, capture, and kill flies without risk of contamination. The simple design allows your pest control professional to quickly change out lamps, glue boards, or rolls without the messy catch tray.

Lumnia has been carefully engineered to comply with the strictest legal and health-related requirements and is suitable for a variety of industries including restaurants, offices, retail, manufacturing, and more. The low-level LED lights use minimal power and can be easily adjusted to optimize the brightness for your workspace.

Say goodbye to messy fly traps. Contact Assured Pest Solutions to learn more about how Lumnia can cleanly eliminate flies from your business.

Lumnia fly control device.

Close up of flies eating a banana.

Behavior and Diet

House flies can only ingest liquid food. They feed on solid food by regurgitating saliva onto it until the food liquifies. This process demands that flies constantly seek out water for rehydration.

House flies most commonly feed on any material that’s moist, soft, and easily accessible. They’re particularly fond of decaying organic material and fecal matter, as well as fermenting substances like mold and alcohol. They prefer warmer weather and become more active as the temperature rises.

How Flies Reproduce

House flies undergo a complete metamorphosis with egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Under ideal conditions, this life cycle can occur in as few as seven days.

A single female adult fly can lay up to 500 eggs over three or four days. These eggs are typically laid on food sources such as garbage or feces and hatch within eight to 20 hours. The larvae eat the nearby food until they grow large enough to pupate. Metamorphosis takes two to 27 days. Flies emerge from pupae ready to reproduce.

Fly Prevention Strategies

The best way to prevent flies is to impede their ability to reproduce indoors. Don’t leave any type of food out and remove garbage regularly. Keep dumpsters tightly sealed and have your trash chutes cleaned. This reduces the areas where flies might lay eggs.

House flies enter buildings through small cracks around screens, frames, or utility lines. Find and seal these gaps to keep the flies out. Replace damaged screens immediately. Invest in screens for your ventilation systems and exhaust points.

Read our complete blog with actionable tips on reducing flies.

Count on Assured Pest Solutions for Fly Control

Flies are usually nothing more than a nuisance, but in higher numbers, they can be a real problem for certain industries – not to mention very annoying. Getting rid of flies is a multi-step process, but the pros at Assured Pest Solutions make it easy for you with comprehensive inspections and personalized pest control solutions.

Give us a call today to get started with a free inspection!

Fly FAQ

How long do flies live?

Adult flies will live 15-30 days on average. The lifespan of a housefly largely depends on temperature. Flies that develop indoors in warm temperatures will live longer.

How long can a fly live without food?

Without food, and particularly food with sugar, house flies will only last 2-3 days before they die. The females need this sustenance to lay their eggs.

How many eggs do flies lay?

Females are nearly instantly fertile once they emerge as adults. They procreate quickly, laying up to 500 eggs which hatch within 24 hours. If they have enough heat and food, house flies can produce twelve or more generations in a single year.

Do flies transmit diseases?

House flies are considered disease transmitters because they may touch feces or stagnant water and then contaminate food sources. Flies can transmit some 65 diseases including cholera, tuberculosis and typhoid.

What do house flies eat?

Flies are opportunistic but prefer moldy and rotten foods, decomposing matter and animal waste. They can survive without food or water for 2-3 days.

What attracts flies?

Flies are attracted to rotting food and decaying organic matter. This might include spoiled produce, open garbage containers, dead animal carcasses, feces and pet waste, pet food, drain scum and sweet liquids like juice or soda. Flies have an extraordinary sense of smell and can detect rotting food from up to four miles away. They’re also attracted to bright lights.

Why do I have flies in my house?

The most common reason is that they’re seeking sources of food and water. Flies need a steady source of water to be able to digest their food. At night they may be attracted to your lights and in the fall, they may be seeking to escape the cold.

How do flies get in the house?

Flies will use any entry they can find including open doors and windows, holes in screens, cracks in siding and ventilation outlets. Make sure you repair and home fissure and cover openings such as chimneys and vents. A pest control expert can help you locate these entry points.

Where are flies coming from?

Flies lay their eggs in rotting organic matter and animal waste. Once those eggs hatch, the larvae go through three stages of growth before they pupate into adult flies. If you have flies in your home, they are likely hatching nearby in your garbage or compost pile. Outside flies enter via open doors, torn screens and vents.

How to get rid of flies?

Keeping a clean, secure home is your best defense. Keep food covered, remove trash frequently and repair all cracks and gaps. A pest control professional can help identify the source of your infestation, treat against flies and perform more involved treatments like drain cleaning or trash chute cleaning.

Do flies need water?

Because flies can only eat liquid food or food that they liquify, they need a constant supply of water to help break down food matter.