While most people consider house flies to be a nuisance, we have become accustomed to having them in our homes. Many people don’t realize that they can also pose a danger to us.
Identification: Caldwell house flies are ⅛” to ¼” in length. They are a dark grey color with red eyes. Females are usually larger than males. House flies have the annoying habit of buzzing near and landing on humans. Because of this, it is usually easy to determine if you have a house fly infestation. Some other signs of an infestation can include seeing larvae crawling out of their breeding area or hearing the buzzing sound that house flies produce.
Dangers: House flies often land on decaying substances, feces or garbage. They can pick up bacteria and disease on their bodies or legs, and carry it into your house. House flies like to land on food and food preparation areas, leaving behind the bacteria from their bodies. They are known to spread diseases such as diarrhea, salmonella, E. coli, cholera, food poisoning, typhoid, tuberculosis, dysentery, and eye infections. House flies regurgitate their stomach liquid to help with food digestion, and can leave behind fecal spots where they have walked or landed.
Prevention: Caldwell house flies often enter homes in areas of structural damage, or from an open door or window. It is important to seal up any entry points and keep doors and windows shut unless they have a screen to keep the flies out. There are also certain plants you can plant around your house to help repel house flies. Those plants include: mint, nasturtiums, lavender, bay leaf, and basil.
If you have a house fly infestation, don’t hesitate to call Get Lost Pest Control! Our friendly technicians will work to quickly and effectively eliminate your house fly infestation.
