Using a mallet to swat at a fly may seem like an extreme form of managing these pesky (and filthy critters!) but if my warning finger is not enough, I do have my trusty mallet which frankly can also get the job done – permanently, if you know what I mean!
With the Memorial Day weekend coming up – the official start of summer in the West –, my colleagues at Western Exterminator and I want to share some helpful information on preventing the number one annoyance for picnickers and al fresco dining enthusiasts alike (aside from a burned filet mignon!) – FLIES!
There are several species of flies that home and business owners in California, Arizona and Nevada may encounter as the summer season starts to heat up. They include the house fly, little house fly, phorid fly, blow and bottle flies, and the fruit fly.
Aside from being a nuisance to backyard party goers and restaurant patio guests, flies pose a serious health threat for consumers and to QA managers of food service, storage and processing facilities, and hospitality venues such as restaurants and amusement parks.
Flies aren’t known to get top marks in the hygiene department, and for good reason. They transmit disease and contaminate food with bacteria and other disease-producing organisms.
Did you know that flies spit out both ends when they land? If that isn’t disgusting enough, in addition to excreting and regurgitating, they also have sticky pads on their legs that help transmit disease organisms, especially the ones that spend most of their days hanging around filth.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in six (or 48 million) Americans becomes sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases that flies and other pests transmit. Needless to say flies are revolting with a capital R!
Flies are the ultimate garbage disposal. They love human food, but also think excrement and waste is pretty tasty. For the record, if you’re in need of a good recipe for grilled chicken or pasta salad, I wouldn’t resort to asking a fly.
The keys to getting any fly infestation under control are sanitation, and identifying the source of the infestation and breeding sites.
The fly management professionals at Western Exterminator recommend home and business owners follow these “Eight Tips to Reduce Flies”:
- Use tight-fitting closures for garbage and recycling receptacles, and be sure to empty, clean, and dry them regularly.
- When serving food outdoors cover the food securely when it is not being served.
- Keep food preparation, storage and serving areas clean of grease spills, crumbs and other food particles; this will help curb the attraction.
- Check window screens and door seals to make sure there are no openings that give flies access.
- In commercial facilities, use air doors and door sweeps to keep flies out.
- Position large dumpsters away from public areas and have them emptied on a regular basis – nothing draws a crowd of flies like rotting food (disgusting!).
- Keep a positive, outgoing airflow in your facility. This means when you open doors the air is pushing out making it harder for flies to enter. Check with your heating and cooling service provider for more information.
- Eliminate standing water near doorways and switch off any unnecessary lights as both are fly attractants.
Have a question about flies? I would like to hear it. Send me an e-mail at AskMrLittle@WesternExterminator.com. I’ll get back to you right away with more information and to set up a no-cost inspection.
As we enjoy our Memorial Day holiday, I urge you to take a moment to remember that freedom is not free. On behalf of our Western Exterminator team I’d like to offer a special tip of my Top Hat salute to all of those who have served our great nation and given the ultimate sacrifice. May we never take them for granted; let’s fly our flag proudly in their honor.
Until next time, thanks for making Western Exterminator Company “The Final Word in Pest Control®”
Have a pest free day.
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