It happens every year, as soon as the weather warms up. You start noticing them – flies buzzing around inside your house. They seem to appear out of nowhere, annoying you as they hover near your face and land on your food. If you’re wondering, “How Are Flies Getting In My House?”, you’re not alone. This is a common problem for homeowners, especially during spring and summer.
Understanding how flies enter your home is the first step to effectively controlling them. Are they sneaking through open doors, exploiting tiny cracks, or are they breeding somewhere unseen within your property? Let’s delve into the common entry points and reasons behind these unwanted guests, and more importantly, what you can do to keep them out.
Understanding the Housefly
Before we discuss entry points, let’s understand a bit about the typical housefly (Musca domestica). These common pests are more than just a nuisance; they can pose health risks.
- Short Lifespan: Houseflies live for about 15 to 25 days.
- Daytime Activity: They are most active during the day, seeking food and warmth.
- Indoor Hangouts: Inside your home, they can be found on floors, walls, ceilings, and especially windows.
- Window Attraction: Flies are often drawn to windows not because they are trying to escape, but primarily for the warmth. Once at the window, they can become disoriented in their search for food.
- Outdoor Resting Spots: Outside, flies may rest on plants, fences, garbage cans, and the ground.
- Temperature Influence: Temperature and air currents play a role in their entry. On hot days, they seek cool air from air conditioning, and on cooler days, they are attracted to warm air escaping from your house.
Housefly on a window
What Do Houseflies Look Like?
Identifying a housefly is quite straightforward:
- Color: Dark gray.
- Size: Between 1/8” to 1/4” long.
- Features: Six legs, antennae, a small oval body, and two wings that overlap on their back.
- Larvae: Housefly larvae are known as maggots – small, creamy white, rice-like creatures found in decaying organic matter.
These flies are prevalent across the United States, and their larvae are a common sight in garbage and compost.
Why Are Flies in Your House? The Allure of Your Home
Houseflies are primarily driven by survival, and your home, unfortunately, offers several things they need:
- Food Source: Your kitchen, pantry, and even pet food bowls are potential buffets for flies. They are attracted to anything edible, especially sweet substances, food spills, and leftovers.
- Smell: Houseflies have a strong sense of smell. Odors from garbage, pet waste, and decaying matter can draw them to your property and subsequently into your house.
Essentially, your home provides food, shelter, and sometimes breeding grounds, making it an attractive environment for flies.
Key Entry Points: How Flies Invade Your Home
Now, let’s address the core question: “How are flies getting in my house?” Flies are small and opportunistic, finding their way inside through various openings:
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Open Doors and Windows: This is the most obvious entry point. Flies can simply fly in through unprotected doorways and windows, especially when attracted by indoor lights or food smells. Leaving doors or windows open, even for short periods, is an invitation for flies.
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Damaged Screens: Screens on doors and windows are your first line of defense. However, if these screens are torn, ripped, or improperly fitted, they become ineffective. Even small holes can be large enough for flies to squeeze through. Regularly inspect and repair any damage to your window and door screens.
Housefly on a window -
Cracks and Gaps: Flies can exploit even the smallest cracks and gaps in your home’s structure. Check around doors and window frames, vents, utility penetrations (pipes, cables), and sealed areas. Gaps in siding, foundation cracks, and unsealed areas around pipes provide easy access for flies.
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Plumbing Systems and Drains: Some types of flies, like drain flies (though not houseflies), breed in the moist organic matter that accumulates in drains. While houseflies themselves are not drain flies, plumbing systems can still be entry points, especially if drain traps are dry or damaged, allowing flies from sewer systems to enter.
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Following Scents: Flies are highly attracted to odors. The smell of pet food, garbage (especially if kept indoors or near entrances), and outdoor cooking areas (like grills) can lure flies closer to your house, increasing their chances of finding an entry point.
The Housefly Life Cycle: From Egg to Adult
Understanding the housefly life cycle helps in comprehending how infestations can quickly develop:
- Egg: Flies lay eggs in decaying organic matter such as garbage, manure, and rotting food.
- Larva (Maggot): Eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) that feed on the breeding material.
- Pupa: After feeding, larvae develop into pupae, undergoing transformation.
- Adult: Adult flies emerge from the pupae, ready to reproduce and continue the cycle.
This rapid life cycle, especially in warm conditions, means a small number of flies entering your home can quickly lead to a larger population if breeding sources are available.
Disease Spread: Why Fly Control is Important
Houseflies are not just annoying; they are vectors for disease. They carry over 100 pathogens, spreading them through:
- Contamination: Flies land on garbage, feces, and rotting materials, picking up bacteria and viruses. They then transfer these pathogens to food, surfaces, and utensils in your home.
- Regurgitation and Defecation: Flies often regurgitate partially digested food and defecate frequently, wherever they land, further contaminating surfaces.
- Egg Laying: Flies lay eggs in unsanitary places, contributing to the spread of pathogens in breeding areas.
Diseases that houseflies can transmit include salmonella, E. coli, typhoid fever, and numerous others. This is why controlling houseflies is crucial for maintaining a healthy home environment.
Houseflies vs. Cluster Flies: Knowing the Difference
While we are primarily discussing houseflies, you might encounter cluster flies as well. It’s helpful to distinguish between them:
- Houseflies: Feed on filth, spread diseases, and are attracted to garbage and decaying matter.
- Cluster Flies: Larger and clumsier than houseflies. They are less associated with filth, feeding mainly on plant matter and nectar. Cluster flies do not typically spread diseases and are more of a nuisance due to their sheer numbers when they congregate (cluster). They often enter homes in the fall to overwinter.
Knowing which type of fly you are dealing with can sometimes influence control strategies, although many general prevention methods are effective against both.
Effective Housefly Control Measures
Preventing flies from entering your house and controlling them once they are inside involves a multi-pronged approach:
1. Maintain a Clean and Sanitary Home
Cleanliness is paramount in preventing fly infestations. Depriving flies of food and breeding sources is the most sustainable control method.
- Frequent Trash Disposal: Empty kitchen trash cans daily, especially if they contain food waste.
- Clean Trash Cans: Regularly clean and sanitize both indoor and outdoor trash cans to eliminate odors and residue that attract flies.
- Cover Food and Drinks: Store food in airtight containers and cover drinks to prevent flies from accessing them.
- Clean Spills and Crumbs: Promptly clean up any food spills and crumbs on tables, countertops, and floors.
- Secure Outdoor Trash: Ensure outdoor trash cans have tight-fitting lids to contain odors and prevent fly access.
- Seal Entry Points: Seal cracks, gaps, and openings around doors, windows, vents, and utility lines. Repair or replace damaged window and door screens.
- Rinse Recyclables: Rinse out bottles and cans before placing them in recycling bins to remove sugary residues that attract flies.
- Yard Cleanliness: Clean up pet waste in your yard regularly. Dispose of any decaying fruit or vegetable matter from gardens or compost piles properly.
- Food Storage: Don’t leave food sitting out, including pet food. Store pet food in sealed containers and clean pet bowls regularly.
- Clean Grills: Regularly clean outdoor grills to remove food debris and grease buildup.
2. Utilize Biological Controls
Natural predators can help manage fly populations:
- Spiders and Wasps: Spiders and wasps are natural predators of flies. While you might not want an abundance of them indoors, their presence in moderation can help control flies. Consider tolerating spiders in less frequented areas and avoid disturbing wasp nests near your property (unless they pose a direct threat).
- Parasitic Wasps: These tiny wasps are natural enemies of flies and often go unnoticed. They parasitize fly pupae, helping to reduce fly populations.
- Predatory Plants: Venus flytraps and other carnivorous plants can capture flies. While they won’t solve a major infestation, they can be a supplementary control method, especially for indoor flies.
3. Professional Pest Control
For persistent or severe fly infestations, professional pest control services are often the most effective solution.
- Expert Identification: Pest control professionals can accurately identify the type of fly and potential breeding sources.
- Targeted Treatments: They can apply targeted treatments to eliminate flies and their breeding sites, including areas you might miss, such as wall voids, drains, and attics.
- Preventive Strategies: Pest control companies can also offer advice and implement preventive measures to keep flies from returning.
Warning: If using pesticides, always follow label directions carefully and prioritize safety. Store pesticides out of reach of children and pets.
Stop Flies at the Entry Point
Understanding “how are flies getting in my house?” is crucial for effective fly control. By focusing on sanitation, sealing entry points, and considering professional help when needed, you can significantly reduce fly problems and enjoy a more pest-free home. Taking proactive steps to prevent flies from entering is always more effective than dealing with an infestation once it takes hold.
