Have you ever heard of the phorid fly? These tiny invaders are a big problem in Parkland. Sometimes referred to as humpback flies, you can think of these pests like fruit flies – only they’re even more attracted to filth.
If you need local phorid fly control, no worries! There are things you can do today to start removing them from your home. Just worried about prevention this winter? We dive into some helpful prevention steps so you can make more educated decisions.
Before we get to the meat and potatoes, let’s back up and take a closer look at the phorid fly.
What Are Phorid Flies? Understanding These Tiny Pests
Phorid flies go by all sorts of names, including unpleasant monikers like scuttle flies and coffin flies. It’s not hard to see why: this type of fly burrows into decaying matter in order to lay eggs.
Once the phorid fly finds a ‘nice’ place to call home, it begins laying its eggs in decomposing material. Eggs hatch into larvae within 24 hours, then develop into pupae in two weeks or less. Adult phorid flies begin this process all over again, although they typically expire in 25 days.
Phorid flies also love living near garbage, sewers, and clogged drains. They may only be 1/64 to 1/8 of an inch long, but they can still cause several problems around your Parkland home.
Let’s look at some of these below.
The Dangers Of Phorid Flies: Health Risks And Property Damage
The vast majority of phorid fly infestations are nuisances at best. The image of scuttling flies in your home is bound to make you and your visitors uncomfortable.
But some phorid fly infestations can be more serious than this, with a few reported cases even spreading bacterial disease. Entomologists know of three different illnesses – conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, and salmonellosis – that swarms of flies can spread.
This, unfortunately, isn’t quite where the story ends. Although extremely rare, phorid flies have been known to burrow into people and pets. This is a very unlikely set of circumstances, but professional entomologists know of a few recorded cases.
As you can see, it’s a good idea to keep phorid flies away from your home. Do you not yet have an active infestation? You can start with some of the prevention steps outlined below.
Preventing Phorid Flies: Tips For A Clean And Fly-Free Environment
If you want to make sure phorid flies stay away from your property, you need to make sure you don’t have any conducive conditions. This means scouring the inside of your home for the following:
Puddles of standing water, especially underneath leaky pipes or near clogged drains. Clogged basement drains are a particular favorite and require constant cleaning to keep phorid flies out.
Damp piles of detritus or rotting organic matter. Any heavily watered potted plants, dirty and damp mop heads, or pet cages with damp blankets or towels can attract phorid flies.
Tiny gaps, cracks, or crevices leading into your home. Minimize these imperfections by sealing up your home using weatherproof caulking. You may also want to invest in weatherstripping, door sweeps, and new screens for doors and windows.
Open garbage piles with soft, organic material (like banana peels or potato skins). You should also move any dumpsters outside to stop curious flies from buzzing too close.
Clogs in your food disposal. Phorid flies love bedding down inside messy garbage disposals, which means regular cleaning and maintenance can go a long way in prevention.
Just keep in mind these are prevention steps only – they’re unlikely to remove an established phorid fly infestation. If you want to learn how to get rid of phorid flies completely, you need to contact the crew at GOTBUGSIKILL for help.
Seeking Professional Help: When To Call The Experts About Phorid Flies
Phorid fly infestations are stressful and isolating and may turn your once-safe refuge into a scary, uncomfortable place. Thankfully, the team at GOTBUGSIKILL would be happy to help with effective phorid fly treatments for homes of any size.
As soon as you notice the signs of a phorid fly infestation, you should call our experts immediately to address the situation. We can quickly inspect your home and any conducive conditions to let you know where the problem is and how we can help.
Ready to kick phorid flies out of your home? Just call GOTBUGSIKILL today. We make it easy to get the long-lasting protection you need with effective phorid fly control for your house.
