| We know how it goes.. You've just settled into your | | | | compost heaps should be screened off or contained |
| warm, comfy bed and as you begin drifting off into a | | | | in tubs. Look around for loose organic materials and |
| peacefull slumber you're suddenly dive-bombed... | | | | spills. |
| BZZT! Now you've got to get up, turn on the light | | | | Inside of your home, organic waste should be drained |
| and kung-fu battle a kamikaze fly before you can go | | | | and wrapped in newspaper prior to throwing into the |
| to sleep... great. This article will have you playing | | | | trash. The paper will help to dry out the waste - flies |
| midnight-fly-assasin much less frequently. | | | | can't breed in dry waste. Make sure your trash can |
| 1. Eliminate the sources of the fly infestation | | | | has a tightly fitting lid, and tie the bag completely |
| All fly infestations can be traced back to a source of | | | | shut before transferring to an outside can for trash |
| unprotected organic material. The usual culprits are | | | | pickup. If you have flies breeding in your drains, a |
| improperly handled garbage, animal droppings and | | | | commercial drain cleaner will remove the organic film |
| dead animals. There are tons of different species, all | | | | that they are breeding in. |
| of whom enjoy feasting on different things, but their | | | | Animal waste |
| preferred main courses are not so diverse that we | | | | There's nothing flies seem to like more than a warm |
| need to immediately differentiate them unless you | | | | log straight from your dog... Any animal waste should |
| are unable to remove all of the possible food sources | | | | be picked up and immediately buried or flushed down |
| as outlined in this article. | | | | the toilet. |
| Fly-food and breeding grounds | | | | Decaying flesh |
| The key to reducing any fly population is to identify | | | | Dead and decaying animal flesh can also breed flies - |
| and eradicate the feeding and breeding grounds and | | | | not to mention the horrible smell and appearance. |
| as luck has it, flies lay their eggs in their food. Follow | | | | Search around for dead birds, rodents, squirrels, and |
| along as I walk you through some of the most | | | | road kill. If you locate an unfortunate critter, use a |
| common attractants and explain what you can do | | | | shovel to move it and bury it at least three feet |
| about them. | | | | deep to keep any flies that spawn from it from |
| Garbage and decaying organic matter | | | | reaching the surface. |
| Many filth fly infestations are the result of improperly | | | | Other attractants |
| handled human wastes. Perform a thorough | | | | Some varieties of flies feed on the blood of living |
| inspection of every nearby area that collects organic | | | | creatures. These are a little harder to battle since |
| waste such as garbage cans, dumpsters, and | | | | you can't completely eliminate their food source |
| compost heaps. Flies will feed and breed in any of | | | | (you). Others lay eggs in other insects and earth |
| these places assuming the waste is moist and | | | | worms. These types of flies are better battled with |
| accessible. Make sure all garbage is bagged and | | | | traps and physical barriers like screens and netting. |
| stored in garbage cans with tightly-fitting lids secured | | | | 2. Fly management |
| to the cans. In the case of metal trash cans, a pair | | | | If the source of the flies cannot be effectively |
| of bungee cords can be threaded through the | | | | eliminated then you may want to take more direct |
| handles and over the lid to keep it secure. Dumpster's | | | | countermeasures. This section will show you how to |
| should have hinged lids that are kept closed and | | | | fly-proof your home and kill them off with traps. |