The blow fly may have a place in literary history - it's been mentioned in Shakespearean plays - but that doesn't mean it's welcome in businesses that involve food preparation, meat production sites or homes.
Some people may confuse them with horse flies, which are in the same fly family. Like horse flies, blow flies are larger than standard house flies and have an iridescent green, blue or brown body. Unlike some flying insects, like carpenter bees, these pests aren't interested in structures. Their favorite target is rotting meat and other decayed organic matter found in garbage and manure.
That may explain why they're the most common flies found hovering over dead animals, on which they lay their eggs. In populated areas, they're likely to be drawn to meat processing plants, garbage dumps and slaughterhouses. But any rotting matter can attract them, so houses aren't spared if they're located near one of these businesses or if homeowners have treated their own garbage disposal casually.
As with most pest management, improved sanitation habits and elimination of trash that attracts blow flies is crucial. Emptying and cleaning trash receptacles weekly is important to prevent a blow fly infestation.
If an infestation should occur, the best step that business owners can take is to call professionals like Abell Pest Control who handle the toughest pest removal cases. By then, killing adult flies won't be enough - a thorough analysis of the pest problem followed by a treatment plan and continued maintenance of disposal areas will be needed.
If there's an unusually large number of blow flies around a property that's nowhere near a meat production plant or similar business, their influx is likely a sign that there's a dead rodent or bird on the premises. The typical places to check are the interior of walls, crawl spaces, cabinets and under major appliances. Usually, if flies are found inside the covers of overhead lights, that's an indication that they're emerging from the ceiling or a wall.
Business owners should observe the same high standards in cleanliness as they practice pest control to prevent rodents or cockroaches from overrunning their premises. Screening on doors and windows are strong deterrents to the flies, as are tight-fitting lids for all garbage cans and dumpsters. Monitoring high-moisture areas, water drainage and leaks, which can also attract the flies, are other measures that can be taken to discourage blow flies from taking up residence.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
