Houseflies are the most common fly species found in houses with them tending to buzz around during the warmer months of the year.
And with Glasgow's weather seeing temperatures soar to their mid-twenties, we will be seeing more and more of them over the next few months.
So to help tackle these buzzing irritants, the Express spoke to a pest control expert who revealed what the most common types of flies are.
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Jordan Foster from Fantastic Pest Control explained: “House flies, fruit flies and drain flies are the three types of flies most commonly seen inside houses.”
The differences between fruit flies and house flies, however, is “their appearance, size, behaviour, and preferred habitats”.
“Fruit flies are smaller, measuring about 3-4mm, while house flies are larger, usually around 6-7mm. The body of fruit flies is tan to brownish with red eyes, while the body of house flies is grey with red eyes.
“Fermenting and decaying fruits and vegetables attract fruit flies. It is common to find them near overripe fruits. House flies are drawn to organic materials, which include food scraps, garbage, and faeces,” he added.
Why do house flies hang around the house?
Jordan said: “It is primarily due to food sources and organic materials commonly found indoors that house flies infest houses.
“Their keen sense of smell allows them to detect odours from a long distance. Whenever there is organic waste present in a garbage bin or compost pile, flies are attracted to them.
“House flies breed in moist environments. They are attracted to standing water, leaky pipes, and drains.
“Summer is generally when flies are more prevalent. Regions and climates can influence the exact timing, though. As temperatures rise and food sources become more available, their population increases.
House flies are known for flying in circles underneath lights or lampshades, and Jordan revealed why they do this: “Flying circles under lights or lampshades is a behaviour known as phototaxis. Flies instinctively move toward lamps and lampshades.
“Flies also exhibit negative phototaxis, avoiding direct, intense light. As a result, flies often hover or circle lights instead of flying into them directly.”
How do you get rid of flies?
Smells
“The strong scent of essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, and citronella repels flies,” Jordan said. “Using these oils in diffusers, sprays, or soaking cotton balls and placing them in areas where flies are a nuisance will help eliminate them.
“Using vinegar as a repellent for flies can be effective. Spraying a mixture of water and white vinegar around the house or using it to clean surfaces will discourage flies from lingering.
“Some herbs and spices, including basil, mint, rosemary, and cloves, repel flies with their strong aromas.”
Plants
“Certain plants can deter flies with their natural fragrances,” he added.
“Flies are repelled by the sweet scent of lavender. By planting lavender bushes or placing dried lavender sachets near windows and doors, flies can be discouraged from entering.
“Flies tend to avoid mint because of its strong scent, particularly spearmint and peppermint. Marigolds have a characteristic smell that makes flies avoid them. Marigolds can be planted in garden beds and used in pots near entrances to deter flies.
“A rosemary plant's aromatic scent can repel flies. In pots or as part of your landscaping, rosemary plants can serve as natural insect deterrents.”
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