News & Articles

Common Pests In Airdrie

Posted on December 7, 2020

Flies are the most common and arguably most annoying pest to deal with. Almost everyone has had a blowfly, house fly, or fruit fly hang around their home. While more annoying than harmful, they each bring the potential risk of carrying disease, which is why prevention and eradication are key.

Today we are talking about everything flies, from their subtle differences to, most important, how to get rid of them, including when to seek professional pest control services in Airdrie.

Behaviour

Animal carcasses are the prime location for blowflies to breed. Maggots will become an adult in a matter of a few days. A female blowfly can lay 250 eggs at one time, which is why it doesn’t take long for infestation.

Prevention

If you have a blowfly infestation, you may scratch your head. Why would they be in my home if they’re attracted to dead animals? Blowflies could be a sign of a bigger problem. You may have a dead rodent or animal in your attic, between the walls, or in the chimney. Or, you might have forgotten about a rodent trap you set up in the attic. If this is the case, pest control services will handle the problem.

If wildlife isn’t the issue, it may be your pet’s feces. Cleaning up animal feces from the backyard will help prevent attracting blowflies onto your property.

Garbage is another area that blowflies love. It should always be sealed tightly, and make sure your garbage bins are free of residue or moisture.

Blowflies will lay eggs in rotting organic matter. Compost bins, grass clippings or decaying fruit on the ground in your yard can attract this pest. Keeping your yard clean will prevent damp, rotting environments that attract the blowfly.

Eradication

Blowflies enter homes when the temperature drops. Sealing windows and doors will prevent the annoyance of hearing them buzz against the window.

If there are only a few inside your home, a fly swatter should do the trick. Flytraps are a no-mess, no-touch option that you can place throughout your home.

Housefly

The house fly is dark grey in appearance, and as their name states, prefer warm homes. They don’t bite but can carry up to 100 different kinds of disease-causing germs.

Behaviour

House flies move fast. Female house flies will lay up to 500 eggs in several batches, which is why it can be tricky to get rid of them once they enter your home.

Prevention

Female house flies will lay their eggs in warm moist material. Garbage, decaying fruits and vegetables, or animal manure make ideal breeding environments. Ensure your windows and doors have mesh screens to prevent any insects from entering your home. House flies are attracted to the same things blowflies are, and keeping your property clean is one of the best ways to prevent infestation.

Eradication

Like the blowfly, fly swatters, or flytraps should do the job. Insecticides can also help mitigate the problem.

Fruit Fly

The fruit fly is about 3mm in size, making them tiny pests that are still easy to see with the human eye. Like all pests, they are irritating, and it can take some time to get rid of them. Fruit flies are most common during late summer and fall when ripened fruit and vegetables are most likely to be sitting on your countertops.

Behaviour

Wherever there is food, there will be fruit flies. They are most often found in homes, restaurants, and grocery stores. They will lay their eggs in fermenting foods or other organic material. A fruit fly can lay approximately 500 eggs, making this type of pest harder to deal with the longer you wait. Besides the food sources, fruit flies also enter drains, mop buckets, garbage containers, or empty cans and bottles. Just like other breeds of flies, fruit flies also find moist areas an ideal place to live and breed.

Prevention

Eliminating sources of fruit fly attraction is the easiest way to prevent them from entering your home. Keep food in the refrigerator or discard inedible food. Keep compost containers outside or tightly sealed. If you enjoy making beer, cider, kombucha, or sourdough bread, ensure the lid is sealed tightly shut.

Keep cleaning tools like mops clean and dry to avoid moisture. We also advise regular cleaning of drains.

Eradication

Even if you take all precautions, pests can still find a way into your home. If you find this pest in your home, eliminate the source as soon as possible. This could mean a rotting banana on your countertop or empty soda cans left out.

Fruit fly traps are an affordable option that works well and are non-toxic. You can leave them out on your countertop to reduce the number of flies within a few days.

Patience is key. Unfortunately, you cannot get rid of fruit flies overnight. Depending on the environmental conditions and how bad the infestation is, it typically takes two to four weeks to get rid of fruit flies. If you are using traps but feel the problem is getting worse, it may be time to call for help.

At home tips may be helpful, but sometimes it isn’t enough to get rid of pests. If you feel you’ve tried everything and the situation is getting out of control, it might be time to call pest control services in Airdrie.

Do you have a pest that needs to be dealt with by a professional? Martin’s Pest Control is Airdrie and Calgary’s leading pest control company. Contact us today to request a quote.