Council services
Flies
Flies can live for 2 to 3 days without food. If they were not controlled around the world, they could cover the whole planet 18 inches deep in one season.
Fly species
There are many species of fly in the UK, but those that occur in the largest numbers and cause the most concern are:
- House Fly
- Cluster Fly
- Fruit Fly
House Fly
The common house fly - Musca domestica - is one of the most common of all insects. It is distributed world-wide and in just 2 weeks, one fly may lay more than 1000 eggs. The eggs are laid in any form of warm organic matter such as, animal excrement, kitchen refuse, lawn clippings.
The eggs are laid in clusters of about 100 and hatch within 24 hours into maggots, pupation takes place 4 to 6 days later and the adult fly emerges after about 3 days in ideal conditions. The adult fly rarely lives for more than a week or 2. The house fly is black and about 1/4 inch long its body is covered with fine hairs and bristles which readily pick up dirt particles. The sex of a house fly can be determined by the distance between their eyes - females are wider - and the female is usually larger than the male.
Cluster Fly
Cluster flies are the species of fly most often found in large numbers in roof spaces during the autumn, winter and early spring. Generally the flies arrive in the autumn. They land on warm, south facing walls and retreat indoors until after the winter. They usually end up in the attic, however when flat roofs, wall tiles or weather boards become obstacles this is when the flies may be found in bedrooms, light fittings etc.
Fruit Fly
Fruit flies look like very tiny house flies. Large numbers may occur for example where a piece of fruit has become over ripe, especially if it is left lying in a neglected space.
They may also occur in large numbers from sources such as:
- Old beer and wine bottles containing a few drops and being stored for recycling/re-use
- Beer/wine making buckets/containers
- Materials kept for composting
- Kitchen areas left permanently moist and where there is organic contamination e.g. waste traps, sink units etc.
Diseases
All flies are capable of transmitting diseases to humans. They have been shown to carry Salmonella and other organisms which cause Typhoid Fever, Cholera, Dysentery, Tuberculosis, Anthrax, Opthalmia as well as Parasitic Worms.
Control of flies
The best method of fly control is good housekeeping. Mechanical methods of control are preferred in food premises these include screening to windows and doors, air blast doors, U.V. light traps and the good old fashioned fly paper. Chemical control measures are available to kill fly larvae and the adult insects. Great care should be taken when using any form of chemicals near food.
