Blow Fly Facts
When imagining a larger species of flies, the kind you might see at the beach, blow flies are probably the kind you’re thinking of. They may not be a nuisance since they do not feed off of human blood, but they are certainly a concern for us given their relative lack of sanitation. Given their habit of breeding on decomposing animals or food, they have earned a bad reputation as a species known to spread bacteria and pathogens.
It would also seem that no part of the U.S. is safe from these flying pests, as they have been found in every state consistently. Since prevention can be difficult, treatment or removal of breeding sites is vital in stopping large amounts of blow flies from disturbing your home or property.
Blow Fly Bites
Because of their blunt mouthparts blow flies do not bite. Their mouthparts serve as a mop. They can’t consume solid food, so they use digestive fluids to break down food until it is in liquid form before consuming it.
Blow Fly Life Cycle
When developing, the female bottle fly lays eggs on decomposing meat or food, allowing for the maggot to feed once they begin to develop. Most active in the summer and spring, these flies have a preference for warm, humid weather.
The majority of the lifecycle of the bottle fly is spent developing and preparing to continue on the reproduction of its species. As such a lot of the food it eats, is the same food its egg is laid on. Females will search out decomposing animals or meat (often from your house) and lay her eggs on top of it. As they develop into the maggot stage, they will feed off of whatever food or martial it is laid on, consuming great amounts of it considering their size.
Blow flies are not known to be aggressive towards humans, but boy can they be annoying. In their search for food or locations to lay eggs they will often buzz around your house to no end. Attempts to swat or kill do not typically aggravate them, but it further doesn’t deter them very much. It’s best to rid yourself of these flies before they become a persistent nuisance around your house.
Types of Blow Flies
Blow Fly Identification
Commonly described as:bottle fly, metallic fly, greenish bluish fly.
The easiest way to identify a blow fly is its metallic, greenish color along the top of its body. In many cases the eyes will appear tinted red as well. While most times larger than your typical housefly, the bottle fly is still fairly small, and almost always under half an inch in size.
Blow Flies In The Home
Blow flies in your home are just as willing to set up shop and lay eggs in your garbage as they are elsewhere. They also may be driven inside homes to avoid rain or other inclement weather. Keep an eye on your garbage cans (both in and out of the house) as well as your kitchen where food scraps are often left unattended.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you prevent blow flies infestations?
Prevention can be difficult with these flies, as you will likely not know they have laid eggs near your home until they are developed and swarming around. To keep them out of the house, be sure to wrap any decomposing food in tin foil before disposing in the trash, and keep screens on windows shut.
This wrapping of food will further help in preventing blow flies from accumulating around your garbage cans, another place they like to breed. Should you find a dead and decomposing animal near or on your property, keep in mind these flies may soon follow. As such proper disposal of the carcass is advised, but don’t try to handle this yourself without proper sanitation and protection from disease/ bacteria. You may want to consider calling animal control to remove the carcass, and think of it as a proactive step to prevent pests around your home.
When trying to rid your property or home of blow flies remember to use some sort of protection (be it a glove or a fly-swatter). The last thing you want is to pick up bacteria from a fly just because you used your hands to knock it out of the air!
What are the benefits of professional blow fly pest control?
A pest management professional has the education, equipment and skills necessary to effectively address a blow fly problem. Finding and treating the blow flies can be challenging, especially if they are spread throughout your house. A pest management professional provides their expertise to identify the pest problem and determine the best possible solution to resolve the blow flies infestation.
