Why Are There So Many House Flies In My Houston Home?

There are a variety of species you could be dealing with when it comes to fly activity in your Houston home. The species we see most frequently invading local homes and businesses in that of the house fly. House flies are a type of filth fly, and they can cause a lot of problems around your home. That’s why it’s important to be familiar with these pests.

Appearance-wise, adult house flies are dull gray in color and have black vertical lines on the top of their body. They grow to about 1/8-1/4 of an inch in length. House fly larvae are an off-white color, and they have pointed heads and no appendages. The pupae are dark brown and round in shape, tapering from front to back.

Sources of food draw in house flies, so it makes sense why you can often find them flying around kitchens, bathrooms, and food storage areas. They’re also frequent dwellers in the garbage, manure, and garden areas with fresh fruits and veggies.

Whether you’re dealing with house flies are any other types of flies, it’s good to get professional pest protection. If you’re looking for quality fly control in Houston, you’ve come to the right place. Modern Pest Control has experience in the complete detection, elimination, and prevention of house fly infestation, and we’re eager to help you protect your Houston home.

Do Flies Travel Around In Groups?

We get a lot of questions regarding fly behavior and the types of invaders that Houston homeowners can expect to see at some point. Many customers ask us why they sometimes observe flies traveling around in groups. Depending on the species, different flies travel in different ways and exhibit various behaviors of flight.

For instance, cluster flies and fruit flies are known for forming groups and gathering in one spot for the harborage of food. However, house flies are notoriously solitary insects. While males and females group together to reproduce, they separate quickly after and go on in singles rather than in groups.

Are There Types Of Flies That Will Bite Me?

Another question we receive is about the dangers that come with fly infestation. Most commonly, customers want to know if flies bite. Well, there are some species that bite, such as horse flies, sand flies, deer flies, black flies, and stable flies. The good news is that the common house fly doesn’t bite. That doesn’t mean they don’t pose a threat, however.

While flies have a reputation for being annoying, the real danger is that fly infestation can expose you and your loved ones to a number of health risks. Consider the fact that flies gravitate toward dirty areas rich in fecal matter, dead animals, animal waste, and sewage. Flies gather their nutrients from all kinds of decaying matter, such as rotten food, manure, dumpster trash, garbage bins, and feces.

When flies feed on decaying matter, they pick up various germs and pathogens. Then, they spread these bacteria around, contaminating every surface they land on as they travel. Through this widespread contamination, they put a lot of important things at risk, including your food, countertops, and meal prep areas. They spread germs throughout kitchens and vulnerable surfaces, exposing us to many illnesses and diseases.

There are at least 70 diseases that flies can transmit. Some of the diseases that can result from fly-related contamination include anthrax, cholera, dysentery, leprosy, parasitic worms, poliomyelitis, salmonellosis, tuberculosis, tularemia, typhoid fever, and yaws, just to name a few. If you want to avoid these health conditions, it’s important to address your fly control and prevention needs.

Gross! What's Causing Tons Of Flies To Terrorize My Home?

When it comes to household fly activity, it’s normal to wonder where on earth these unsanitary invaders came from in the first place. Why are they in my home? How did they get here? Well, there are a few answers for that.

Many fly species overwinter as adults, migrating indoors at the end of summer, finding shelter and warmth in our homes to survive through the cold season. Once they find their way in, they remain there for the duration of the winter season, becoming the unwelcome house guests that never seem to leave.

These sneaky pests squeeze through tiny openings of your home, such as tears in window screens, cracks in foundation walls, or gaps under and around doors and windows. They’re skilled at squeezing through crevices in attics and basements, behind baseboards, and hidden areas between the inside and outside walls of your home.

Flies can also find their way into your house when you bring groceries inside or when you open the window for some fresh air. Yes, that means you may have contributed to your own household fly activity. Flies commonly breed in drains, garbage disposals, and hard-to-reach areas, so you never know where more of them may be hiding.

Once the end of winter makes way for warmer days, flies begin to emerge from these hiding places. Once you have a fly problem on your hands, it can be complicated to handle on your own. Not only is it a huge headache, but it also poses a threat to everyone in your home.

Please Help! What Can I Do To Get All These Flies Out Of My Home!

Because fly infestation can cause serious contamination, it’s essential to be as proactive as possible in your fly prevention efforts. To keep flies away from your Houston home, there are a variety of preventative measures you can take to reduce your exposure to flies and the dangers that come with them. Here are some tips to put in place around your home:

Be diligent in wiping down countertops and tables as well as cleaning dishes right after your meal.
Clean up crumbs promptly and store your food properly.
Cover any holes in your siding, and fill gaps around doors and windows.
Eliminate sources of standing water and keep drains clean and clear.
Fix any clogged drains and avoid the buildup of dirty dishes.
Inspect for holes or tears in existing screens and repair them in a timely manner.
Install screens for windows and doors or replace damaged/torn screens.
Install screens over attic vents, and seal off any cracks in your foundation.
Keep your doors and windows closed to prevent flies from entering.
Keep your food in airtight containers or in the fridge to prevent access to flies.
Maintain a high level of cleanliness throughout your home to discourage fly activity.
Never let sugary liquids linger too long to prevent sticky residue from building up.
Promptly clean up any food or drink spills immediately after they happen.
Store garbage outside and make sure outdoor trash bins are tightly covered so flies can’t get in.
Tidy up pet and food waste right away, as flies love to lay eggs in these areas.

These tips can certainly prove to be helpful, but even if you remain diligent about every last detail, the truth is that sometimes flies can find their way into your home anyways. Once you discover a fly infestation in your home, it’s not always easy to eliminate.

When push comes to shove, the most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of fly infestation is to call in the experts to address your fly control and prevention needs. Here at Modern Pest Control, we’re proud to provide extensive, year-round protection from house fly infestation and the presence of other common area fly species.

The team of pest experts at Modern Pest Control uses advanced pest control methods and dependable I.P.M. (Integrated Pest Management) strategies to bring you the latest and greatest in Texas pest control. Since 1952, our independently owned and operated company has remained committed to efficient and effective pest solutions that bring our valued customers the protection they deserve. Our services are proven to last, and we always stand by the work that we do.

We have over 70 years of industry experience, and as a Quality Pro Service provider, we bring a high level of professionalism and expertise to every job we do. Our philosophy is to deliver prompt, personalized pest control using the latest pest control strategies and methods. Our fly control process includes the following steps:

Inspection – Our process begins with a thorough walk-through of the property’s interior and exterior. We conduct the in-depth assessment to determine areas where flies are active, as well as any conducive conditions and potential entry points around your property. We look for any areas with water buildup and old food and garbage sources. After we finish inspecting the premises and detecting the scope of the infestation, we develop a customized treatment strategy to effectively tackle your fly problems from the inside out.
Service – Our fly treatments are customized to meet the needs of the individual customer, their specific property, and the level of fly infestation in their home. Our team of expert pest technicians will treat your home, garage, and the perimeter of your structure to eliminate fly activity, conducive conditions, and entry points. We develop our treatments to cater to your needs, whatever they are. The Texas Department of Agriculture licenses us, and all of our pest management professionals undergo rigorous training so we can provide you with the very best.
Follow-Up – After we finish treating your property from top to bottom to address your household fly infestation effectively, we come back for re-services to make sure things stay pest-free throughout the year. We offer ongoing pest control services to keep your home protected from fly infestation on a continued basis. Throughout the entire process, we work hard to bring you an unparalleled level of customer satisfaction.

In addition to household fly control, we also provide comprehensive fly solutions for a variety of commercial facilities. Some of the properties we’ve worked with include multi-unit housing, restaurants, hotels, commercial lodging, food processing facilities, office building and management properties, healthcare facilities, retail stores, daycares, schools, and supermarkets.

Our team works alongside organizations such as B.O.M.A. (Building Owners and Managers Association), the Greater Houston Restaurant Association, and the U.S. Green Building Council. Professionals from Food Industry Sanitation Auditors (F.I.S.A.) and the American Institute of Baking (A.I.B.) train our staff, giving us a high level of expertise for pest issues in food handling facilities. Our commercial process includes:

Addressing sanitation issues and modifications to pest-free the building
Customized treatment and pest prevention plans
Develop a treatment strategy that will deliver results
Installing pest monitoring around any active infestations
Ongoing access to pest control records and logs 24/7
Visual inspection of facilities and ground

Our fly control solutions have helped all kinds of businesses, protecting the local community from infestation and contamination. Once we’re done treating your facility, we come back for re-services to make sure things stay pest-free throughout the year. If your fly problem returns between scheduled service visits, we’ll come back to re-treat the area at no additional cost to you.

When you go with Modern Pest Control, you go with high-quality services and guaranteed pest solutions. Our customized approach takes into account industry regulations, corporate policies, and specific pest issues to bring you lasting results.

Whether you own a home or business here in Houston, the bottom line is that your property is no place for flies, and these pesky pests can be a real nightmare to deal with on your own. That’s why you don’t have to. We’re here to deal with it for you. From beginning to end, you can count on the team at Modern Pest Control to help. We’re here to rid your property of flies and keep them away for good. Call us to discuss your fly control needs today, and we will schedule a time for your free inspection as soon as possible.