A review of alternative controls for house flies

Authors: HINKLE, NANCY - University Of Georgia; Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/17/2021
Publication Date: 11/20/2021
Citation: Hinkle, N.C., Hogsette, Jr, J.A. 2021. A review of alternative controls for house flies. Insects. 12(11), 1042:1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12111042.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12111042

Interpretive Summary: People hate house flies, considering them both a nuisance and a health risk. Most fly suppression is based on insecticides, but more creative, environmentally friendly options exist and should be used when applicable. Cleaning up materials that attract flies, especially those producing enticing aromas, is a basic fly control strategy. Similarly, eliminating materials, e.g., animal wastes and garbage, in which maggots can develop is a critical means for reducing future adult populations. Preventing flies from entering buildings is the first line of defense, followed by efficacious methods for catching and killing flies that do manage to gain entry. Flies can be excluded from buildings with properly maintained air curtains, fans, slat doors, mesh screens on windows and doors, and by keeping entry doors closed. Potential fly harborage, e.g., vending machines, racks for newspapers or circulars, ash trays, shrubbery, or other fly resting sites, should not be situated near entry doors. If flies get inside, they can be managed with ultraviolet light traps, window traps, window stickers, sticky tubes, sticky ribbons, insecticide sprays, baits, timed-release aerosols, and the classic fly swatter. In urban areas, fly management usually amounts to killing adult flies produced elsewhere faster than they are arriving on site.

Technical Abstract: People hate house flies, considering them both a nuisance and a health risk. Most fly suppression is based on insecticides, but more creative, environmentally friendly options exist and should be used when applicable. Cleaning up materials that attract flies, especially those producing enticing aromas, is a basic fly control strategy. Similarly, eliminating materials, e.g., animal wastes and garbage, in which maggots can develop is a critical means for reducing future adult populations. Preventing flies from entering buildings is the first line of defense, followed by efficacious methods for catching and killing flies that do manage to gain entry. Flies can be excluded from buildings with properly maintained air curtains, fans, slat doors, mesh screens on windows and doors, and by keeping entry doors closed. Potential fly harborage, e.g., vending machines, racks for newspapers or circulars, ash trays, shrubbery, or other fly resting sites, should not be situated near entry doors. If flies get inside, they can be managed with ultraviolet light traps, window traps, window stickers, sticky tubes, sticky ribbons, insecticide sprays, baits, timed-release aerosols, and the classic fly swatter. In urban areas, fly management usually amounts to killing adult flies produced elsewhere faster than they are arriving on site.