Blow Flies are found in many parts of the world and are also known as bottle flies. They are large and have a metallic bluish-green color that attracts attention. There are many options you can use to get rid of blue flies without resorting to chemicals.
As the Blowfly flies, it emits a buzzing noise that can be heard and easily seen in urban areas. This insect is used to looking for food that has a strong smell, such as rotten meat. It is not very common for blue flies to be found in your home, as they prefer indoor spaces.
In case you see blue flies inside your property, you should be concerned, as they can lay eggs in your space and cause an infestation. Blow Flies are likely to be found in all areas where humans are present. Blue flies can infest animal carcasses.
When animals are dead, blowflies can lay large numbers of eggs on their rotten meat. And once they turn into larvae, they will proceed to eat all the meat of the animal without leaving any rest. Blowflies are attracted to spaces where there are dead animals, and that is why they can be seen very often in:
- Slaughterhouses
- Meat processors
- Garbage dumps
This insect is attracted to dirt and can enter your property through an opening in the infrastructure. If you do not maintain proper hygiene inside and outside your home, you will likely begin to see the presence of Blow Flies.
What Are Blow Flies?
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The Blowfly is part of the family of other species of flies that can exist worldwide. The average size of this insect can vary between 8 to 10 mm, and they turn out to be larger than house flies. The house fly and the blue fly have many similarities in their habits, and both can feed on a wide variety of materials.
Adult blow flies usually lay their eggs on dead animals, and once they are larvae, they will feed on the decomposition of the animal. The larvae can infect wounds in live animals; they can even destroy healthy tissue.
When the Blowfly is in the process of being a larva, it is known as the screwworm, as the body is very similar to a screw.
What Are Blowflies Attracted To?
Blow Flies generally live in spaces where there are dead animals. Some of them, during the colder months, tend to hide in the corpse. During the warm months, you can see blue flies in businesses or even on your property.
This insect is very attracted by the smell of food and by the currents of warm air, or by the cold that can creep through the openings of doors and windows. If Blow Flies are present in a building, the right thing to do is find a rodent nearby, a bird, or a dead animal in a state of decomposition. Flies can also be attracted to other live flies, wet flies in the garbage, and products that have expired. Pet waste can also be great for Blow Flies, as they can lay their eggs in manure.
Are Blowflies Dangerous?
Blow Flies do not bite humans, but this does not mean that this insect is not dangerous. Both the health of humans and animals can be affected by blue flies. Worms can infect animals and cause parasitic diseases such as myiasis.
This insect is a carrier of many bacteria, so you should prevent them from standing on top of your food. The bacteria that blue bacteria can generate are more dangerous than you might imagine. Studies carried out by scientists indicate that Blow Flies and house flies carry the same bacteria.
The Blowfly, like the housefly, can transmit approximately 65 diseases to humans:
- Cholera
- Fever
- Dysentery
- Tuberculosis
- Leprosy
- Yaws
- Poliomyelitis
- Tularemia
- Anthrax
Blow Flies found in urban areas are more dangerous than those found in rural areas. Blow Flies found in urban areas have the opportunity to reach more regions and accumulate more harmful bacteria.
How to Get Rid of Blow Flies Naturally?
There are many options that you can use to get rid of pesky Blow Flies naturally:
- Chemicals will not always be necessary to get rid of Blow Flies. However, you can spray residual liquid insecticides at the entry points of your property, preferably once a month.
- You can use sticky traps and place them in areas like the basement or spaces where you see the presence of Blow Flies.
- Baits for Blow Flies are also very helpful, but you should keep them at a safe distance from your property. Fly baits can kill them in as little as 60 seconds, and there can be complete control of them for about a month.
- There are aerosols such as pyrethrum that will cause immediate death in blue flies, and you should only apply it where you see the presence of this insect.
How To Prevent Blow Flies
Follow these tips for preventing Blow Flies in your space:
- Remove from your space those materials where the blue flies can lay their eggs.
- Locate all areas where the blue flies may be located
- Take into account all measures for rodent control.
- If you have garbage cans or containers, try to close them with a tight-fitting lid.
- Clean trash cans regularly.
- If you live in a building, the existing openings in the infrastructure must be sealed.
- Drain regularly to avoid moisture
Once you have managed to get rid of the blow flies naturally, you should take preventive measures to prevent their return. You must keep your home clean, especially the kitchen area, as you should not leave food residues on the counters. Also, you mustn’t leave the garbage you have collected inside the home.
If you have a pet, you should also clean all its waste and food, preferably cover it while your pet is not eating. Keep your food like fruits in plastic containers with lids to avoid attracting the attention of blow flies.
Your bathroom should also stay clean to prevent mold build-up, and if there are cracks in your home’s infrastructure, use caulk to seal them. Keeping Blow Flies out of your space is not a difficult task. Just follow the preventive measures, and you will notice the difference.