Off to a Fly-ing Start

While global warming threatens many insect species across our planet, experts envisage that it will be good news for pests like flies, predicting that we “will see a new influx of unwanted insects, with populations of houseflies more than doubling by 2080, due to changes in temperature, humidity and rainfall.”¹

With climate change comes milder winters and longer summers; both assisting the multiplication of flies. A female House Fly can lay up to 750 eggs in her lifetime. With a 2^oC increase in temperature it is estimated that pests, like flies, will breed more rapidly and for longer, accelerating reproduction by an additional one to five cycles per season.

Researchers also warn that “food poisoning cases could surge as rising global temperatures bring swarms of disease-ridden flies,” and that, “if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rates, fly populations are predicted to double or even triple in the coming decades as changing conditions create the perfect conditions for the insects.”²

 

Are flies harmful to humans?

Flies are nuisance pests for domestic and commercial premises and are also significant spreaders of disease. Flies can transmit intestinal worms and are vectors of diseases such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, typhoid, cholera and tuberculosis as well spreading food poisoning bacteria such as Eschericia coli, Salmonella and Campylobactor. In addition, research has shown that flies have a significant role in spreading some viruses, including avian influenza and also some antibiotic resistant bacteria.³

Flies are difficult to control due to their indiscriminate movements, sharp eyesight and ability to fly long distances. The common housefly has a range of at least 8 kilometres (5 miles) and can quickly locate decaying organic material and places where food is prepared and stored – transporting bacteria and spreading disease along the way.

 

Summer Fly Problems for Rural and Urban Businesses

The arrival of summer and warmer weather means tourism and eating al fresco can place additional demands on the food and hospitality sector. Together with the backdrop of economic difficulties and staff shortages, businesses can often overlook pest management as they struggle to cope with seasonal demand.

“Takeaways and restaurants can find themselves overrun in summer months, especially if they are based in tourist towns. The extra trade can mean taking leave from other tasks such as pest prevention,” says Business Matters Magazine. The UK’s Food Hygiene Rating System is an indication that food businesses are safe and hygienically run, but, “the score will be lowered if a poor inspection takes place,” and “poor hygiene scores are often the result of pests.”

Flies feed frequently and indiscriminately on any liquefiable solid food whether it’s waste, rubbish, or food ready for human consumption. Summer increases the likelihood of infestations as food spoils more quickly in hotter weather, flies breed more rapidly; and, with higher temperatures increasing flies’ metabolic rate, they are actively seeking more food.

In rural areas flies can efficiently spread bacteria between farm slurry pits, livestock sheds and manure heaps to both domestic and commercial locations in the vicinity. They cause problems in livestock and are responsible for conditions like New Forest Eye and summer mastitis. Thriving in warm, damp and wet areas with plenty of rotting matter, infestations appear in damp animal/ poultry bedding, near manure heaps or slurry pits and around areas of stagnant water.

 

Knowing your enemy - UK’s Most Common Problem Flies

House Fly (Musca domestica) Our most common fly is attracted to all types of food (human food, pet food, animal feed) and faeces. They are major carriers of disease and infest all types of premises.  A fly lives for around 30 days and in that time goes through the complete lifecycle (egg, larva, pupa, adult). The common housefly has an adult life of 1-3 months during which time females are capable of laying 4-5 batches of eggs, with each batch containing 100-150 eggs.

Lesser House Fly (Fannia canicularis) can be distinguished from the Common House Fly by its slightly smaller size, different wing venation and by an abundant yellow patch at the base of its abdomen. They have a preference for semi liquid organic matter and will often be associated with animal lairage, poultry houses and bird nesting sites.

Blow Flies / Blue Bottles (Calliphora spp) and Green Bottles (Lucilia spp). Blow flies are large metallic and hairy flies, they often buzz in flight. They feed on animal protein and are attracted to animal carcasses and faeces. Some species will lay their eggs in wounds on sheep and the larvae have been known in extreme cases to cause the death of the host animal.

Fruit Fly (Drosophila spp) These are small hump backed flies with a striped abdomen with some species having red eyes. These flies breed and feed on fermenting organic matter of fruit origin and can become major pests in the home, food manufacturing sites, pubs, breweries and supermarkets.

Cluster Flies (Pollenia rudis) These are medium sized flies. Their thoraxes were covered in golden hairs. They lay their eggs in soil and their larvae parasitise earthworms. When the weather gets colder around the end autumn they make their way into buildings clustering in attics, wall cavities.

Horse Fly (Tabanidae) Female horse flies have a painful bite and are a pest for humans and livestock.

 

Envu offers a range of insecticide options for tackling flies. Visit the product pages to find out more about our range of products including Pybuthrin 33, K-Othrine® Partix™, and AquaPy.