Flies can be one of the most annoying things ever. Yes, EVER!
The way they fly around you, try to land on you, almost fly into your mouth when you’re talking, and try to eat your food when it’s out on the table or countertop.
Killing them can prove to be difficult. But why is it that they continue to fly around you even after you swat at them?
Identifying the Flies
When you think of flies buzzing around your home (or your head), the most common culprit is usually the housefly. These flies are merely a few millimeters long and black in color.
But why does the housefly love you and your home?
Houseflies LOVE the scent of food, garbage, feces, and other smelly things like your pet’s food bowl. They’re also attracted to your body if you have a layer of natural oils and salt or dead skin cells built up.
You may think they just like to fly around food and garbage, but YOU are also a tasty meal to the common housefly.
Why Flies Aren’t Phased By Trying to Be Killed
When you see a fly landing on your food or buzzing around your head, your first reaction is to swat at it. Whether you’re trying to kill it (by smacking it against a wall, table, or your skin) or you’re just trying to get it to go away, it seems like the fly is unphased.
Why is this so?
Flies are able to fly away from danger within 100 milliseconds due to their complex compound eyes. These eyes allow them to see all around them without having any blind spots. Therefore, flies do not view humans as a threat (even though our trusty fly swatters can do some damage).
When you live in a home filled with food and you’re covered in oils, salt, and dead skin cells — flies take the risk of being swatted at in order to try and get their next meal in.
How to Keep Flies Away From Your Home
You don’t have to settle for living in a home with flies. There are several things you can do to deter these flying pests from buzzing around your home:
- Never leave food out, especially uncovered (this also applies to the food bowl for your pets)
- Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink
- Clean up spills and sweep up any crumbs or fallen food scraps
- Remove trash bags from your home regularly, or when they begin to smell if unusual contents have been emptied into them
- Clean your indoor (and outdoor) trash bins regularly
- Remove over-ripened fruit if you begin to notice fruit flies
- Seal any cracks, gaps, and holes on the exterior of your home to prevent flies from entering your home
If your home has a fly problem, make sure you contact Knockout right away so we can help manage the infestation early — before it gets bad…
