Jun 29, 2017, 10:00 AM by Fred Speer

Summer typically include trips to the beach, enjoying a meal while sitting on your deck or patio, and just spending time outdoors. Unfortunately, summer also means that fly activity will increase in and around your living space.

As the mercury climbs, so does the activity and population levels of the house fly, a universally encountered nuisance to people across California.

Flies prefer warm, moist, organic materials, such as manure, garbage, lawn clippings, or decaying vegetables and fruits, in which they establish breeding locations. Their eggs can hatch within a day and will mature rapidly – in as little as three days.

And while house flies do not bite or sting, they are one of the filthiest pests you can encounter. House flies are known to carry bacteria (E. coli and Salmonella, to name two) and viruses that cause conditions such as diarrhea, cholera, food poisoning, dysentery, and eye infections.

A house fly’s so-called standard of living is not exactly high-brow, because they live and feed on animal waste, garbage, and rotting food. They transfer the above-mentioned bacteria and viruses to humans by coming into contact with food or food preparation surfaces (e.g., your kitchen countertop, cutting board, outdoor tables, or plates and utensils) after leaving their filth-ridden breeding and feeding areas.

Flies are primarily outdoor dwellers, but if given the opportunity to move inside your home to feed on better grub, they will do so. The key to keeping house flies from invading your living space is to prevent them from accessing it in the first place.

The Clark Man has put together Six House Fly Prevention Tips you can follow to keep these nasty, downright disgusting pests on the outside where they belong.

1. Cracks around windows and doors where flies can enter should be sealed with caulk or the appropriate material.
2. Well-fitted screens on windows, doors, and dryer vents will also limit their access to your home.
3. On the exterior, regular removal (at least once a week) and disposal of organic waste, including dog feces and rotting fruit, reduces the attractiveness of the area to adult flies and limits their breeding sites.
4. Garbage and recycling items should not be allowed to accumulate and should be placed in sealed plastic bags and in containers with tight-fitting lids.
5. Garbage and recycling receptacles should also be placed as far from your home as is practical, and should be emptied regularly.
6. Clean up any food spills and do not leave food uncovered outdoors.

If you have a problem with flies around your home, call or text (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or drop me an email at clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

Until next time I’m the Clark Man, and thanks for helping me keep unwanted pests out of your home.