We have all heard the song, “Shoo Fly, Don’t Bother Me”. While it’s catchy and we may find ourselves singing along, there is a reason that song exists, and even in the 1860s when that song was written, flies were considered unwanted pests. Not only can flies be a nuisance, they can contaminate food and ruin your summer barbeque. We are going to review the real reasons you don’t want a Phoenix or Tucson fly problem or want them anywhere near your home or food.
What are Flies?
Before we review why you don’t want a fly problem, we wanted to first dive a little deeper into what flies actually are. While you are sure to have encountered one, or likely many, in your lifetime, they are much more common in the warmer months of the year and they are currently in full swing.
Flies are insects of the order Diptera. Insects of this type use a single pair of wings to fly. While there are numerous types of flies, the flies that invade our homes in the warmer months are usually ordinary houseflies (Musca domestic). This insect is roughly 3/8 inch long with large compound reddish eyes. This pest spends most of its time flying, and is typically very quick to fly away, making them hard to catch.
Houseflies typically live no more than 30 days, but because they reproduce quickly, an indoor infestation can be nearly continual with the right conditions.
The Real Reasons you Don’t Want a Fly Problem
Flies are not only irritating, they carry diseases and other things that can contaminate your food and cause health issues for you and your family. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies at least 65 diseases that can be spread by the common housefly, including cholera, conjunctivitis, dysentery, leprosy, and typhoid fever.
Let’s review further the reasons you don’t want a fly problem and why you don’t want flies anywhere near your next meal.
- Flies Spread Diseases and Parasites: Flies are twice as likely to spread germs and diseases than cockroaches. When a fly lands on your food, it can spread diseases and parasites directly to it and they carry more with them than other common pests, because of their consumption choices (take it from us, you don’t want us to go into details). These flying pests are known to carry at least 65 diseases (some of which we reviewed above).
- They are Unclean: Flies can’t chew because they have no teeth, so when they want to eat, they have to spit out their food continuously until it softens, and then swallow it down. That’s right they are basically vomiting until enzymes dissolve their food enough for them to digest it. If a fly lands on your food, they can be leaving some of their food, feces, and urine behind. We know, it’s disgusting to think about.
- They May Lay Their Eggs: It is not uncommon, if given enough time on your food, that a fly may lay their eggs on it. You will not see the eggs, due to their small size, but they are there. Fly eggs turn into maggots overtime and we cringe just thinking about potentially eating that.
Only 3% of people say the presence of a fly would make them drop their fork, according to USA Today. That’s disturbing, because it only takes a few seconds for flies to contaminate your food with diseases and parasites, their vomit and feces, and even their eggs. Based on this, the real reasons you don’t want a fly problem, aren’t what most people think (the average person just finds them annoying).
If you have a Phoenix or Tucson fly issue, Bucksworth Home Services can help. House flies can be a real nuisance when they are flying around and they can transmit diseases, so it is important to get rid of them as soon as possible. Housefly control is not always as easy as it sounds. There is often more involved than a fly swatter.
Bucksworth Home Services can help you protect your Arizona home and family from flies. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and to take the first step in making your next gathering fly free.