Blow flies thrive primarily on dead bodies of small animals such as rodents. They are easy to identify because they are medium to large in size and have a metallic glare on their body. They come in several colors including blue, green or yellow. They fly well and can reproduce in manure if unable to find a dead animal on which to lay eggs.
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Other Information: PEST ARTICLES
BLOW FLY BIOLOGY ^
Blow flies are attracted to the gases which decaying bodies release and once they find the body, blow flies will lay hundreds of eggs. The larva stage of these flies will eat the carcass until there is nothing left. This may take several cycles of the fly, but the larva will pupate and the adults will lay more eggs until the food supply runs out.
BLOW FLY PROBLEMS ^
Blow flies are common in the winter months since many homeowners will use a rodenticide to try and control a mouse or rat infestation. This usually leads to some of the animals dying in the attic or wall. Blow flies will find the dead body and eventually find their way into the living areas of the home. It is at this point the homeowner learns they have a problem of some sort.
BLOW FLY SEASON ^
It is not uncommon to find these flies throughout summer months as well since they are able to forage great distances in search of food. Road kill, manure and high moist temperatures will enable them to prosper. Although these flies do not bite, they are a nuisance in the home. They fly quickly, move throughout the entire home in a matter of moments and will annoy residents with their loud buzzing. They can’t bite, but will scare people who fear they may be a wasp or bee.
BLOW FLY AEROSOL TREATMENTS ^
As a space spray, apply PT-565 daily as is needed. This can be time consuming so installing some AEROSOL MACHINES which take the PURGE FLYING INSECT KILLER will prove more efficient if you have an ongoing blow fly problem.
PT-565: https://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/pt-565-xlo
Aerosol 1000: https://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/foggers/aerosol-dispenser-1000
Purge: https://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/purge-iii-6-25-oz
BLOW FLY LIQUID SPRAY ^
For the yard, barn, stable, garbage area, dog pen and any other place around the home, PERMETHRIN 10 is a good all around product. It can be applied to the animals as well as the structures so if you want one product, this is it. Use it in a PUMP SPRAYER or a FOGMASTER 6208 FOGGER to treat.
Permethrin 10: https://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/permethrin-10
Pump Sprayer: https://www.bugspraycart.com/good/pump-sprayers
FM 6208: https://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/foggers/fogmaster-6208-trijet-120-v
If you want something a little stronger for the structure, go with the ONSLAUGHT. It’s time released and can last several months where applications are out direct sunlight. Onslaught cannot be used on the animals but it’s great for any surface where flies are landing.
Onslaught: https://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/onslaught
BLOW FLY BAIT ^
In the yard, MAXFORCE FLY BAIT can be effective at intercepting foraging blow flies before they make it inside.
Maxforce Fly Bait: https://www.bugspraycart.com/bait/granule/maxforce-fly-spot-bait-pk
BLOW FLY TRAPS ^
FLIES BE GONE FLY TRAPS can also help. Blow flies love the smell of these and can’t resist entering. Once inside they cannot escape.
Flies Be Gone: https://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/fly/flies-b-gone-disposable-fly-trap
BLOW FLY REPELLENT ^
Lastly, as a personal repellent, apply MAXI DEET or DEET LOTION to your skin. Generally speaking these flies are not attracted to people. That being said, we do get people who seem to attract them. To keep annoying blow flies at bay, use either of these repellents made for the skin. The lotion will last longer if you’re going afield. The Maxi Deet is the strongest you can get for direct applications to the skin. For clothing, go with the PERMETHRIN AEROSOL FLY CONTROL AEROSOL.
Deet 100%: https://www.bugspraycart.com/repellents/liquid/deet-100
Deet 20% Lotion: https://www.bugspraycart.com/repellents/liquid/deet-20-lotion-6-oz
Permethrin Aerosol: https://www.bugspraycart.com/repellents/aerosol/permethrin-aerosol-6-oz
CONTACT US ^
Give us a call if you need further help. Our toll free is 1-800-877-7290 and we’re open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. On Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and on Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time).
Email questions here: https://bugspray.com/about-us/contact-us
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Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around to answer your questions and keep this valuable web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
Linda says
How can flies be getting into a room when the doors and windows remain closed? Can they come through the carpet?
Tech Support says
It’s not likely they’re coming from outside the room where you see them. In fact, its most likely they’re coming from something in the room. You see, it only takes one fly laying eggs to fill any average sized room with adult flies. Since she can lay hundreds of eggs, as long as the hatching larvae have something to eat they will rapidly develop into adults and start appearing like you’ve been seeing.
Now how to best control the population is to treat where the eggs may have been laid. Since carpets will many times harbor all kinds of food (as can couches, sofa’s, etc.), treating these areas with some Permethrin 10 would be a great way to start. It’s odorless and will quickly kill developing larvae. Within a few days of spraying the area, the problem will be greatly reduced and by a week, should be gone if this is where they were originating.
But if you’re not 100% sure they’re coming from the carpet, go with a space spray instead. PT-565 can be applied as often as you’d like to the air in the room. It will only take 3-5 seconds to treat the area and if you did this in the morning and evening, you should be able to kill any that appear in the room.
Lastly, a more permanent solution would be to set up an aerosol machine with some Purge III. It too used pyrethrin as its active but instead of you having to manually control the application, you can set the machines to go off every hour or so. This way you’ll constantly have a new application being done to the room which will control any flies that choose to enter. Refills last a month or more so its a cost effective way to treat these types of problems and very easy too.
Here are links to these items in our cart. Please show your support for our business by purchasing the items we recommend from the links provided. Remember, this is the only way we can stay around and be here to answer your questions and keep this valuable web site up and running. Thanks for your business!
PT-565: https://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/pt-565-xlo
Aerosol 2000: https://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/foggers/aerosol-dispenser-2000
Purge: https://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/purge-iii-6-25-oz