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Flies

Flies are as part of our culture in Australia as thongs and corked hats. Flies pose a health risk to humans, pets and livestock and can infest your business and spread diseases like Salmonella and E. coli. A few species may even bite humans and animals.

Noticing a few noisy flies in your house or your business may not mean you have an infestation. However, it should act as a warning sign to take some preventative action. If a small fly problem is left uncontrolled, it has the potential to turn into a serious infestation. Some fly species are able to mature from eggs to adults in just seven days.

Some species are more common than others and are attracted to different environments suited to their natural habits and lifecycle. Common house flies are attracted to decaying organic waste such as faeces and rotting meat, whereas fruit flies will look for sugary substances and feed more commonly on overripe fruit, spilled soft drinks and alcohol.

Do I need professional fly pest control assistance?

Correct identification of the species of fly is very important so that the breeding site/s can be located and your fly problem fixed for good. Aerobeam Professional Pest Management treatment programs are directed at both the larval and adult flies to achieve effective and efficient control for your business.

Fly Control Treatments for your business

Aerobeam Profesisonal Pest Management will complete a through survey of your business and will then recommend a fly control treatment program specifically for your business requirements. Yoyr recommended fly treatment program used in conjunction with Exclusion, Restriction and Monitoring practices you will have effective, long-term protection from flies for your business. Your fly treatment program may include any of the following:
  • Housekeeping and hygiene recommendations
  • Baits
  • Dusting powders
  • Sprays
  • Fogs
  • Aerosol mists
  • Electronic Fly Killers

Fly Prevention

  • Deny flies access keep windows and doors closed.
  • Fit flyscreens to windows especially around kitchen and waste areas.
  • Cover Food. Flies spread diseases by landing on food before we eat it.
  • Clear food debris and liquid spillages from food consumption and preparation areas, under kitchen benches and appliances.
  • Ensure all waste containers have tightly sealed lids.
  • Clean up after pets. Not only are faeces a perfect breeding place for flies, they may land there before landing on your food.
  • Clear up dead flies they provide a tasty snack for other pests such as carpet beetles.
  • Ensure drains are kept clean and free of debris to reduce fly breeding sites.

Blow (Bluebottle) Fly

Blow (Bluebottle) Fly identification

The adult is 1/4" - 1/2" in length and metallic blue in colour. Larva take 7 – 12 days to mature. Their name originates from their iridescent colours that are similar to coloured bottles.

Description

Bluebottle flies (also known as Blow fly) can often be seen hovering around dustbins. These scavengers are attracted to pet faeces and dead animals and as such are known carriers of disease.

Eggs hatch 0 – 18 hrs (partial development may occur within the female). Breeds in mostly meat derived substances, sometimes cheese. Common pest of dead rodents/birds etc.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Blow (Bluebottle) Fly
    Blow (Bluebottle) Fly
  • Blow (Bluebottle) Fly
    Blow (Bluebottle) Fly
  • Blow (Bluebottle) Fly
    Blow (Bluebottle) Fly

Bush Fly

Bush Fly identification

2-6mm long. Similar in appearance to the house fly but smaller.

Description

Adults seek large animals, including humans, and remain on and around them for hours at a time being attracted to sweat, tears, saliva and in cases of grazing animals, faeces. Transmit eye infections to humans and livestock and may also transmit other enteric diseases to humans.

Only last 2-5 weeks. Eggs are inserted into the excrement of large animals (especially grazing animals). Eggs usually hatch within a day and the larvae usually leave the feeding medium to pupate in adjacent soil.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Bush Fly
    Bush Fly

Cluster Fly

Cluster Fly identification

The Cluster fly is 6–10mm in length. It has a dark grey–olive thorax clothed with crinkled golden–brown hairs. Wings overlap when at rest. Sluggish in flight.

Description

Cluster flies are commonly found in quiet, undisturbed parts of your home, such as attics and wall voids. They require warm places to hibernate over winter. You may see a large group of cluster flies around a window, as they are attracted to the light on sunny winter days.

Eggs laid in soil in late summer or early autumn. Larva develop in earthworms – feeding on their host for several days. Then they molt and pupate in the soil. Development time from egg to adult is about 27 to 39 days.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Cluster Fly
    Cluster Fly
  • Cluster Fly
    Cluster Fly

Drain Fly

Drain Fly identification

The Drain fly is 2mm in length. It has a tan coloured body that appears as grey. The wings densely covered in hair and held tent–like over the body when at rest.

Description

Drain flies are often associated with sewage beds, where larvae feed on sludge–like organic matter. They are also known by a variety of names; drain fly, sewage fly and moth fly are a few examples.

Eggs hatch 1–6 days. Larvae 10–50 days to mature. Pupae 1–3 days to mature.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Drain Fly
    Drain Fly
  • Drain Fly
    Drain Fly
  • Drain Fly
    Drain Fly

Flesh Fly

Flesh Fly identification

The Flesh fly is 6-14mm long. It's thorax is light grey and has 3 dark longitudinal stripes. The abdomen is also light grey, spotted with dark patches to give a checker board appearance.

Description

The Flesh flies are attracted to decaying wastes, excrement and human foods – making a threat to human health.

Lifecycle lasts for 2-4 weeks. The female deposits live larvae on a suitable feeding medium (this can range from spoilt meat or fish, or animal excrement, or in decaying food waste found in garbage bins). Larvae feed for a few days, then move away from the feeding medium to pupate in adjacent drier parts.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Flesh Fly
    Flesh Fly

Fruit Fly

Fruit Fly identification

The common Fruit fly is 3mm in length and yellow–brown or mottled in colour. It has bright red eyes. The abdomen hangs down in flight, which is slow, and they tend to hover.

Description

Fruit flies are commonly found infesting fruit or hovering around fermenting residues found in pubs, fruit orchards & vegetables plots and breweries.

They can breed in rotten fruit, unclean drains and even cleaning utensils. Develops to adult in 7–30 days. Adult lives 2–9 weeks. In ideal temperature conditions, fruit flies can complete their development in as little as 1 week.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Fruit Fly
    Fruit Fly
  • Fruit Fly
    Fruit Fly
  • Fruit Fly
    Fruit Fly

Horse Fly

Horse Fly identification
Adult Horse flies can be up to 25 mm long. They are black to dark brown in colour with green or black eyes. The males have contiguous eyes, which easily differentiates them from females where the eyes are widely separated.
Description

Horse flies are a particular pest to livestock. Relentless biting attacks by females can result in reduced weight gain in some animals. Male horse flies are mainly pollen and nectar feeders and are most active during daylight hours. Horse fly bites can be very painful for humans too.They have mouth parts that work like miniature knives, which they use to slash open the skin with a scissor–like motion.

Mating is initiated in the air and completed on the ground where the female then deposits an egg mass sometimes with a shiny or chalky secretion, which aids in water protection. Eggs are laid in masses ranging from 100 to 1000 eggs on a vertical surface overhanging water or wet ground favourable to larvae development. The eggs hatch in 5–7 days. They overwinter in the larval stage and pupate during the spring and early summer. Adult life cycle is 30 to 60 days.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Horse Fly
    Horse Fly
  • Horse Fly
    Horse Fly

House Fly

House Fly identification
The adult house fly is 5–8mm in length. It has a grey thorax with 4 narrow stripes and a buff or yellow abdomen. The house fly is covered with small hairs that serve as taste organs. It has complex compound eyes – with thousands of lenses allows them a wide field of vision. There is a 4th wing vein bent and wing tips slightly pointed.
Description

House flies are major carriers of disease and can infest all types of premises. They are attracted to all types of food, including human food, pet food, animal feed, food waste and even faeces. Seeing adult flies is usually the most common sign of activity and a potential problem. Larvae may also be seen as they crawl out of breeding material to pupate.

House flies are able to quickly mature from an egg to an adult. They breed in moist decaying vegetable matter eg. in uncovered dustbin or pet food.
• Eggs are laid in batches of 120 to 150 and can hatch in 8 – 72 hours.
• The larvae of House Flies can take 3 – 60 days to mature.
• Pupae matures in 3 – 28 days.

Once indoors, house flies can be found resting on walls, floors or ceilings. Outdoors they can be seen on plants, the ground, fences, compost heaps and rubbish bins. At night they prefer to rest near food sources approx. 5 to 15 feet off the ground.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • House Fly
    House Fly
  • House Fly
    House Fly
  • House Fly
    House Fly

Lacewing

Lacewing identification
Lacewings are approx 12–20mm long. The adults are pale green. They have long antennae and bright, golden eyes. They have large, transparent, pale green wings and a delicate body.
Description

Lacewings are considered an important predator of mealybugs in both greenhouses and interior plantscapes. They also feed on (among others) several species of aphids, spider mites (especially red mites), thrips, whiteflies, small caterpillars and beetle larvae. Adults are active fliers, particularly during the evening and at night. They have a characteristic fluttering flight.

They feed on pollen and also need nectar or honeydew as food before laying eggs. Oval shaped eggs are laid at the end of long silken stalks. These single eggs start off green and turn grey after a few days. The active larvae are grey or brownish. They are alligator–like with well–developed legs and large pincers with which they suck the body fluids from prey insects such as aphids. Lacewings are often used as a biological integrated insect control program.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Lacewing
    Lacewing
  • Lacewing
    Lacewing
  • Lacewing
    Lacewing

Sand Fly

Sand Fly identification
Sand flies, also called biting midges, are so tiny that they often go unobserved. Biting midges, 0.5mm, are the smallest of the blood-sucking flies.
Description

Sand flies, biting midges, live around freshwater creeks, intertidal estuaries and mangroves.

Distribution
Australia-wide.
  • Sand Fly
    Sand Fly
  • Sand Fly
    Sand Fly

Having trouble with flies?

Call Aerobeam Professional Pest Management today for a obligation free quote!

Why Choose Aerobeam Professional Pest Management?

We offer a complete pest control and management service.
  • Obligation free quote
  • Over 25 years experience
  • Licensed Technicians
  • HACCP certified company
  • Thorough inspections
  • Professional prevention advice
  • Safe, targeted treatments
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Fast response
  • Regular inspections
  • Convenient treatment times
  • Ongoing support