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Blow Fly Identification and Control in Utah
Correct identification is an important first step in pest control.
Calliphoridae
Blow flies are a medium sized, full-bodied fly. They are metallic green and blue appearance.
Blow flies are considered a filth fly and therefore lay their eggs on dead animals, garbage cans/dumpsters, decaying organic material, or manure. Numerous blow flies indoors can indicate that an animal has died in a wall void or somewhere within the building.
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Identify the pest with our Blow Fly gallery
Wing venation is a key way to ID a blow fly.
Metallic green coloring of a blow fly.
Blow fly using sponging mouthparts to eat.
Large eyes and mouthparts of a blow fly.
Where do they lay their eggs
Blow fly larvae are saprophages (scavengers), so they lay their eggs on dead animals, garbage cans/dumpsters, decaying organic material, or manure. They can pick up faint traces of odor of decay and can fly up to 12 miles in search of a suitable carcass to lay their eggs.
Learn more by reading our blog post: Dumpster Maintenance.
Name:
Calliphoridae
Size:
Large
Light:
Yes, they are attracted to light
Tips for keeping blow flies away
Blow Flies Spread Disease
Blow flies spread disease by the hairs on the their body, grooves on their mouthparts, and sticky pads on their feet. All of these areas collect and hold pathogens. These pathogens can be transmitted to human food by the fly’s saliva and feces.
Adults and larvae of a blow fly are found in very unsanitary conditions. They can be very prominent around buildings that are near recycling centers, garbage dumps, slaughter-houses, and meat processing plants. This makes them mechanical vectors of disease pathogens, such as dysentery.
Blow fly presence can often be associated with dead carcasses because they like to lay their eggs there. Most times it is easy to identify the source of a blow fly infestation, but other times there may be a dead mouse or bird in the ceiling, wall or crawlspace that would cause an infestation.
How To Eliminate and Prevent Blow Flies
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Keep dumpsters and compost piles at least 50 feet away from the building.
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Trash cans, dumpsters, and garbage areas should be clean and free of odor.
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Maintain areas where animals are kept by removing manure and dead carcasses.
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Keep exterior doors closed and install screen doors or automatic door closers, especially on doors leading into the kitchen.
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Exclude their entry by caulking cracks and crevices, using weather stripping where needed, putting door sweeps on gappy doors, using window screens, etc.
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Locate where they could be breeding and remove it, if possible.
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Improve sanitation in the area.
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Place light traps to catch flies that come indoors.
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You can always use a fly swatter.
Don't let flies take over.
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We take a scientific approach to pest control. We start with an inspection and assessment to help us identify the pest, locate where they are, and create a specific plan for your property. Every home and business is different and requires a unique strategy.
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Proper pest management starts with a detailed inspection and assessment from an expert pest professional before treatment. Thorn Pest Solutions uses a three-step process rooted in science to eliminate pests with long-term results.
Assess Situation
First, we identify the root problem(s) with a site assessment. Pests are almost always an indicator of an environmental condition. This will determine the best actions to provide short and your long-term results against pests.
Execute Action Plan
Next, we develop a plan to fix the problems we discovered. This includes solving current pest issues, eliminating conducive conditions, and monitoring for future pest activity. Good pest management starts with a good plan.
Track Success
Lastly, we implement the solutions we developed including inspection, monitoring, and preventing future pest infestations. Good pest control requires a good offense and not just defense. Prevention is key.
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