Biting and Nuisance Flies

If you are like most people, you like spending time in your yard.

Having flies in your yard can make spending time outside miserable. This is especially true if you like working outside or gardening. Flies are also one of the more difficult indoor and outdoor pests to control. So, if you have a fly problem, keep reading to find out how to stop biting flies from causing you pain or discomfort.

Flies That Bite

Biting flies feed on the blood of mammals, including humans. The bite of a fly is often more painful than a mosquito bite, but it depends on the fly that bites you. There are six main types, including horse, stable, deer, black, and sand flies, as well as biting midges.

The horse, stable, and deer flies are some of the biggest flies, and they cause the most painful bites. These bugs use a scissor-like mouth to puncture your skin. Once the wound begins to bleed, they lap up your blood.

The smaller flies that bite cause smaller bites, but they are also potentially painful. Even a tiny fly can cause swelling, itching, and bleeding. Luckily, only one type of fly causes disease through biting humans.

How to Get Rid of Biting Flies in Your Home

Luckily, biting flies are not as common in homes. However, sometimes, they do make their way inside from open doors or windows. You can prevent them from flying in by making sure to keep doors closed and by using screens on your windows.

If you have small flies in your home, they are likely coming from drains or trash. Make sure to remove all food debris from your home and to clean surfaces. You should also pour bleach down drains to prevent their larvae from hatching.

Fly tape is effective at trapping the flies, but it is pretty unsightly when hanging from cabinets and ceilings. There are also several aerosol-type sprays you can use, but you have to be careful using them around children and pets, especially fish and birds.

How to Get Rid of Biting Flies in Yard

Ridding your yard of flying pests is not an easy task because they could be coming from a neighbor’s yard. However, you should start by making sure to remove all organic waste, such as rotting plants and feces from pets. You should also cover compost piles as they are a common breeding ground for all sorts of bugs.

If this fails, you can try things to repel them. Using a powerful fan in outdoor areas like under a patio is one of the most effective ways of deterring them. You can also use citronella or camphor candles.

When you are outdoors at night, turn off outdoor lights if possible and use candlelight instead as it is less likely to attract flies. Bug zappers are another method of control. These devices work by attracting flies to the light and then killing them when they come in contact with the zapping mechanism.

Another way to control biting flies is to hang bags of water from your roof. Light reflecting off of the water bags disrupts the vision of the flies, and most of these pests will go elsewhere. Just get heavy-duty bags and fill them half-way with water. You can also hang them by doors to prevent flies from coming into your home.

How to Stop Biting Flies from Biting You

Although getting rid of biting flies in your yard may be difficult, there are some ways to protect yourself. Flies are attracted to dark colors, so you can try wearing lighter colored clothing while working in your yard. It is also a good idea to wear pants and long-sleeved shirts or use bug repellent.

If wearing lighter clothes or long sleeves does not work, try enjoying time outdoors when these flying insects are not as prevalent. Just like mosquitoes, flies are more common at different times of the day. During the summer months, flies are more common. They are also common during the day, but less likely to bother you at night.

Final Thoughts

Your backyard is an extension of your home. It is a place you probably enjoy spending time with your family, especially during the summer. Having flying insects in your yard is more than a nuisance. They can bite you, your pets, and your kids, making it next to impossible to be outside.

While there are ways to prevent them from biting, you may not want to spray yourself or your children with harmful bug sprays. And, it is not always feasible to wear long sleeves and pants when you are outdoors, especially during the summer when these pests are more prevalent.

Biting fly control is often difficult, but you do not have to go at it alone. If all else fails, call a professional that has years of experience eradicating these pests. A professional exterminator can help effectively kill pests without causing injury to pets and kids.