House Flies

Houseflies (musca domestica) & Bluebottles (calliphora vicina)
Houseflies are commonly found where people work or live because of the warmer environment and ready supply of food.
Bluebottles (sometimes called blow flies) are also often found in human environments, and are particularly attracted by meat and decaying materials.

Where do they come from?
Eggs are laid in moist or rotting matter - household rubbish, compost or manure and once hatched the flies reach maturity in about two weeks in warmer weather.

Common houseflies have a flight range of about five miles and can easily transfer from breeding grounds to homes.

A sudden appearance of many bluebottles in the home normally indicates that a small animal (maybe a mouse or shrew) has died - possibly under the floorboards or up a chimney.

Female bluebottles are easily able to find sources of suitable food and are often found in domestic kitchens.

Flies creating a nusiance
Some agricultural practices, most notably intensive chicken and livestock housing, may create the right breeding conditions for flies which can then become a nuisance to surrounding properties.
We have investigated a number of complaints on this topic, and have some guidance information available for people who may be affected by these problems.
Word Document Flies and Poultry Farm Guidance (163KB - 31 August 2011)
Word Document Guidance notes for complainants (50KB - 31 August 2011)
Word Document Environmental Health concerns regarding free range poultry housing (68KB - 31 August 2011)
PDF file Egg Producers - Best Practice Notes (75KB - 31 August 2011 - PDF Help)
PDF file Use of insecticides for fly control in poultry houses (62KB - 31 August 2011 - PDF Help)

Why do flies come indoors?
Houseflies and bluebottles come indoors looking for food. They are not fussy what sort of food they settle on and are highly active once indoors.

Can they do harm?
Houseflies can transmit intestinal worms and are also known to be carriers of particular diseases such as gastroenteritis. Bluebottles too, are known to spread diseases. This is partly due to the fact that they are attracted to rotting food and faeces which they may have landed on before landing on your food.

You must cover any open food to avoid contamination by flies landing on it.

You should frequently clean drains, particularly near kitchens, and cover your waste bins to avoid providing ideal breeding conditions.

How do I get rid of them?
The best ways of controlling or avoiding infestations are good hygiene and taking the simple precautions mentioned above.

Insecticidal control using fly sprays ("knock down" sprays) are a good, almost instant, way of dealing with the problem. Flypapers, while unsightly, are another solution.

The effectiveness of electric ultra-violet fly killers can be affected by where they are placed, and they become less effective after about three months unless the bulb is replaced.

Page last updated on 25 November 2011