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Oct 18, 2023 · Our experts recommend these resources for keeping filth flies away from your outdoor spaces. Designed to lure flies in and keep them from escaping, traps are affordable and work very well, says Edwin Burgess, an entomologist with the University of Florida.
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Oct 31, 2024 · The best way to prevent flies outside your home is to remove the food and moisture sources they need for reproduction. Use additional methods like traps, natural predators, and repellents to keep populations under control.
- Overview
- Killing and Repelling Flies
- Preventing Flies
- How Do You Get Rid Of Flies Outside?
How Do You Get Rid Of Flies Outside?
Enjoying a lovely summer day outside sounds nice, but it’s not so fun when there are dozens of flies buzzing in your ear. If you’re fed up with the flies outside, you’re not alone: lots of people wish they could banish flies from their garden or patio space. That’s why we’ve gathered all the methods you can use to repel flies and keep them away for good.
Use fly traps outside to attract and kill flies.
Plant basil, elderberry, or mint to deter flies using landscaping.
Mix molasses and cornmeal and place it in a shallow dish or saucer. Put the saucer far away from your patio or garden—the flies can congregate there while you enjoy your meal in peace.
If you’re dealing with fruit flies, bait the traps with bananas.
To catch fungus gnats, try raw potatoes.
A fly light trap is an electrically charged light that attracts flies and zaps them.
Try hanging them around your backyard, making sure they’re above head-height.
Be careful setting these up. Light traps could never seriously injure anyone, but it's still quite painful to be zapped by them.
Keep your yard clean and get rid of trash or food.
Flies are attracted to any strong smell, which often comes from trash or food left outside.
Flies have very short lifespans (only about 2 weeks), so if you eliminate anything that causes odors outside your house, the flies will leave or die within that period.
Pick up dog poop, too. Make sure you put it in sealable bags before you put it in the trash can.
Keep garbage can lids tightly closed. If you are having a party, make sure the trash can be used for paper goods disposable has a tight-fitting lid, and ask the guests to replace the lid after they dispose of their trash.
Flies are strongly attracted to the smell of meat and will swarm your grill the minute you bring meat outside to cook it. Keep all meat covered tightly when it is not on the grill, and keep the barbecue lid closed while the meat is cooking.
What smell do flies hate the most?
Generally, flies are pretty much attracted to anything that we consider a horrible smell, and find practically no scent repelling.
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Insecticides usually aren’t an effective way to control fly populations. Flies can develop a resistance to pesticides, so it’s best to use other methods.
Some people swear that hanging shiny objects around their yard deters flies. There is no concrete evidence to support this, but you can try hanging strips of aluminum foil or anything else that has a reflective surface near your patio or in your garden.
- Keep food covered. Flies, like any pests, are attracted to food, so the first step to keeping them away is to remove any food sources that are present – especially when getting rid of fruit flies, suggests Gene Caballero, pest control expert at GreenPal.
- Keep trash covered up. Flies are just as attracted to rotting food as the fresh food you cook, so it is vital to keep your outdoor waste bins covered and to empty them regularly, says Jim Tarman, pest control expert and branch manager at Fox Pest Control.
- Keep your yard well maintained and remove waste. Just as household waste can attract flies, yard waste, pet waste, and overgrown grasses can all provide refuge and food sources for flies.
- Use fly-repellent plants. Several fly-repellent plants can help to keep your yard free from pests, such as lavender, peppermint, and marigolds, explains Gene Caballero, pest control expert.
- Spray Insecticides. One of the most efficient ways to get rid of flies is to simply spray your exterior with a concentrated insecticide for a small outdoor population.
- Fly Traps. If you have a high-level infestation, trapping house flies outside is an even more effective way to manage them. When insecticides are not feasible or desired, fly traps may be a better option.
- Fly Baiting. And then there’s always baiting. Baiting house flies can be done when the fly source becomes too difficult to control. Baiting is often the go-to method for outside areas that will always be prone to fly such as around dumpsters, on farms, in kennels, or around composting areas.
- Light Traps. Light traps are similar to other traps, but they use powerful ultraviolet rays to attract flying insects. They then capture them on a glue board without the need for insecticides–and you can always spray the glue board with insecticides.
Apr 5, 2024 · Find out how to keep flies away in a natural way. With 54 ways to repel and kill houseflies, mosquitoes, and gnats. Includes natural DIY fly repellant recipes and plants that repel flies naturally...
Jun 3, 2024 · Keeping the doors and windows shut is one of the most simple yet effective ways to keep flies out of your house. This will ensure that any pesky flies lurking outside don't manage to get into your space. Additionally, installing screens on every openable window can make a huge difference in the number of flies you see inside your home.
