Oh me, oh my, these F’in FLIES!
Let me start off by saying, I HATE flies. I think they are dirty, pukey, poopy nasty creatures and they should only live in landfills or on dog crap. Well, we have new roommates. We have to be well over 200 now, in all stages of the fly-making process. Yes, I know. It’s absolutely disgusting. It’s so frustrating because the house is not dirty. I mean, it has clutter, but, we empty the trashes, clean out and wash the sink/dishes every night, scrub the grout…I mean, I’m not a neat freak, but it isn’t dirty in here. they have to feed on something??! What they heck, man? I can’t figure out where they are coming from. The only possibly place there could possibly be “organic, decaying matter” is in the trash, in the laundry room, but we disinfected the trash cans the day we found maggots strewn all over the kitchen floor. OMG, someone has to know something out there. I know my hitting accuracy has dramatically improved over the last week, but I need some help! Any pointers? I’ve washed rugs in hot, mopped/swept/vacuumed, disinfected, and the flies are still around.
In case you ever wondered about the life cycle of a house fly, or if you want to be disgusted further (and never want to visit our, apparently, “Filthy” house)…keep reading.
Life Cycle of the House Fly
Scientific Name: Musca domestica Linnaeus
The house fly belongs to a group of flies known as filth flies, named for their habit of laying their eggs in moist, decaying organic matter – particularly manure and garbage. Each female lays batches of 100-150 eggs over a 3-4 day period. If temperatures are high, eggs may hatch within 7.5 hours, otherwise it may take 1-2 days for them to hatch. The eggs hatch into maggots and feed on the organic material in which they find themselves. The larvae go through three moults before they stop feeding and burrow for protection in dry surrounding areas, where they pupate.
Adults mate within one or two days following emergence from their pupal cases. The entire life cycle can be completed in as little as a week, though more commonly the life cycle takes up to three weeks for completion.
During the warmer months the life span of the house fly is 2 1/2 weeks but during the cooler months they overwinter in protected locations in the larval or pupal stage.
Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series. Image 1435183, www.insectimages.org.
Adrian works for Antimite… call them and mention Adrian’s name and you may just get a discount along with no more flies.
My parents have had a ton of flies lately too! They thought it was because of the contruction by their house. I’m not sure what that has to do with flies, but okay. We went over there the other day after my Dad had sprayed something and there were dead flies EVERYWHERE!!! I seriously had to vaccuum before I would let the boys play. Barf.