Description
Blow and Bottle Flies are found worldwide, occurring nearly every place inhabited by people.
The name blow fly comes from the bloated condition of the rotting animal
carcasses that their larvae, known as maggots, infest. The most frequent
species found under these conditions is the common blow fly.
These flies are common in populated areas and are may be found near meat-processing
plants, garage dumps and slaughterhouses.
Blow Flies also include a number of species including the common bluebottle
fly, Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus) the green bottlefly,
Phaenicia sericata (Meigen) and others.
Blow flies are slightly larger than true house
flies, and the bodies of many are metallic blue or green in color. Worldwide,
there are about 1200 species of blow flies, and in North America there are
80. In many areas such as the American Southwest, blow flies are the most
common type of flies found in and around houses and other human habitations.
Blow flies range in length from 7 to 16 mm (0.28 to 0.63 in); they have
robust bodies and wide heads.
1. Exclusion
and Sanitation
-
Locate and eliminate all possible breeding sources. Blow Flies and Bottle Flies feed and breed on dead animals and garbage. Whenever
possible, food and materials on which the flies can lay their eggs must
be removed, destroyed, as a breeding medium, or isolated from the egg-laying
adult. Killing adult flies will reduce infestation, but elimination
of breeding areas is necessary for good management
-
Proper sanitation measures must be taken with dumpsters and rodent control measures.
- Exclude Blow/Bottle Flies from a structure with proper screening and maintenance of doors and windows.
- Garbage
cans and dumpsters should have tight-fitting lids and be cleaned regularly.
- Drainage
will often aid control, getting rid of extra moisture.
- Openings
of buildings should be tightly screened with screen.
II Using Insecticides, Fly Baits and Fly Traps
- Blow/Bottle Flies rarely require chemical control. However, if necessary, spray entry points on building or fly resting areas with residual liquid insecticides such as Cyper WP or D-Fense SC. In order to maintain a residual control, use these insecticides once a month.
- Fly Glue Traps such as Catchmaster Gold Sticks -10.5" and Catchmaster Goldstick - 24 ", or Revenge Jumbo Fly Catchers may be used to trap and kill Blow Flies. You can use the Goldsticks inside or outside. The Jumbo Fly Catchers are perfect for hanging in gararges or basements. We carry a large assortment of fly glue traps
- Fly Baits are a common method of fly control. If you use fly baits, remember to keep the fly bait as far away as possible from your house or building. Fly Bait such as Bonanza Fly Bait or Maxforce Granular Fly Bait work quickly, killing flies in about 60 seconds, and keeps controlling them for up to 30 days.
- A pyrethrum aerosol will provide a contact kill for immediate relief It may take a while for sanitation methods, residual chemical methods and fly baits to begin working. CB 80 Pyrethrin Aerosol or V One Pyrethrum Aerosol can be used as a contact, quick kill insecticide.
Biology and Habits
Blow Fly, any of a large family of flies known for the habit of the larvae,
or immature flies of, infesting animal carcasses.
Adult blow flies feed primarily on flower nectar, plant sap, and other sugary
materials. The female blow fly typically lays her eggs on the body of a
recently killed animal. The eggs hatch quickly and the maggots then feed
on the decaying tissues. In warm weather, some species can complete their
larval growth within a week. They then burrow into the soil and pupate,
to emerge later as adult flies. Blow flies play an essential role in nature
by decomposing dead tissue. The species of blow fly is an exception: its
larvae prey on earthworms.
Blow flies have played a role in medicine: species such as the green bottle
fly and the black blow fly were once commonly used to clean open wounds
in humans because the maggots tend to feed only on decayed tissue. The maggots
then feed on the animal's healthy tissue. Because blow flies routinely move
between dead animals or dung and human habitats, they may transmit disease
organisms to people, including the bacteria that cause dysentery, typhus,
and cholera.
Blow Fly Inspection and Blow Fly Control
Eggs are usually laid on meat or dead animals. Some blow fly species, such as the screw worm fly, lay their eggs on living
animals.
Most of these flies found indoors originate from an outside source because
of their breeding preferences.
Garbage cans are a huge source for blow flies. Single cans have produced
more than 30,0000 flies in a week.
If there is a large number of blow flies inside, it most likely is a sign
of a dead rodent or bird.
Finding the source of the animal or bird is often more difficult because
it has been dead several weeks by the time the flies appear.
If a dead animal odor is present, it may help narrow the search area.
Look for signs of dead rodents or birds that may have been living in walls
or crawl spaces, or even living in lower cabinets and under major appliances.
Fly larvae often will crawl along a wall until they encounter a corner
where they then pupate.
Numerous pupae in a corner indicate the breeding source is near.
If the flies are found inside the light covers in the ceiling, it means
the flies emerged either in the ceiling or from the wall. The breeding
source might be either in the ceiling or a wall.
Outdoors, inspect the
area for dead animals; any nearby dumpsters or other garbage containers
should be inspected.
