House Fly Appearance, Behaviour, Diet

and Facts
August 7, 2013 by Ankit 4 Comments

There are 100,000 species of flies in the world. Most of them have the same life
cycle and have an average life span of a month.
They can only be differentiated by their physical attributes, feeding habits or habitats.
Out of these 100,000 types of flies, housefly is the most common breed of flies found
in our household.
And today, in this post, I am going to highlight some interesting facts about
houseflies. But before that, lets have a look at the physical appearance of a fly.
Physical Appearance of a Housefly:

Houseflies are usually gray in color and are about 4 to 8

mm long. The upper body (pro thorax) is covered with four dark gray stripes. The
whole body of a house fly is covered with hair like projections.
Females are slightly larger than males and have more space between eyes. They
have sucking mouth parts and hence they do not bite. Apart from this, they also have
one pair of membranous wings, with a wingspan of 13-15 mm. The hind wings are
reduced to halters that help the fly in flight stability.
Behavior & Habitat of a Housefly:
Indoors, houseflies mostly rest on walls, ceilings, floors or near a human food
source, but outdoors they rest on plants, ground, or trash cans. They are good at
flying and can fly up to 8 km in a single flight.
In warm climates, they can breed thought the year; but in colder climates, breeding
usually stops before the winter. Houseflies mostly breed on trash cans, animal dung,
human excrement, decaying vegetable and animal materials.
Feeding Habits of a Housefly:
House flies feed on a wide variety of organic matter including faeces and many types
of liquids. Basically, the mouth parts of a house fly are such that it can only take
liquid and semi liquid foods. So, when it lands on the solid food, it vomits on the solid
food and creates a solution of it, then sucks it and thus contaminates the food.
Housefly Life Cycle:

Each adult female fly can lay up to 2000 eggs in its life time. The eggs are laid in a
batch of about 75 to 150 in a damp environment (like garbage, composite or manure)
where food is available in abundance. Within a day, larvae also called as maggots
are hatched from the eggs. The larvae are pale colored, 4-8 mm in length, they feed
on the food for next 5 to 14 days.
After this the maggots crawl to a cool and dry place to pupate. Fly pupae are barrel
shaped, 5-8 mm long and have resistant reddish or brown colour outer coating. The
pupae converts to an adult fly after 3-4 weeks. After emerging from pupae, the flies
cease to grow and lives for about 1 month.
Interesting Facts about House Flies:
Flies have compound eyes, which give them an ability to detect movements and
changing light patterns.
House flies cannot bite as their mouth parts are only made for taking semi solid
and liquid foods.
House flies have small hind wings which gives them a very good flight stability.
The growth of a house fly stops after coming out of their pupae.
Small size of a fly doesnt mean that its young, it simply means that it didnt
receive proper nutrition in the larvae stage.
A Housefly defecates about 300 times in a single day i.e. once in every 4-5
minutes.
 House flies are the carriers of many diseases, and they are known to transfer over
100 pathogens resulting in some serious diseases like typhoid, tuberculosis,
cholera and dysentery.
The feet of a housefly are 10 million times more sensitive to sugar than human
tongue.
Houseflies are equipped with glue oozing toe-pads and this helps them to walk
upside down.
A fly beats its wings 200 times in a second, which is thrice faster than a humming
bird.
Houseflies can travel a distance 300 times of their length in one second; a jet
travelling at the speed of sound can only travel 100 times its length in a second.

How to Get Rid Of Flies in the House or

Outdoors Steps To Control a Fly Infestion
Most of us dont like flies and I am sure if you are here, you are one of them. Flies
are more than just a mere nuisance.
According to a study, there are more than 100,000 known species of flies (only
God knows how many species are still unknown).
Their presence alone is often annoying to people, but the true effects they have on
humanity go largely unseen.
[This is a 5000+ word article on how to get rid of flies, so if you dont want to read
whole of it and would like to directly jump onto the meat of this article then click
here]
Table Of Contents:
How Flies Are Bad For Us
Understanding The Fly LifeCycle
Fly Control Techniques
Fly Eradication Techniques
Fly Repellents
Fly Traps
Mechanical Methods
Electrical Methods
Chemical Methods
Biological Methods
Miscellaneous Methods
 Comparison Of Fly Eradication Techniques
Your Turn
Need Help for Dealing With Any of These Fly Species?
House Flies

Drain Flies

Gnats

Sand Flies

Cluster Flies

Deer Flies

Horse Flies

Blow Flies

[NOTE: Before going through the above articles, I would suggest you to read this
article first and then read the specific article about the particular fly type that has
infested your household. This will help you to understand and implement the
solutions and methods discussed here in an effective way.]
How Flies Are Bad For Us:
Flies are the carriers of very deadly diseases, they infest meat and other food items,
some of their species also spread food poisoning bacteria like Salmonella enteritidis.
The habitat of a fly makes it perfectly suited for spreading diseases. Fly is a restless
insect, it moves back and forth between food and filth and this helps it in spreading
infections faster.
It is attracted to the food by its sense of smell, however it cannot eat solid food.
When it reaches the food it vomits on the solid food and creates a solution of it, then
sucks it and thus contaminates the food.
Below, I have highlighted some diseases that are caused by flies:
Flies can cause typhoid and paratyphoid fevers.
They can also spread some other diseases like diarrhea and dysentery, cholera,
conjunctivitis etc. by mechanical contamination.
Other diseases carried by house flies include salmonella, anthrax and
tuberculosis.
They are also known to transmit the eggs of parasitic worms.
Sand flies found in South America, Africa and Europe are carriers of a micro-
organism responsible for a disease that eats away the human skin. This disease
is known as Leishmaniasis.
Before moving further, lets see the life cycle of a fly.
Understanding The Fly Life Cycle:
There are 4 major stages in the life cycle of a typical housefly. In the beginning of
first stage, 150 eggs are laid in a moist environment (like garbage, composite or
manure) where food is available in abundance.
Next, eggs began to hatch within a day and the larva feeds on the food for 5-14
days. After this, the larva crawls to some dry place to pupate. The pupae transforms
to an adult after 3-4 weeks. Adult flies can live for about a month and during this time
they can produce 500 to 2,000 eggs.
This can give you an idea how fast flies can grow. Now, lets have a look at the
techniques that can be used to get rid of flies.
How To Get Rid Of Flies:
The process of getting rid of flies can be divided into two stages:
Stage 1 (Fly Control Techniques) Stage 1 primarily comprises of the methods
that can be used to control the further growth of flies. In fly control techniques, we try
to control the growth of flies by cleaning or rather destroying their breeding sources.
This will help to stop any further growth of flies as after this they will have no place to
lay eggs.
Stage 2 (Fly Elimination Techniques) Now, after destroying the breeding place
of flies, we will be left only with the adult flies. Since they now have no place to lay
eggs, so the fly problem will get solved by killing these adult flies. And this is Stage 2
of the process.
Recommended Reading: How to get rid of gnats
Stage 1: Fly Control Techniques:
At this stage we are going to control the growth of flies by destroying their breeding
sources. Lets see the steps involved in this process:
Step 1 Identify:
First of all identify the species of the fly that you mostly see in the infested area. You
can use the below table to do this. In this table, I have compiled the data about
commonly found species of flies and their possible breeding sites.
Step 2 Find the Breeding Source:
Now after you have identified the species of fly that has infested your household,
check its breeding sources from the table and find the similar sites in the vicinity of
the infested area. Please note that such sources could be located up to 500 800
meters away from the place of infestation.
This step may take time, but then you cannot skip this step as it is the most
important step in the whole process.
Step 3 Clean the Breeding Source:

After you have found a probable breeding source of

those flies, clean it up. Wash fly specks off the walls, ground or floor with a borax
and water solution. This removes the trace that flies leave to attract other flies to an
area.
If it is near some garbage can, then it is better to cover it up and remove garbage at
least 2 times per week.
If there is some dead animal or bird near this area, get it removed and make sure
that it is disposed of properly. Try to keep the area clean and dry.
Step 4 Wait for 1 to 3 months:

Using the above steps, you will prevent new generations of flies from
reproducing in your area. But then, you may have to use some other methods to get
rid of the individual flies that may come till next 1 3 months (because this is the
maximum lifespan of an adult fly).
Stage 2: Fly Eradication Techniques:
In stage 2 of the process, we are going to have a look at some methods to kill or
repel the adult flies in the infested areas. In this section, we are going to see some
quick fire ways to eradicate flies.
When you talk about fly eradication methods, there are hundreds of them but in this
article we will only see the best ones.
Also, for the sake of simplicity we will classify these methods into 7 major categories.
You can pick any method from any category to see if it works in your case or not.
These categories are as follows:
Category 1: Fly Repellents:
1. Using Vodka Based Fly Repellents:

For some reason flies hate Vodka. They just

cannot bear its smell and hence some people use vodka based repellents to ward off
flies.
To make such vodka based fly repellents you will have to mix following ingredients:
1 cup vodka
2 tsp aloe vera juice
1 tsp lemon eucalyptus oil
1/2 tsp. essential oil blend
After mixing the ingredients, pour them in a spray bottle. Apply it over your skin or
spray it near the infested area to repel flies.
Note: Only apply this repellent on your skin if you are comfortable with it. If you have
any kind of allergies with any of the above ingredients then its better to avoid this
method.
2. Using Lemongrass Oil as a Natural Fly Repellent:
Lemongrass oil has strong insect repellent properties and in addition to this it can
also keep your home refreshingly aromatic. So, you can use the lemongrass oil to
make a fly repelling spray that also works as a room freshener.
To make this spray you will have to mix following ingredients:
Lemongrass essential oil- 20-25 drops
Hot water about 1/2 cup
Keep the solution in a spray bottle and spray it along your doorways and windows or
any other fly infested area.
Note: In absence of Lemongrass oil you could also use other natural oils like
Lavender oil, Citronella oil, Eucalyptus oil, Pennyroyal oil, or Peppermint oil. But with
them you wont achieve the results that you would get with Lemongrass oil.
Read this: Using natural oils to repel flies
3. Using Clove based Deterrent:
Cloves are pleasurably aromatic for humans but flies (particularly house flies)
cannot stand the scent of cloves. In this remedy, you would have to use cloves
along with lemons to deter flies.

To make this
deterrent, take a lemon and cut it into two halves. After this, poke 6-12 cloves into
each half of the lemon.
And then, you can keep few such clove poked lemons in a plate as a beautiful
centerpiece for your table, especially for the times when you have meals with friends
outdoor like in a barbeque party.
Alternatively, you could also use clove oil as it works better than solid cloves.
4. Creating Apple Cider Vinegar and Witch Hazel fly Repellent:
This is a natural fly repellent that works mostly against house flies. To make this
repellent, you would need following ingredients:
 1/4 cup witch hazel
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
30 60 drops of eucalyptus oil
To make this repellent mix 1/4 cup witch hazel and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar. After
this, add 30 60 drops of eucalyptus oil in the solution and shake the mixture well.
Now, you can apply this repellent on the uncovered areas of your body. Please note
that do not let this solution to enter your eyes or mouth.
5. Using herbs like Basil, Lavender, and Mint to deter flies:
Flies do not like the fragrance of certain aromatic herbs, such as Elder, Basil,
Lavender, Tansy, Wormwood, Rue, and Mint.

You could plant these herbs in a pot near

your doorways to keep flies away. This will not only prevent flies from entering your
house but will also make the surrounding environment healthy.
If for some reason you cannot plant these herbs then, get some dried basil and mint
leaves. Tie them up in a cheesecloth or a muslin bag and hang them in the infested
area.
Read this: Plants that repel flies and keep them away.
6. Using Camphor or Citronella smoke:
Citronella and Camphor both are very good at repelling flies. In general flies hate
smoke, but when the smoke is from a citronella candle or a piece of camphor then it
becomes doubly effective against them.
To try this method, light a citronella candle or a piece of camphor and spread the
smoke in the fly infested area and you could see them leaving the place instantly.
Compare the efficiency of Citronella Candles with other Fly Eradication
Techniques[Click Here]
Category 2: Fly Traps:
7. Using Sugar-Water fly trap:
To make your Sugar-Water fly trap, all you need is a wide-mouthed jar, some sugar
water, and a paper cone.
First of all pour the sugar syrup in the jar and then cut a 1 cm diameter hole at the
apex of the cone. Now, place the cone in the jar upside down, so that it should not

touch the liquid.

Now, as the jar contains sweet liquid so flies will be attracted to it and will go down
through the cone into the jar. Once inside, they wont be able to fly up through the
hole to come out again.
Read this: Top DIY homemade fly traps
8. Using Milk Sugar Pepper Trap:
This trap works wonderfully for fruit flies. It has been used in many parts of the world
since ancient period to trap fruit flies. To make this trap you would need:
Milk- 1/4 litre
Sugar- 3 tsp
Ground black pepper- 1 tbsp
Pour all the ingredients in a pan. Heat them for 5 10 minutes on simmer. After this
remove the mixture from heat and pour it in shallow bowls and keep these bowls
near the fly infested area.
Fruit flies will get attracted to this and as soon as they land on the solution they will
suffocate and get drowned.
9. Disposable Fly Traps:
Disposable fly traps are one of the best fly catchers. They provide a simple, no-mess
way to keep flies away from your patio and garden.
A disposable fly trap consists of a specially formulated bait or attractant which is
water soluble. The attractant is kept inside a pouch and only gets activated when you

add water to it.

After adding water to it, the attractant dissolves in the water producing a sweet smell
which flies love. Flies can get inside the bag, but due to its construction they are not
able to move out and eventually are drowned in the water inside.
These kinds of traps have been proved to work against multiple types of flies like:
House flies, blow flies, carrion flies, cluster flies, flesh flies, stable flies etc.
Read this: All about disposable fly traps
Compare the efficiency of Disposable Fly Traps with other Fly Eradication
Techniques[Click Here]
10. Using Pheromone Traps:
Pheromone Traps are most effective traps against multiple species of flies. These
traps work like any other normal trap but instead of a normal food or odour bait they
have pheromones.
Pheromones are powerful sexual attractants which are quite effective in luring
multiple species of flies. As soon as the insect gets inside the trap it is unable to
escape.
Pheromone traps are very sensitive, which means they can attract insects present at
very low densities. They can be used both for an indoor or an outdoor infestation.
The biggest drawback of such traps is that they are generally limited to one
gender.
11. Using Fly Paper to Kill Flies:
Fly papers or fly ribbons are the cheap and best things to trap flies. A fly paper is
coated with a sweet fragrant to which flies get attracted.
The paper is extremely sticky and sometimes also has a layer of poisonous
substance above it. And hence a fly paper initially attracts the flies and then traps

them when they land upon it.

You can also make a fly paper at home, for this you would need following items:
Sheets of brown paper or thin cards
Scissors
Heating Pan
A large sized spoon for stirring
Corn Syrup
Water
Thread
To make the fly paper, cut the brown paper sheets into 2 inch wide strips. After this
take equal parts of corn syrup and water into a pan and heat the mixture till it starts
boiling. Keep stirring the mixture with the spoon while heating.
After this, remove the pan from heat and soak the strips into the mixture for at least 4
5 hours. Next, take out the strips and allow them to dry for 2-3 hours. When the
strips get dry, hang them in the fly infested area and your homemade fly paper is
ready to catch flies.
Read this: All about fly papers
Compare the efficiency of Fly Paper with other Fly Eradication Techniques [Click
Here]
12. Using a Fly Vacuum:

A fly vacuum is a type of small but powerful hand held vacuum cleaner
that runs on batteries. You only have to switch on the device and point in the
direction of flies to catch them.
Some variants of bug vacuum also have a trap door that securely traps the, insects
within the nozzle and prevents them from flying back out. With some practice you
can become a pro fly catcher with your portable vacuum.
Compare the efficiency of Fly Vacuum with other Fly Eradication Techniques [Click
Here]
Category 3: Mechanical Methods:
13. Using a Fly Gun:

A Fly Gun is an improved derivative of a flyswatter. It uses a

plastic projectile loaded on a spring to mechanically swat flies.
Over the projectile there is round perforated disk, when you fire the projectile along
with the round disk, aiming at a fly, it hits the fly and the fly gets killed. It looks more
of a toy, than a fly killer.
Compare the efficiency of Fly Gun with other Fly Eradication Techniques [Click
Here]
14. Using a Flyswatter:
A fly swatter consists of a thin, flexible mesh like small rectangular or round sheet of
lightweight plastic, connected to a lightweight wire or plastic handle about 1 1.5
feet in length.
User has to wait for the fly to land somewhere and then he has to use the flyswatter
to mechanically crush the fly against the hard surface. This works great when you
are dealing with a few flies. But when we are talking about a fly infestation then, this
method is not very efficient as it is quite impossible to swat every single fly.
15. Using Bug-A-Salt 2.0:
Bug-A-Salt is a fly assault rifle, the rifle uses regular table salt to shoot a
concentrated spray pattern of salt granules (more or less like a shotgun), killing the
flies and other flying insects on

contact.
The salt will not harm your walls or furniture but it is strong enough to easily kill flies.
This fly rifle is a non-toxic, battery-free device that allows you to have fun while
getting rid of flies.
Operating the device is also easy Fill the rifle with table salt, pump the slide action,
then take the safety off and you are ready to go hunting. With Bug-A-Salt you can kill
flies from several feet and with a bit of practice, you can take out flies in flight too.
Compare the efficiency of Bug-A-Salt with other Fly Eradication Techniques [Click
Here]
16. Using a Newspaper Roll:
Roll up a thick newspaper and then wait for these pesky culprits to land somewhere,
aim and hit. And yes, dont forget to wipe the bloody mess off the surface as it may
attract more flies.
17. Using a Rubber-band:

Cut a rubber-band at one end. Find a resting fly, sneak up

behind the fly and stretch the band as far as possible. Take aim and let one end go.
Skilled people can also use this method to kill flies in air!
Category 4: Electrical Methods:
18. Using an Electronic Handheld FlySwatter:
Electronic handheld Flyswatters are also called fly bats as they resemble badminton
rackets. These swatters have an ON/OFF switch near the handle. By switching them
ON the grid of the swatter gets electrically charged to a voltage of between 1000
and 2500 V DC.
 For killing the fly you have to swing the bat in the
direction of the fly. When fly comes near the electrodes (charged grid), a spark
jumps through the fly and it gets killed.
The best thing about such fly swatters is that, you dont have to wait for the flies to
land anymore; you can just zap these pest right out of thin air.
Compare the efficiency of Electronic Flyswatters with other Fly Eradication
Techniques[Click Here]
19. Using Electronic Fly Zapper:
An electronic fly zapper is basically an electrical discharge insect control system.
The device lures the insect towards itself and zaps it when it comes in contact. So,
unlike an Electronic fly swatter you wont have to run after a fly to zap it.
Electronic Fly Zapper emits a white UV light and hence most of the flying insects
(including flies) get attracted to it.
Near the light source there is an electric grid, when a fly comes in contact with the
electrodes it gets a shock and is killed and drops down in the collection tray. You can
then clean the collection tray as and when required.
The device also has a protective guard that prevents people and pets from
accidentally touching the grid. Electronic fly zappers are designed for indoor use
only.
Compare the efficiency of Electronic Fly Zapper with other Fly Eradication
Techniques[Click Here]
20. UV Fly Electric Traps:
Flies and many other flying insects are very much attracted to some frequencies of
light and UV fly trap works on the same principle. You can use these UV light traps
with any standard AC outlet.
These traps have a single or multiple 2 25 Watt UV light lamps which can attract
flies within a 600 1800 square feet area.
Once the flies come near the lamp they try to enter the enclosure and get trapped on
the adhesive glueboard. The adhesive Glueboards can be easily replaced so you
can continue using the unit for years.
The device works in very clean way No odours, No Mess, No Chemicals, and No
Toxins. Such fly traps are mostly designed for indoor use only.
Category 5: Chemical Methods:
21. Using Chemical Fly Sprays:
There are some chemical sprays in market (like: HotShot or RAID Insect killers) that
can kill flies instantly. These sprays usually have a quick response time and hence
are preferred by many people.

Few of such sprays are pet safe and some are even safe to be used on plants.
Regular repeated application for 1 or 2 weeks can give long lasting results. These
kinds of sprays work against multiple species of flies like: House Flies, Horse Flies,
Deer Flies, Flesh Flies, Bottle Flies, Cluster Flies, Stable Flies, Drain Flies, Gnats
etc.
The only thing that goes against them is that most of such fly sprays are toxic and
sometimes can have a bad impact on the environment.
Compare the efficiency of Chemical Fly Sprays with other Fly Eradication
Techniques[Click Here]
22. Using Dish Soap Spray:
Do you know which is the best anti fly spray?
Any Guesses?
Its your dish soap. Most dish soaps contain borax in tiny quantities. And borax in
small quantities (concentration below 5%) works as an insecticide, but it acts as an
insect repellent if its concentration is above 5%.
To make your own homemade fly killer spray take an empty spray bottle. And add 7
10 drops of dish soap; add 2 cups of warm water. Now close the lid of spray bottle,
shake the solution and your homemade fly killer spray is ready.
Spray it directly on the flies and watch them dying instantly. Borax dehydrates the
exoskeleton of the insects which eventually kills them.
Note: To make the solution more effective you can also try adding tsp of borax
powder to the solution.
Category 6: Biological Methods
23. Using Carnivorous Plants:
If you are searching for a very clean way to kill flies, then I would suggest you to
invest in some carnivorous plants like Venus Fly Trap or Sundew.

These plants are very attractive to look at, and in addition to this they do a steady job
of attacking, trapping, and digesting flies.
In terms of efficiency, and the quantity of flies they can consume, they are certainly
not the best but they are the cleanest option as they dont leave any mess after
killing flies.
Compare the efficiency of Carnivorous Plants with other Fly Eradication
Techniques[Click Here]
24. Using IGRs (Insect Growth Regulators):
IGR is an abbreviation used for insect growth regulator. Insect growth regulators are
one of the best biological methods to end a fly infestation.
IGRs are chemically manufactured hormones that interfere with the normal lifecycle
of an insect. When an insect grows, it undergoes a process called molting. During
this process the insect grows a new exoskeleton under its existing one, then sheds
the existing exoskeleton to grow further.
IGRs prevent the insects from reaching maturity by interfering with the molting
process. This ceases the further growth of the insect and because of this insect
never reaches the adult phase. And hence is unable to reproduce.
IGRs are mostly beneficial against drain flies, fruit flies, fungus gnats and eye gnats.
25. Beneficial Nematodes:
Beneficial nematodes are microscopic (not visible with naked eyes) round worms
that act as parasites. Once installed, they search for specific fly species larvae, and
other soil-borne pests, penetrate them and then consume the pest larvae from inside
out.
It should be noted that they do not harm people, pets, plants, or earthworms. They
are safe to use and once installed they can work for as long as 18 months.
26. Pyrethrin Based Insecticide Sprays:
Pyrethrins are a class of organic compounds that have insecticidal properties.
Pyrethrins affect the insects by targeting their nervous systems. In nature
Pyrethrin occurs in the Chrysanthemum flowers.
 And because of this it is
considered to be the safest insecticides known to man till date. You can get the
concentrated pyrethrin based insecticide from any farm supply or agricultural
chemical firms.
The concentration of the insecticide in the spray varies according to the animal to be
treated. For example: if you wish to treat cattle then you should buy the formulation
labelled specifically for them.
For best results, Pyrethrin based insecticides must be sprayed daily on the livestock.
But partial control can also be achieved by spraying it on every other day. You could
spray the insecticide directly or can use a sponge to do this.
Note: Please note that even this is a naturally occurring insecticide but still it is toxic.
Use it with due caution.
Category 7: Miscellaneous Methods
27. Using Clear Plastic Bags Filled with Water:
Some people have reported to deter flies by using a transparent plastic bag half filled
with water. Scientists also support this method for repelling flies. They say that flies
have compound eyes, which means that they have around 8000 lenses in each eye.
This gives them a great ability to detect movement and changing light patterns. A
bag of water reflects light in all directions and flies do not like to be near such a thing.
But the drawback with this method is that it could only be used during the day time.
However, you can use an artificial light source during night time but then it doesnt
works that well.
28. Using Fresh Orange Peel:
Have you ever noticed why many commercially manufactured bug repellents contain
orange or lemon extracts? These extracts are not only for the scent in the product
but they are also excellent bug repellents.
You can also try putting fresh citrus peels in the fly infested area or place the peels in
a small cloth or muslin teabag near the infested area. Rub the peels every once in a
while to keep the scent fresh.
Note: Please do not use this remedy for fruit flies because they are attracted to the
orange peels. This method works best for house flies.
29. Using a Pole Fan to Keep Flies Away:
If flies become a huge problem when you are cooking outdoors or having a barbecue
party with your friends, then this is perhaps the best and hassle free home remedy
for flies.
Get a standing pole fan, switch it ON and point it towards the grill or table, besides
keeping you cool, it will also keep flies and mosquitoes away.
If it is possible, you can also try cooking food using firewood or charcoal. Because
when there is smoke there is less chance of flies.
30. Hair Spray for Swatting Flies:
We all know that, Hairsprays work by creating a liquid elastic layer over your hair that
quickly stiffens your hair.
Can you guess what happens when you spray it on a fly?
When you spray Hairspray on a fly, it freezes the wings of a fly and hence the fly
becomes slow and becomes an easy target.
But then, who would want to waste his hairspray on a fly. Definitely not me!

31. Let Them Go Outside:

Some noble souls do not like to hurt flies so the

option of killing the flies is not suitable for them. But here is a good news for such
people as they too can get rid of flies and that too without hurting them.
For this you would have to wait until twilight and then simply open your front or
back door and letting them out.
According to researchers, at the twilight time sunlight has some frequencies that are
enormously attractive to flies and they instinctively fly towards it.
32. Darken Your Room:
Flies have a natural tendency to move towards light. What we would consider a
romantic or relaxing atmosphere is something they hate.
So, if you are down for a quiet supper or conversation with friends in the evening,
consider dimming your lamps.
This will help you to get rid of flies and also help you save some bucks on the
electricity bills.
33. Boil Malt Vinegar:
 Malt Vinegar when boiled gives out an incense that
flies cannot tolerate and hence this can be used for deterring flies.
To use this remedy, take a pot with a thick base. Pour some malt vinegar in the pot.
Start heating the pot till the malt vinegar inside starts boiling. After this turn off the
heat and keep the pot in the fly infested area and you will see flies getting repelled
by this.
Note: Please make sure you watch the procedure closely as you dont want the
vinegar to burn, because on burning malt vinegar stinks.
34. Control the Temperature of your Room:
It is a well known fact that flies love hot weather, but you must understand that they
neither like too hot nor do they like too cold environment.
Flies hate anything above 38 degree Celsius (100 F) and they cannot survive if the
temperature rises above 47 degree Celsius (116 F).
But if raising the room temperature seems difficult, you have another option and that
is to cool the room. If the room temperature is lowered to 9 degree Celsius (48 F), it
disables a normal housefly and it is not able to fly.
Whereas, if the temperature is further reduced to 7 degree Celsius (44 F) you will
see them dying within few hours.
35. Other Fly Repelling Methods:
These are some other natural fly repellent recipes, but they work against only a few
species of flies.
Cucumbers Yes, few species of flies hate them.
Onions House flies hate them especially their juice.
Cayenne Pepper Take some dried powder of cayenne pepper and mix it with
water. Spray using a spray bottle and you will find flies being repelled by its
aroma.
Cinnamon Some flies hate their fragrance so you could use them as an air
freshener.
So, these were all the fly eradicating techniques.