S & W Pest Management Inc : Insect Guide

Blow Fly
Family Calliphoridae
Color: metallic colors such as black, blue, green or copper
Legs: Six
Shape: Oval
Size: 1/4" - 3/8"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: Yes

Blow flies, also know as green or blue bottle flies, are larger than common house flies. Adults make a loud, droning buzz. Females lay eggs primarily on confined garbage. These flies are part of the decomposition process that recycles nutrients back into the soil. The maggots of these flies may be used by forensic entomologists to place the time of death in murder cases.

These flies are often attracted to dead animals, animal wounds, and feces-caked hair or wool on pets and farm animals. During warm autumn days, adults may gather on door and window screens and later enter homes for over wintering.

Larvae are commonly found in garbage wastes and pet feces. Larval development is completed in less than a week for green or copper blow flies and 10 to 20 days for black or blue blow flies. Green bottle flies are usually seen on dog feces. The flight range is 3 to 10 miles.

Flies may spread diseases such as conjunctivitis, poliomyelitis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, anthrax, leprosy, cholera, diarrhea and dysentery. Certain larvae of blow flies and bottle flies may feed on dead as well as living tissue of mammals, causing blood poisoning and even death, especially in sheep.

Prevention:

There are usually two reasons blow flies and bottle flies are found around homes. First, flies are being attracted to the building by trash containers or pet feces and second, openings such as doors or windows are permitting flies to enter. Here are some tips for reducing flies in and around your home:

Store garbage in trash cans in plastic bags. Plastic bags reduce odors that attract flies to the area.
Move trash cans as far from the building as possible.
Keep doors and windows closed unless equipped with tight screens.
Ensure all edges of doors and windows have tight weather stripping.
Remove animal feces from your yard.

If you would like to make an appointment with S & W Pest Management, please fill out the online appointment form or call 1-877-989-BUGS.