Keeping your home fly‑free: The menace of fly larvae and how to combat them
12 June 2024 09:06
Fly larvae can also appear under your roof. Just a moment of inattention creates perfect conditions for their development. If we don’t react in time, we may face an invasion of adult flies. They contaminate food and spread diseases.
The white larvae you can find in your home are often the offspring of house flies that have managed to lay eggs under your roof. Their bodies have a whitish hue, often tending towards creamy. They are tiny, measuring about 2 millimetres, but over time, after consuming liquid food, they can grow to over 1 centimetre.
Additionally, they are slightly striped and have small indentations. Larvae do not have a distinct head; only two dark points are visible at the front, and the rear is strongly truncated. Female flies lay eggs in places that provide larvae access to food, moisture, and warmth. After hatching, the larvae feed intensively to accumulate the energy reserves necessary to transform into adult flies.
Larvae are most often found in the kitchen
The favourite hiding spots of white fly larvae are where rotting organic substances are present. Most often, you will find them in the kitchen, where they are attracted by leftover liquid food. Fly larvae can be found near trash cans, as the smell of food scraps, meat, or fruit draws them. They also do not disdain the remains of moist food for cats or dogs, organic waste, especially compost bins, or food scraps that have fallen under the refrigerator.
It is essential to clean up spilled drinks quickly and regularly take out the trash, especially in the summer when food scraps can attract white maggots. It is better to prevent the spread of larvae. When their numbers increase, they can move to other nooks and crannies in the house.
The presence of larvae in the house
Although fly larvae do not cause material damage, their presence can lead to many problems. First and foremost, they are bothersome and uncomfortable, contaminate food, can carry diseases, and produce an unpleasant odour that is difficult to remove.
The best way to combat fly larvae is to prevent them from appearing. Maintain cleanliness and regularly empty the trash can wash pet bowls, remove food scraps, and ensure hygiene in the kitchen. Store food in airtight containers to prevent flies from accessing it and laying eggs.
Use mosquito screens on windows and doors. Use fly traps. Sticky traps, insecticidal lamps, or homemade "repellents" such as apple cider vinegar can help reduce the fly population.
