Preventing pests from entering your home can be as valuable a treatment as the treatments performed by pest control companies.  By protecting your home/office, you can inhibit a wide range of infestations, and can save yourself time and money.  The following are all things that can put you and your environment at risk for pest infestations:

1.     Unsealed food

2.     Open garbage cans

3.     Gaps in plumbing pipes and/or walls

4.     Leaking roof

5.     Blocked gutters

6.     Openings in windows/door frames

7.     Improperly sealed attics/crawl spaces

8.     Plies of firewood

9.     Standing water

10.  Long grass & overgrown shrubs

11.  Leaf buildup

By avoiding such risk factors, you can greatly reduce your chances of infestation from many common pests. Keep in mind that most pests are attracted to your home by conditions that are created by you, and are easily avoidable.  Many infestations can be avoided by keeping your home clean, and your yard free of clutter and debris, but as with anything, there are always exceptions.

If you are facing an infestation in your home or office, call 1-877-757-7767 for a free consultation.  The call is free, and the information gained is priceless!

As Fly Season approaches, please keep the following information on the control of biting flies in mind.
Many of the biting flies, like sand flies, black flies, horse flies, and deer flies breed in water or in mucky areas near ponds and swamps. Consequently, it is very difficult for individuals to attempt control of these biting flies by reducing breeding sites. Contact your local mosquito control district to see if there are any management programs in your area to reduce sources of these biting flies. Stable flies breed in decaying grass or crop clippings, hay residues, and silage. Because they are extremely strong fliers, the source of the infestation may be located up to several hundred miles away. Therefore, stable flies usually cannot be controlled by individuals.

Many biting flies are active at certain times. Avoid outdoor activity during these peak biting times. Horse flies, deer flies, black flies, and stable flies are usually most active during the day. Sand flies usually are most active around sunrise and sunset. Most of the biting flies are also most active at certain times of the year. Deer flies and black flies are most prevalent in early to late spring. Stable flies are most abundant in late August through October or November. Sand flies are most abundant during summer months, but may bite at any time during the year.

If it is necessary to go outdoors into areas where biting flies are prevalent, wear protective clothing. Long sleeved shirts, long pants will protect arms, legs, and head from bites. If necessary, apply a repellent labeled for biting fly protection.  Apply products according to label directions. Reapply as needed and as recommended on the label. Most repellents do not work as well for biting flies as they do for mosquitoes; therefore they have to be reapplied more often.

Most biting flies bite in still air. Increasing air movement in porches, patios, and picnic areas will keep biting flies away but will not usually provide complete protection. Burning candles, coils, and torches containing citronella or other biting fly repellent will sometimes help reduce bites. Burning these items produces a smoke which repels biting insects. Most biting flies will usually rest on low vegetation until they detect a host. Pruning shrubs, mowing weedy areas, and opening up the environment for air flow will reduce numbers of biting flies in an area.

Despite all efforts, biting flies may still be a problem. If biting flies get inside the house, space sprays can be applied to kill them.  Remove all people and pets from rooms, turn off air handling systems, apply the product according to label directions, and wait about 10-15 minuters before aerating the room. Keep room vacant as long as the label recommends.

Crack and crevice treatments can be used to treat areas where biting flies enter the house. Areas to be treated would include cracks around doors and windows. Biting flies that usually rest on vegetation or the sides of houses beforeck and  entering or before biting people. Numbers of biting flies around houses can be reduced by applying outdoor barrier treatments to places flies would contact before biting or entering the house.  There are products registered for outdoor barrier treatment. Be sure to apply all products according to label directions and to locations listed on the label.

Fly season presents many problems for not only residential areas but also for commercial areas including warehouses and food handling areas.  When considering a method to control fly infestations, please keep the following in mind year round:

1.       Sanitation – When it comes to fly control, sanitation must remain number one. The cleaner all areas remain, the fewer the chances for a location to breed become.
  2.       Identify the type of fly you are encountering problems with (if you currently have an infestation), as different types of flies breed and thrive in different environments.
  3.       Locate and eliminate the current or possible breeding ground for any and all species of flies. 
  4.    The drain/moth fly larvae feed on the sides of the drain and in the drain trap if there is an accumulation of organic debris there. You can check it by placing some tape over the opening (leave some opening for air flow). If you find these flies stuck to the tape, you have discovered the source.
  5.       Whenever possible, food and materials on which the flies can lay their eggs must be removed, destroyed.
  6.       Litter pans or other areas where fecal matter is present from pets should be cleaned regularly, along with pet food dishes.
  7.       Keep lids on all garbage containers, and keep containers clean.
  8.       Re-grout tiles to prevent water seepage into walls.
  9.    Clean dirty garbage containers, wet lint under the washing machine, and even standing water in containers under houseplant pots.
  10. Outside the home, inspect air conditioners, bird baths, shallow stagnant pools of water, and sewage treatment facilities located upwind, as adult flies will travel with the wind.

Killing of adult flies will be beneficial in reducing the infestation, though it will not eliminate it.  This can be done through the use of various types of traps and sprays.  To purchase supplies to aid in fly control, please visit www.proflycontrol.com, where you will find a complete line of fly traps and chemicals, as well as chemicals to aid in the cleaning process required for effective fly control.

If adult flies do not disappear within a week, seek further treatment, or other breeding sources.
For questions or any assistance with fly control, please feel free to contact our office at 1-877-757-PROS or by email at service@a3superior.com.