Learn how to get rid of flies outside, plus tips to prevent infestations in the future.
Look for other signs that might point to flies outside your home:
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Encourage Natural Predators
Many birds and most bats feed heavily on flying insects, including houseflies.
The Spruce
Birds also eat maggots and fly larvae, offering preventative control.
Replace fly paper regularly to remove insect waste and keep the scent strong.
In addition to the scent, candles produce smoke, which repels most flying insects.
Jenny Dettrick / Getty Images
You may need to light several candles to repel flies effectively.
Use Fans
Set up anoscillating fannear your grill or picnic table.
Flies don’t maneuver well in strong breezes, so this works well to keep them at bay.
An outdoor ceiling fan is a great option if your deck or patio has an overhead structure.
Flies are attracted to the acetic acid in vinegar, which creates the same fermentation smell as decomposing fruits.
The vinegar lures the flies, and the dish soap causes them to sink.
you’re free to also use these ingredients in an inverted cone trap or anempty soda bottle trap.
What Causes Flies Outdoors?
Flies are most common from spring to fall.
Flies appear in outdoor locations wherever there are food sources and moisture.
Dark areas also encourage breeding, while warm areas like open doors or vents attract flies preparing for hibernation.
Use additional methods like traps, natural predators, and repellents to keep populations under control.
Using Pesticides
Use chemical pesticides carefully as a last resort.
These products will also kill beneficial insects like pollinator bees.
Flies are resistant to many insecticides, so chemical control is not recommended.
Wind and air patterns also make these sprays challenging to control in outdoor locations.
Warning
When using any pesticide, read the product label and follow all directions.
Insecticides may require reapplications every two to four weeks during warm weather.
Common houseflies do not bite.
However, the horse-fly(Tabanusspp.)
and the black fly (various genera) can inflict painful bites.
Standard houseflies typically live between 15 and 25 days.
“University of Minnesota Extension.Extension.Umn.Edu, 2021
Disease Vectors and Pests (Chapter 4).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Khamesipour, Faham, et al.
1, Dec. 2018, p. 1049.DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5934-3.
