Fly Identification & Prevention

Are flies dangerous?

Flies frequently enter our homes and can be frustrating to deter, but that doesn't mean we give up and let them share our homes. Flies are more than a nuisance to have buzzing around our heads and houses; they are a health risk.

Most flies spend their day on or around decaying organic matter. They are constantly coming into contact with bacteria and disease-ridden filth. After coming into contact with food or surfaces that flies have spent time on, you or a family member can become ill.

Why do I have a fly problem?

Flies are attracted to properties that offer them breeding sites and food sources. Compost, animal excrement, garbage, grass piles, and wet soil offer suitable breeding sites for flies.

Flies are scavengers and feed on a variety of sweets and proteins. Open trash cans, outdoor eating, and cooking areas, vegetable gardens, and food stored in your kitchen all provide food sources for flies.

Once flies establish themselves in your yard, they are difficult to keep out of your home. Their small size and ability to fly make it easy for them to move into homes and other structures. A small tear in a screen, a door left open, or an open vent can be used by flies as entry points.

Where will I find flies?

In Sacramento, flies are most active in the spring and summer when temperatures are warm and there are plentiful breeding and feeding sites. 

Inside houses, flies hang out in areas near food and water sources. Specific areas of houses where flies tend to swarm include:

• Clogged drains
• Window sills
• Doorways
• Sinks with dirty dishes
• Wall voids near leaky pipes
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms

Flies are also attracted to lights. In the evening, if flies are present, it is common to see them flying around lights, televisions, and computer screens.