Flies have been around for about 65 million years.
They have evolved over this time, but they haven’t changed much.
Flies have developed amazing survival skills, but this also means they stick around even when you don’t want them near you.
It is possible to repel flies and also get rid of them if you have an infestation.
It never hurts to learn about the living things that share the world with us.
Let’s take a look at why flies are so annoying.
Why Are Flies So Annoying? (Top 10 Reasons)
Flies are so annoying because their life requirements interfere with our daily routines.
Flies are not annoying on purpose but become annoying when they enter into our world and get in our way.
There are many things that make flies seem annoying, but understanding the behavior of a fly can help you see why they spend so much time around humans.
1. They Are Noisy
Flies may be small, but they are very noisy.
They buzz around and even get louder as they get closer to you.
A fly’s thorax vibrates during flight, which creates the buzzing sound you hear as they fly by you.
They also buzz to communicate.
It’s not only you who can hear them.
They can hear each other as well.
2. They Are Persistent
Flies never seem to take a hint.
When you swat at them with papers or fly swatters or even wave them away with your hand, they continue to come back and try to land on your or your food.
They also fly around until they can find a place to land, so even though you are moving around or swatting them away, they will just fly away for a second and then return.
3. They Land On Food
One of the most annoying things that flies do is land on your food.
Nobody wants an insect in their food, but flies always seem to find it easily.
Flies actually taste through their feet, so when they land on food, they get a quick sample of it.
This is also why they come back to your food over and over again.
Once they get a taste, they want more.
4. They Cause Stress
Dealing with even one fly is enough to make you feel crazy, but dealing with an entire fly infestation can be extremely stressful.
There’s rarely a time when you will only see one fly.
Once one finds your home, others will follow.
The more flies you deal with, the more stress you will experience.
5. They Land On People
Some people don’t mind flies being in the same area as them, but these insects don’t seem to stop there.
Flies always seem to land right on you.
They don’t care if you are cooking, working, or sleeping.
Flies are actually attracted to humans for many different reasons.
They are fond of human body odor, the carbon dioxide we breathe out, and body heat.
Humans are irresistible to flies, so they continue to land on us.
6. They Transfer Disease
Flies can pick up and spread disease easily.
Because they land on so many things and people, it’s easy for them to pick up viruses and then pass them onto the next thing they land on.
They can spread diseases by carrying germs, bacteria, and viruses on their bodies, feet or by eating something and passing it through their feces.
7. They Fly At Your Face
It’s bad enough when flies try to land on your body, but it seems like they almost always go straight for your face.
This is because they are smelling or sensing the carbon dioxide that you exhale.
Since you breathe out through your mouth and nose, flies go straight towards these areas.
8. They Multiply Quickly
Flies have short lifespans, but they multiply quickly.
In fact, a lot of the buzzing and flying around is due to flies trying to find mates and engaging in the act of mating.
Fly larvae grow quickly, and they often lay their eggs in places you can’t see.
You likely won’t see them until they turn into flies and start to annoy you.
9. They Are A Distraction
No matter what you are doing, flies have a way of getting in the way and causing a distraction.
They land on your computer screen, television, notebook, or anything else you might be trying to focus on.
Try as you might, it’s hard to focus on a task when flies are buzzing around and landing on you every few seconds.
10. They Get Inside Your Home Easily
You may feel like your home is sealed and protected, but that won’t stop flies from getting inside.
It seems like no matter what you do, flies always find a way inside.
This can add to the frustration of dealing with them and make it more difficult to get rid of them too.
Are Flies Annoying On Purpose?
Flies have no reason to annoy humans on purpose.
In fact, most of the time, they don’t realize that they are even around humans.
Flies do not see humans as a threat because they can see so well and fly so fast.
They have no fear of humans because they know they can get away from them.
Flies are simply attracted to the carbon dioxide you breathe or your scent and continue to go back to it.
There’s no doubt they are annoying, but they don’t mean to be.
Can Flies Cause Health Problems?
Flies can spread disease and cause health problems.
That doesn’t mean every time a fly lands on your food or your hand, that you will get sick.
It just means there is always a chance they could pass a bacteria or virus on to you.
Here are some of the common illnesses that can be spread by flies.
Cryptosporidium Protozoa
These protozoa are often found on the feet and bodies of flies.
It attacks the human digestive system and can cause a variety of problems, including diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps.
It can also be hard to treat, and many people are sick for weeks with this type of infection.
Salmonella
Salmonella can cause severe digestive issues such as stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes a fever.
It can be very dangerous and, in some cases, fatal.
Salmonella can be spread on a fly’s feet, body, or through their vomit and feces.
Myiasis
Myiasis occurs when a person eats food that is contaminated with maggots or fly larvae.
The larvae find their way to the tissue of the person and can cause infections and severe health problems.
Because maggots are so small, it can sometimes be hard to see them in food.
It can also be hard to know if you have myiasis in the early stages.
Shigellosis
Shigellosis is a type of dysentery that can be contracted from flies and maggots.
It can cause problems with the digestive system.
Severe cramps, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting are the most common.
If left untreated, this type of infection can be severe.
E. Coli
E. coli is a common species of bacteria, and in most cases, it’s not one to worry too much about.
Some types of E. coli can be worse than others.
E. coli is known to cause severe food poisoning with diarrhea and vomiting.
How Long Do Flies Live?
Flies have a very short lifespan compared to humans and animals.
They only live around 15 to 20 days.
Of course, they experience time much differently, so it likely doesn’t feel like a short lifespan for them.
During those 15 days, they must eat and reproduce.
This is why they fly around and land so often.
They are looking for a mate.
Do Flies Have A Purpose?
It’s easy to see how helpful some animals and insects can be, but the purpose of flies is a little harder to determine.
Flies do have a purpose, and they are actually very helpful.
Understanding that purpose might make them seem a little less pesky.
1. Pollinate
Just like bees and other insects, flies help to pollinate plants.
This is an essential role that keeps trees growing and flowers blooming.
Just as bees land on flowers to pick up pollen and transport it to the next one, flies do the same.
2. Food Chain
Flies are an important part of the food chain.
Many animals eat flies, and while you might think any animal can be food, that’s not necessarily true.
Certain animals only eat flies, and if flies were to disappear from the planet, so would many other animals that rely on them for food.
3. Control Overpopulation
The way flies spread diseases among humans is the same way they spread them among other animals.
This helps reduce these populations to prevent them from growing out of control and throwing off the ecosystem.
How To Repel Flies
If you don’t like the idea of killing the flies in your home, you may be able to simply repel them.
There are a few different things that can help you keep flies away from your home.
1. Citronella Candles
Citronella doesn’t just repel mosquitos.
It also works to keep flies away.
Flies don’t like the scent of citronella, and it can also hide other smells around the home that may attract them.
If you notice flies in your home or if you just want to keep them away, you can burn the candles often until the flies are no longer a problem.
2. Use Yellow Light Bulbs
Flies are attracted to lights, but there are certain colors that they don’t like.
Yellow is a color that repels flies.
You can switch out the bulbs in your lights with yellow bulbs, and they will likely avoid the room.
3. Use Blue Light Bulbs
Blue light bulbs can also repel flies.
You can install them in the light in your home as well as those outside your home.
Flies may not come close to your home if they notice the blue lights.
If you aren’t a fan of blue lights in your home, you can use them sparingly and remove them once you no longer have a fly problem.
4. Keep The Area Clean
One of the easiest ways to keep flies from your home or area is to avoid attracting them.
If your home is clean and there are no odors, pet feces, food, or trash, the flies won’t have any interest in being there.
Put food away as soon as possible.
Take your trash out and keep it away from your home, and remove pet feces from your home and yard as soon as you can.
The flies will move on to a place that has the things they need.
5. Block Entrances
It seems like flies always find their way into your space, but you can try to stop them by blocking off the entrances.
You can seal windows and doors, fill in holes, and close doors behind you quickly, and check any items you bring into your home to make sure there are no flies or maggots on them.
How To Get Rid Of Flies
If you have a fly problem, you may be looking for the best way to get rid of them.
There are many options, and you may have to try more than one to find out which one is going to work best for you.
1. Fly Traps
Fly traps work by attracting flies to an area where they can’t fly out.
You can make your own fly traps, or you can buy them in the store.
Place them in various locations around your home to catch flies in every room.
Check them often and throw them away whenever they become full.
You may need to continue to place the traps around your home until all the flies are gone.
2. Fly Tape
Fly tape is unsightly, but it can be effective.
It comes in rolls of wound-up, sticky tape.
You pin it to the ceiling or another overhead surface and allow it to hang down.
Flies need to land often, so they will land on the tape and get stuck to it.
Once the tape is full, or all the flies are gone from the room, you can take it down and throw it away.
3. Chemicals
There are many chemicals that can be used to repel and kill flies.
You can find them in sprays and in open-air containers that allow flies to land on them.
Once the chemicals get on the flies, they are not able to fly and soon die.
4. Fly Gun
Fly guns shoot chemicals, water, salt, or other solutions at flies to kill them.
The force behind the spray is so strong that it knocks the flies out or may kill them.
It can be difficult to shoot the flies, but if you are able to hit them, it kills them quickly.
5. Fly Swatter
This is one of the more common methods of controlling flies.
While it can be hard to swat a fly with your hand and hit it, it’s much easier when you have a fly swatter.
They are inexpensive and effective.
6. Electric UV Traps
These traps attract flies with UV lights.
They plug into an outlet in your home, and during the day and night, the flies will go towards the trap.
Once the flies get to the light, they won’t be able to get back out.
7. Dish Soap Sprays
A simple spray bottle of water and dish soap can get rid of flies.
It can stop them from breeding in damp areas, and it will cause them to drop out of the sky and be unable to take off and fly.
You can easily make this with items you already have in your home.
8. Carnivorous Plants
If you are looking for a natural way to get rid of flies, you could try carnivorous plants.
These plants have open mouths that attract flies.
When the fly lands on the mouth of the carnivorous plant, it closes and then the plant digests it.
These plants can eat a lot of flies, and you don’t have to worry about using harsh chemicals.
9. Water Bags
Flies don’t see the same way people do, and a bag of water with a coin in it can cause them to be confused and not know where to fly or land.
Eventually, the flies will find a new place to go where they can navigate more easily.
You can put the bags of water inside or outside your home.
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