6. Nuisance flies
Some agricultural practices, most notably intensive chicken and livestock housing, may create the right breeding conditions for flies which can then become a nuisance to surrounding properties. We have many complaints on this topic and worked with farmers to resolve problems. The following guidance outlines what we do and what can be done at source:
Environmental Health Insect Nuisance Procedure
Standard Manure and Fly Management Programme
Egg Producers - Best Practice Notes
Why do flies come indoors?
House flies and bluebottles come indoors looking for food. They are not fussy what sort of food they settle on and are highly active once indoors.
Can they do harm?
House flies can transmit intestinal worms and are also known to be carriers of particular diseases such as gastroenteritis. Bluebottles too, are known to spread diseases. This is partly due to the fact that they are attracted to rotting food and faeces which they may have landed on before landing on your food.
You must cover any open food to avoid contamination by flies landing on it.
You should frequently clean drains, particularly near kitchens, and cover your waste bins to avoid providing ideal breeding conditions.
How do I get rid of them?
The best ways of controlling or avoiding infestations are good hygiene and taking the simple precautions mentioned above.
Insecticidal control using fly sprays ('knock down' sprays) are a good, almost instant, way of dealing with the problem. Flypapers or fly screens can be effective for persistent problems.