F L I E S !
We are in that season when both you and flies want to do the same thing. Party!!!
The problem is that flies can transmit lots of diseases to humans (there are 65 diseases they are known to carry, including TB … but you only need one of those to end up in the hospital). They land, spit, then suck up the spit. Then they have stuff coming out the other end. I didn’t mention it, because it is gross, they also have spent lots of time in several garbage piles and some of that stuff is on their feet (all 6 of them). They don’t improve your party for your guests, but they themselves have a real good time.
Flies have lots of individual eyes, but the place that is most comfortable for them to land is somewhere with an edge or straight line. The edge of a table, the door frame, the arm of your chair, or the rim of your drink cup. Then they walk around. The aroma of your soup, roast pork, and potato salad smells yummy to them. So the question is: how can I reduce flies where I am partying?
BREEZE. Flies are not super fliers. A strong breeze will discourage them. A box fan is great for this purpose. (Or several.)
MOVE THE TRASH. Have your guests toss their soiled paper plates elsewhere (not near the dining area or foods table). Don’t leave your dumpster within sight either.
SCREENS. It is a good idea to keep your foods in a screened area. For a small sum of money you can buy a screen room for your party. (Point a box fan to blow air OUT of the opening).
TRAPS. Traps lure the critters away from the party. That is the point. Don’t put them near the food or where people will sit (otherwise they will lure the flies TO the party). By the way, traps can be quite smelly.
POISONS. There is a funny thing about fly poisons: Less is better. Flies love edges. They also don’t see an entire light spectrum. Studies have shown they prefer a light to medium blue (not teal). Thus, I paint several boards with a medium blue paint. Allow to dry. Then pain a dark 3/4”-wide line down the center of a 3 or 4” wide board (two foot long pieces work well). Allow the stripe to dry. Then “paint” that line with insecticide and hang the boards away from the party and higher than any children can reach. Many flies will land on the painted line and die nearby. The next party I re-poison the dark lines. Very little poison is needed to kill hundreds of flies.
ZAPPERS? Wrong light wave-length. Plus, most of them explode the insect sending pieces and parts everywhere. NEVER use these. I have the same problem with fly swatters, even electronic ones.
FLY VACUUMS! This works. Put the suction end near the fly and it disappears into the holding area.
PREPARE. Clean your gutters and don’t plant things which attract flies. Wash sugary drink residue off your deck. Plant things which discourage flies, like rosemary, lavender, mint, and basil.
NIGHT LIGHTS. If partying after dark, use yellow or amber light bulbs. You’ll also have fewer moths. Some find using Citronella torches helpful.
PET DROPPINGS. Hate to say it, but flies LOVE fresh puppy poop. Remove and bag it before a party.
Let’s be clear here. There are a great number of types of fly. One, which you HAVE seen (Tiger Bee Fly) looks like it bites, but actually loves to eat flower nectar that Carpenter bees place in the holes in wood which they call home.
Other flies love to hang around barnyards (and any residence that is nearby). Others love decaying meats and can indicate you have a dead animal in your attic or wall (or your dumpster may be “ripe”).
Cluster flies overwinter and can create a real bother in attics (they may look similar to a housefly but they have no interest in your plate).
However, the one that most often is a pest at a picnic, party, or your kitchen counter is the common “housefly.” There are several varieties, but they all do the same thing.
How do you know it is a housefly? Three things…
1) The fly tries to land on your plate, you shoo it away, and it loops right back to your plate.
2) It has red eyes.
3) If you look closely at its back you will see it wears a pinstripe jacket.
Look at the picture again. Houseflies do not have black eyes, and they don’t have a greenish or blueish sheen. Did you see the pinstripes on its back? The red eyes and behavior makes this one easy to ID. The fact that it loves to land on your plate is not only gross, it is dangerous. The fly itself is harmless, but the bacterias and diseases it carries can sicken or kill you or your children. It is no laughing matter. When you see one you should be motivated to action.
What should you never do?
1) Allow it to land.
2) Permit it entrance to the house (unless you are going to re-sanitize your entire kitchen).
3) Use a “no-pest” strip. (Why not?) These once-used-everywhere yellow plastic strips are coated with a chemical which will “gas off” into your home. The gas can give you an upset stomach, cause dizziness, or other nasty things. (You can use them in an attic IF you do not plan to go into the attic for months afterward.) [By the way, I could have used the word “afterwards” and it would have had the same meaning. It was the preferred word in 1900 and still is in Great Britain, but in the USA in the 2000s “afterward” is preferred. Language changes.]
Have a safe party!
Copyright 2026 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]
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