Flies

Please note: Stroud District Council does not provide a pest control service for Flies. This page is intended solely to offer guidance and general information. 

How do I deal with flies?

• Collect dog/cat faeces immediately and put in sealable bags before putting into the household rubbish bin. Any other pet waste should be dealt with in the same way.  Ensure that bins have a tight- fitting lid that is always replaced quickly when rubbish is put into it.
• Fly traps, such as Red Tops, will attract flies (along with other flying insects) and may encourage flies into your garden. They can be usefully employed in a thick boundary hedge that is away from the house or any entertaining area.
• Flies love long grass and piles of cuttings so cut lawns often; keep shrubs trimmed and don’t leave piles of cut grass, leaves or gardens cuttings in the garden.
• A compost bin or pile filled with decaying, organic matter is very attractive to flies. The compost pile should be as far from the house as possible; not too moist and properly maintained. If it’s kept ‘cooking’ it will be too warm to support larval development.
• Flies are attracted to moisture and standing water. Keep water in birdbaths fresh and don’t allow buckets or other containers to fill up with rainwater by clearing up any possible debris, such as old tyres etc, that can collect rainwater.
• Keep fruit or peelings that may be put out for birds as far from the house as possible.
• The scent of certain plants such as Basil, Elderberry, Lavender and Mint can act as deterrents to flies.  Pots of these can be strategically placed near doors and windows and moved to seating areas when necessary. Cloves placed on a food-plate on a table can deter flies from landing on food.
• As flies don’t like moving air, a small house fan placed on the table – indoors or out – may help to deter them.
• Fly screens on windows during the summer months and plastic or metal chain door curtains can reduce the numbers of flies that enter houses.
• Car ports and open-ended structures often found on the side of houses are particularly attractive to Lesser houseflies. These are difficult to screen as they are usually in regular use as access routes to the house. Flexible fly mesh can be hung loosely from frames attached to the wall and roof boundaries that can be briefly pulled aside to allow personnel to enter whilst minimising fly entry.
• To site electronic fly killers away from open windows and doors as this can attract them in
• To site electronic fly killers away from open food preparation or food storage areas.
• Some flies such as lesser house flies are not attracted to UV fly killers but can be dealt with via fly paper if used correctly. Fly paper should not be used in food areas but if sited suitably and changed regularly can be effective against these pest species.