Flies: More than a nuisance
Using IPM techniques to keep flies out of commercial facilities 
By ZIA SIDDIQI, Ph.D., BCE, Director of Quality Assurance, Orkin Inc. 

Flies are elusive little creatures – they’re quick and seem to buzz off just when you think you’ve got them cornered. What most people don’t realize, though, is that flies are more than an unsightly nuisance – they also rank among the filthiest pests in the world. Flies are known to carry more than 100 known pathogens, including E. coli, salmonella and staphylococcus. With that in mind, keeping flies out is vital to keeping a facility clean.

Flies are attracted to commercial facilities because of the lights, odors and optimal temperatures such buildings commonly offer. Most commercial buildings also provide flies with relatively easy access, as people, shipments and even air move in and out throughout the day.

For commercial facilities looking to stop fly problems before they start, an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is the answer. IPM emphasizes non-chemical control methods, like diligent sanitation and structural improvements, before chemical treatments are applied. In general, IPM programs seek to remove or make less accessible the elements that attract flies and other pests in the first place, significantly reducing the likelihood of an infestation.

 

Common But Unwanted Guests

Knowing which species of fly you are dealing with is half the battle when it comes to controlling them in and around a facility. In Canada, house flies and fruit flies are two of the most common flies that facility managers must combat.

One of the most prevalent flies in Canada, the common house fly ranges from four- to seven-and-one-half-millimetres and is dull grey with metallic touches. House flies are attracted to a wide variety of food sources, including human food, manure, vegetable waste and household garbage. It’s not surprising then that house flies’ favourite “hot spots” are kitchens and bathrooms. Because they feed on both waste and human food, house flies can transmit a host of diseases including: typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, poliomyelitis and parasitic worms.

While more of a nuisance pest, fruit flies also can pose a problem for commercial facilities. The yellowish brown, red-eyed fruit fly can indicate a larger sanitation issue because these flies feed on and breed in moist, bacteria-infested areas and in decaying fruits and vegetables. The name “fruit fly” actually comes from the fact that female fruit flies lay their eggs near the surface of fermenting fruits and vegetables. An individual that eats a piece of fruit with larvae still in it may experience intestinal discomfort or diarrhoea.

 

Clean is King

The key to preventing flies is to make the elements they are most attracted to – food, water and shelter – less accessible. An IPM program that focuses on sanitation and exclusion can do just that. To help battle flies effectively, examine your sanitation program with the following tips in mind:

• Maintain and clean appliances regularly, as flies will breed on food debris left in garbage disposals and dishwashers. Consider using an organic cleaner to remove grease run-off and other debris without compromising food safety.
• Inspect behind appliances, and under cabinets and shelving on a regular basis. A “mystery” infestation can be caused by food debris or condensation which promotes fungal growth in these hidden areas.
• Clean floor drains regularly by removing drain covers and using a brush to eliminate the organic matter built-up on the inside walls.
• Clean up all food and drink spills immediately, as flies are attracted to the odors they emit.
• Clean restrooms throughout the day because house flies feed on the debris found in these areas. To avoid contamination, restrooms should be cleaned with equipment designated for those areas only.
• Disinfect all housekeeping equipment. Flies can breed in mops and brooms that haven’t been properly cleaned.
• Keep sidewalks and parking lots free of debris and spills. Flies attracted to the exterior of a building may find their way indoors.
• Line trashcans and empty them often. Keep dumpsters as far from the building as possible, and clean them on a regular basis because flies are attracted to garbage.

While good sanitation is a major part of an IPM program, other IPM techniques can be used to physically keep flies from entering a facility:

• Mount exterior fluorescent lights at least 100 feet from the building to draw pests away from a facility. For lights close to the building, sodium vapour bulbs are recommended because they are not as attractive to pests.
• Install a #16 mesh screen in all windows and vents to keep flies out, and inspect doors at entrances and exits to ensure they are closed tightly.
• Install air curtains on exit doors to prevent flies from entering the building if doors are left open for long periods of time.
• Check the airflow at a facility and make sure that it pushes pests out. To test this, use a lighter or match, and open the door to check the airflow direction. If the flame blows out the door, then the building has positive airflow and will help prevent flies from entering.
• Place fly light traps in fly “hot spots” like kitchens, receiving areas and storage areas. These devices, which use ultraviolet light, attract flies and trap them on sticky boards inside the units. Flies found in these light traps provide information on the species plaguing an area and thus help pest management experts identify the conditions promoting the infestation.

While flies of all kinds are common, they do not have to be an everyday occurrence in your facility. By maintaining a thorough IPM program, you can spend more time working and less time swatting at flies.

Dr. Zia Siddiqi is Quality Assurance Director for Orkin Inc. A Board certified Entomologist with more than 30 years in the industry, Dr. Siddiqi is an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. For more information, e-mail or visit www.pco.ca.