The fly you see zipping about inside might be far more of a danger than it appears on the surface. While most single flies you discover indoors are outside Invaders that only risk causing contamination and annoyance to people in the area, two additional terrible possibilities exist. The first possibility is that the fly you just passed is moments away from or already has laid hundreds to thousands of eggs somewhere within your business.
Flies have four life stages, each of which is represented by an insect or arachnid. The larval and adult phases take up different habitats and are frequently located far apart from one another.
Maggots thrive in any filthy, decaying, organic debris or waste. They develop in all sorts of putrid, decaying matter and waste. Each species has specific breeding material preferences and environmental requirements that must be met, but generally consider any area with moisture that is rarely, or never, cleaned as a potential site where maggots may feed and grow.
The following are some of the reasons for breeding problems:
- Feces and manure
- Trash cans and dumpsters
- Poor sanitation
- Drains and broken plumbing lines
- Poorly stored (or neglected) food
- Decaying animals (in ceilings, walls, bushes, etc.)
Mature maggots, pupate and reach the adult stage after several weeks. You may notice them or a few in an insect light trap when those larvae mature, pupate, and become adults. What you see at this time reflects just a tiny portion of the actual population size; there may be an absolutely enormous breeding population out of sight.
In the case of pest flies, some species can mature sexually in less than two weeks and populations might balloon out of “nowhere,” making a detailed inspection, cleaning, and monitoring strategy essential.
Identifying the species of fly discovered is usually a big help in narrowing down your choices, although inspections should always include:
- Trash receptacles
- Food storage areas
- Drains and plumbing lines
- Ceilings
- Ductwork and vents
- Property grounds/landscaping
- Basements
- Under appliances, for example, is a difficult-to-reach and clean spot.
When you say “maggots,” many people cringe, and with good cause. Adult flies should have the same degree of stigma associated with them; they are incredibly mobile and can transport germs and infections by flight.
Flies that breed in filth lay eggs in decaying animal bodies and waste and will fly straight to a kitchen counter or production line from there.