Whether they’re harmless to humans or leave a painful bite, flying insects aren’t generally anyone’s cup of tea. They can start showing up in small numbers until they like where they’re staying and breed more.
When this happens, the problem shifts from annoyance to a serious risk of contamination. That’s why it’s better first to call a professional to come and assess the situation.
We’ll share with you several tried-and-true methods to get rid of flying bugs in a house and more!
Why Do I Have Flying Insects in My House?
The type of flying bugs you have is the major telltale of why they’re in your space. These are the four of the most common winged critters that homeowners encounter, along with what makes them enjoy their stay:
- Fruit Flies: Fruit flies are slow fliers identified by their large red eyes. They prey on ripe or rotten fruit and fermented beverages, like wine and beer. Their usual breeding grounds are garbage cans and drains.
- Phorid Flies: You can distinguish phorid flies by their hump-backed shape and their tendency to run erratically rather than fly. They’re either one color or a mix of brown, black, and yellow. These flies thrive in moist environments and decaying matter; their presence in the home usually indicates a sewage pipe leak.
- Mosquitos: With their infamous bites and buzzing sounds, we think they’re easily spotted! Mosquitos love moisture, darkness, and warmth, so you’ll mostly find them hanging out in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.
- Fungus Gnats: Do you have indoor plants? If so, you may notice some admirers, known as fungus gnats, hovering around them. These insects are dark in color with long back legs and an overall appearance similar to mosquitos. The main draw for them in any house is potted soil and moisture.
How to Get Rid of Flying Insects: 4 Effective Methods
When dealing with large infestations, it’s always best to seek the help of professionals. However, if the soaring bug situation still hasn’t progressed, you can do or buy a few things to manage it:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
Making an apple cider vinegar trap is one of our favorite DIY fly-catching techniques; it’s easy, affordable, and gets the job done!
Flying insects, particularly fruit flies, are attracted to the smell of this vinegar, making it an excellent ingredient for luring them into the trap.
A scientific study even proved that fruit flies are drawn to vinegar more than fruits because its pungent smell is similar to that of rotten produce, which is their preferred kind!
Here are four simple steps to making this trap:
- Half-fill a jar with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap for a sticky texture
- Cover the lid part with foil and secure it with a rubber band
- Make tiny holes in the foil that the insects can pass through
2. Bug Zapper
Investing in a high-quality bug zapper is a wise decision as it does an excellent job of catching and killing the majority of house flies.
The mechanism of this device is quite interesting. Most air-dwelling insects are drawn to ultraviolet light as it helps them see the patterns in flowers they’re attracted to.
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Bug zapper manufacturers took advantage of this fact by incorporating ultraviolet light into their devices. When insects take the bait and enter, a high-voltage electric current strikes their bodies and vaporizes them.
It’s worth noting that fly zappers don’t work well on flying insects that aren’t attracted to ultraviolet light, such as mosquitos.
3. Rosemary Plants
Mosquitoes despise the smell of rosemary. And most flying bugs aren’t usually fans of this plant’s smell, which is why it’s effective for repelling them; however, it doesn’t kill them.
We recommend keeping a couple of rosemary plants in areas where these insects could pose a threat, such as the kitchen, as an effective deterrent.
4. Essential Oil Spray
Lucky for us, flying insects are highly irritated by the scent of essential oils such as:
- Lemongrass
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Peppermint
You can capitalize on that by making a spray that’ll leave your house smelling amazing while keeping winged critters at bay. Combine 5-10 drops of essential oil per ounce of water in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray furniture, the area around windows and doors, curtains, and so on.
This solution also works wonders in repelling yellow jackets, so you can enjoy spending your day outside.
3 Ways to Bug-Proof Your Home
To keep unwanted visitors from entering your home in the first place, you need to make it as unappealing for them as possible. These three tips have always proven to be effective in this regard:
- Install Insect Screens: These are essential for any open structure in your home, like windows or vents, as they help to lock out a variety of pests.
- Keep Surfaces Dry: If flying insects have one thing in common, it’s that they thrive in moisture, so make sure to dry any damp surfaces or spills right away.
- Seal and Store Food: Different kinds of food attract multiple types of insects. Whatever food you have, ensure it’s properly covered and stored so these flying bugs can’t get to it.
Wrapping Up
With the help of a few easy-to-find products, you can limit the presence of flying insects in your home. Whether you use an essential oil spray to repel them or a fly zapper to kill them, the methods we mentioned can show promising results.
But keep in mind that they usually serve as short-term fixes. Check out our services at Environmental Pest Management, choose what best suits your needs, and we’ll help implement long-lasting solutions!