How To Get Rid Of Flies Outside
Flies can be serious pests and as obnoxious as they are inside, they can ruin a great outdoor event or experience. Managing flies outdoors can be tough because you can’t control the total number of flies like you can indoors, which makes managing numbers difficult, but not impossible. So whether you are looking to combat the common house fly, fruit flies or the pesky biting flies It’s important to come up with a strategy based on needs. Are you looking to get rid of flies outside permanently, or are you just looking to control flies during an outdoor party or event.
Ways To Get Rid Of Flies Outdoors
1. Commercial Insecticide: The fastest and most effective way of getting rid of flies is to use a commercial grade insecticide dispensed by a properly trained technician. There are a host of highly effective products on the marketplace for example Botanical insecticides such as neem and pyrethroids are fast-acting killers of most flying insects especially flies. However there are downsides to chemical solutions including safety. Humans can have adverse reactions to neem oil based chemicals yet mostly just irritation. One positive of neem oil is that it is safe for birds and mammals, which means you do not have to worry about your pets being harmed by using it. It is important to note that if you will have to spray again within 4 to 6 weeks. Usually a few treatments per year during the warm months is required.
2. DIY Insecticides:If hiring a professional isn’t in the budget or you are just DIY oriented there are a number of reputable safe kits that can be purchased and used for insect management including kits specifically focused on flies. We do have a number of organic recommendations, but if you are looking for a purchase and spray option then you may want to consider one of the following kits.
Keep in mind that utilizing a DIY insecticide method does have risks. Please ensure you have read all warning labels and have a firm understanding of how the insecticide it to be used and how it will impact plant and animal life.
3. Fly Traps: There are hundreds of fly traps that can be used outdoors. Choosing the right one for your property primarily depends on two factors.
A) The Number of flies you have in your yard. For example having a few simple ribbon strips might not be enough if you are trying to get rid of hundreds or even thousands of flies.
B) Aesthetics. Some fly traps are very effective but they might not look good enough to be a viable option for a nice outdoor event.
With thousands hundreds of options we recommend you checkout our Top 100 Fly Traps (coming soon). In the mean time here are a few of our favorite outdoor fly traps along with a brief explanation of why we like them.
Rescue FTD Disposable Non-Toxic Fly Trap
These things are incredibly effective. Simply hangup and flies in your yard are instantly attracted to them. They are non-toxic so you do not have to worry about harming plants or animals and best of all they are very affordable. They have over 1,500 solid reviews on Amazon.
Pros: Inexpensive, Effective, Easy to Use, Dispossable
Cons: Unsightly, Not reusable, Potent Smell
Victor M382 Magnet Trap,
With over 1,600 5 star reviews it easy to see why people love the Victor magnet trap. It is reusable and simple to use which is what we like about it most. Additionally the trap can be purchased in various sizes from small containers all the way up to our favorite the gallon size trap. The methodology is simple, attract flies with bait into the trap that they cannot fly out of. Hang it up from a tree or on your fence and you are set to go.
Pros: Inexpensive, Effective, Reusable, Easy To Use, Non-Toxic,
Cons: Unsightly, Cleaning for reuse can be gross, Requires Bait,
Trapro Non-Toxic Reusable Outdoor Fly Trap Cage
This is a newer trap to the market and it is awesome. The trap can hold over 20,000 flies which is incredible. It’s a perfect setup for property or yards that have animals which attract large numbers of flies. It’s simple to use, simply unpack add bait and hang it up. Once you are ready to clean it out the process is simple. It is easy to open and can be sprayed out and reused. Lastly the trap is actually pretty aesthetically pleasing as far as traps are concerned.
Pros: Great Design, Easy To Setup, Easy To Clean, Non-Toxic, Reusable
Cons: Large, When Full can be a little heavy
4. Prevention: In most cases we always mention prevention first, which is especially important when controlling flies in the home. However with so many factors contribution to flies outdoors it is impossible it completely prevent flies from gathering in your yard. However prevention can help to keep the number of flies on your property at a manageable level. Keep in mind that flies number 1 attractant is rotting food.
Do a sweep after events or eating outdoors that no food is left outside to rot and attract flies. Animal waste is another culprit. We recommend getting rid of droppings weekly as well as utilizing a trap in the near vicinity of where your pet sleeps or rests to help keep biting flies at by which can be a big health issue for your pet.
Have a favorite method for getting rid of flies outdoors that we didn’t mention? Tell us about it in the comments!