Fly Control Nassau County, New York

Flies constitute a large number of insects of the order Diptera and are of considerable ecological importance. Flies are second only to bees in terms of their significance to pollination. Insects of this order use only one pair of wings to fly. The hindwings of flies are mechanosensory organs called halteres, which afford them excellent maneuverability during flight. With the exception of Antarctica, flies are found in almost all terrestrial habitats throughout the world. Other animals consume flies at all stages of their development. Predators of flies include spiders, lizards, birds, frogs, dragonflies, and bats. Flies are known to transmit pathogens that can cause severe and life-threatening diseases in humans and animals.

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Flies have a single pair of forewings that are used for flight.

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Flies have hindwings called halteres that have a balance function.

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Flies are invertebrates, lacking any internal skeleton.

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Fly bodies are divided into three sections: head, thorax, and abdomen.

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Flies possess two compound eyes, three simple eyes called ocelli, two antennae, and six legs.

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Flies breathe through tiny tubules called spiracles that are located on the thorax and abdomen.

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Flies are equipped with a pseudotrachea which is composed of a series of chitinous tubes in the labella through which liquid food is taken into the mouth.

Flies undergo complete metamorphosis, which is comprised of four stages: the egg, larva or maggot, pupal, and adult. The life cycle of a house fly is completed in seven to ten days. In many flies, the larva stage is long, whereas the adult stage is short. Fly Larvae, also known as maggots, are decomposers and consume decaying organic matter. As decomposers, fly larvae are important to the nutrient cycle. The pupa is an intermediate stage between the larval and adult form. The function of the adult fly is only to mate and lay eggs.

•Blow flies are also known as carrion flies, greenbottles, and bluebottles. There are about 1,900 species of carrion flies. Adult blow flies are usually shiny with metallic coloring, often with green, blue, or black thoraces and abdomens. These flies are usually the first insects to arrive when an animal dies and play a significant role in the decomposition process.

•Flesh flies typically have gray bodies with three black stripes on their thorax. The fly's abdomen has a dark and light gray checkerboard pattern and is frequently red at the tip. Flesh fly larvae consume carrion, decaying vegetable matter, and excrement.

•House flies are the most common fly species found in homes. These flies have red eyes, and adults are gray to black with four dark longitudinal bands on their thorax. House flies are essential in the breakdown and recycling of organic matter. These insects will consume animal matter, including carrion and feces. They will also feed upon rotting fruit and vegetables.

•Fruit flies are also known as vinegar flies and pomace flies. These flies are yellow-brown, with red eyes and transverse black rings across their abdomen. Fruit flies are commonly seen in homes, restaurants, grocery stores, and wherever food is permitted to rot and ferment. They are especially attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables but will also breed in drains, garbage disposals, and trash containers.

Prevention is the best fly management strategy, which entails good sanitation. Eliminating potential fly breeding sites is essential to their control. Food and materials on which flies can lay eggs must be discarded or isolated from adult egg-laying adults. Trash cans and dumpsters should have securely-fitting lids and be cleaned regularly.