You don’t have to be in the food handling business to experience flies in your workplace. No matter what you do, flies are stubborn pests that can damage your business’ image and cost you money if you lose customers because of their presence. To stop flies, you need to know what kind of flies you have and how they’re getting in. Here are the types of flies that are most likely to be found in your place of business:
- House flies. Common house flies are often found in retail and office environments, but they’re more likely to be an occasional invader than a full-time resident. Watch out for open doors, which can be an entrance point.
- Fruit flies. If your employees leave fruit, vegetables, dirty dishes, and trash in the break room, those items could be attracting fruit flies. Fruit flies can also make their way in on shipments of fruits or vegetables.
- Drain flies. Drain flies lay eggs in waste drain lines or toilets that aren’t flushed regularly. If you find them in the bathroom, be careful because they can bring in pathogens from the sewer lines.
- Fungus gnats. Fungus gnats like damp soil and can come into your building in potted plants. Overwatering your plants can cause their eggs to hatch because of the excessive moisture.
- Phorid flies. Phorid flies thrive off decaying organic matter and can be an indication of a sewer line break below your building.
It’s important to note that fly activity isn’t only a problem in itself, but a symptom of a larger problem that needs to be addressed. If you notice any of the flies described above, contact a professional pest company, like OPC pest services, who can help you identify the source and create a plan to rid your business of flies.