Where do Flies Go in the Winter?
There is nothing more enjoyable than a nice picnic or backyard barbecue. But those enjoyable times are often short-lived for most of us. It seems that we’re not the only ones who like to bask in the sunshine during those warm spring and summer days.
Flies can be more than a troublesome nuisance. Because they carry several diseases, the dangers of flies can also put you and those in your household at risk. It’s not just an annoyance to be inundated with pesky little flies but also a health concern.
It may make us wonder why these little critters are often nowhere to be seen during those colder months. Is it possible that flies have someplace to go in the winter months that we don’t know about?
Stages of Development
The fact is that flies are always around. Where they are when they are not bothering you depends on the species in your region and its stage of development. Depending on where you live, several different species can be found in your area.
Flies have four different stages of development. We usually notice them only when they are in the maggot stage feeding on the produce in your garden and at the adult stage when they are searching for a mate or a place to lay their eggs.
- The Egg Stage: Eggs are usually found on the leaves of fruit trees or garden plants. Sometimes you’ll find them in the soil around your plants. The eggs are deliberately laid there so that they have a ready food supply available to them when they hatch.
- The Maggot Stage: Once the egg hatches, the larva emerges from deep within the soil. They immediately begin eating the fruit or foliage around them. During this stage, there is little change to their outward appearance.
During these first two stages, these pests are rarely noticed. You will see evidence of their presence after eating up much of your foliage if you are a gardener, but otherwise, they tend to go completely unnoticed.
- The Pupal Stage: During this stage, these pests go into a period of immobility. They develop a hard covering to enclose themselves in and begin their process of physical change. It is at this stage that they form their wings, legs, and antennae.
- In the final stage, the fly does not eat. Its primary focus is on mating and finding a place to lay its eggs. While you may think they are after your barbecue, they are only looking for a place that meets their needs for procreation, and the spread on your picnic table seems to fit the bill.
Pest Management With YES! Pest
So, whether you have a problem with fruit flies, house flies, horse flies, or deer flies, the best time to get control of your fly situation is during the first two stages of development. Therefore, springtime might be the best time to address these pests rather than waiting for the summertime infestation.
If this is a situation you find yourself contending with every year. You may want to enlist the aid of a professional so that next summer, you can enjoy your time outdoors without being inundated with these uninvited guests.
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