Top Ten Flies Blog Trending Topics

Flies in Singapore is an unwelcomed pest infestation problem especially among food businesses because of its food safety risks and business implications. There are many flies’ species around, however the species we are most familiar with are the houseflies, fruit flies and drain flies. There are many queries around dealing with fly eradication such as getting rid of flies, what attracts flies to a premise and if pest myths around eliminating flies work. In this article, Rentokil Singapore shares the top ten flies’ blog trending topics on fly management.

Are reflective discs effective in eliminating flies?

Have you noticed pieces of reflective discs or bags of water hanging at the ceiling or upper ground in some food establishments? Yes, it is said that because flies are sensitive to lights due to their compound eyes and the reflection from these DIY pest remedies reflect lights and confuse flies’ sense of navigation instead. This directs flies away instead of landing themselves on the food source and will travel to surrounding sites without this light confusion. While this is a safe and non-toxic way of repelling flies, it merely relocates them to another location with food source, and thus, spreading their presence to a wider coverage. In addition, it may not work for heavy flies’ infestation where they are in need of food with population competition.

What you need to know about fruit flies?

Do fruit flies prefer fruit as a source of attraction? Their name suggests fruit, however they feed on other food sources found in drains, kitchen and any food preparation and disposal area. Firstly, as fruit flies favor decaying and organic waste, they are often seen in unhygienic conditions such as sewage, washroom and drains. Secondly, they favour fruits and vegetables in particular, and will lurk around places with food preparation including kitchen and serving area, including utensils, food baskets and container and tabletops. Thirdly, flies have a good sense of smell and thus are able to pick up odours and food from far, thus, they will be feasting on your food and especially if they are not covered well. This might be a familiar scene trying to shove flies away while having your meals.

Finally, as they are sensitive to odour, including waste, they tend to lurk around waste and garbage bins particularly without a lid on or food spills and debris lying around. Hence, having adequate waste management is important to avoid attracting pests and not just flies. Above all, keeping a well-sanitised environment with diligent housekeeping is an essential part of pest management.

Find out the interesting house fly facts

Besides for their greed of food, what else do we know about houseflies? Firstly, they have a sensitive sense of smell that they are able to detect food and odour that is why they are always drawn to your premise when there is food, waste and water. Secondly, the reason why it is not safe to consume food with the presence of flies is because they defecate and thus, they can spread pathogens onto the food and drinks you consume. Thirdly, it is essential to have consistent and ongoing pest control solutions for flies because they typically live up to 60 days and hatch a big volume of eggs as quick as 24 hours. There should not be any lapses in flies’ pest control for adequate efficacy.

Finally, while they feed on liquid only does not mean leaving solid food around is of low risk. This is because they can spit onto the solid substance to liquidise them. Above all, the good news is flies are daytime pests and thus pest detection is made easy. Start to spot signs of flies’ infestation early to avoid turning the problem into a serious one.

How do you control fly infestation in Singapore?

One way of pest prevention against flies is to engage pest control companies to deliver regular pest services including residual spray and servicing of flytraps. However, it is important that you have adequate awareness on controlling a fly infestation to allow efficient pest management:

• Have a good understanding on what are flies and what attracts them to your premise
• Ensure sound housekeeping and facility management by keeping environment clean
• Cover all food ingredients in well-sealed containers and jars and avoid exposing liquids
• Dispose your waste and garbage regularly and do not leave them exposed openly
• Check for presence of fly infestation regularly and monitor fly trend population
• Make sure you have adequate pest control regime to control fly’s population
• Do not neglect the larvae and breeding sites that develops into adult flies
• Refrain from adopting DIY pest remedies and natural repelling methods works short term

Eight facts of flies we need to know

The reason why flies consume liquid food is that they do not have teeth to break down the solid components. However, they can rely on their vomit to turn solid food into liquid form and suck them up with their proboscis that acts as a straw. They have fast reactions and move quickly to avoid predators or in the event of danger. Hence, it does not matter how to chase them away with your hands or some tools. They can process as much as 250 images in a second for something to happen compared to a human brain of 60 images.

A more efficient way of managing fly’s population is to install effective flytraps. These traps lure and trap them in a unit. As they move around and taste food with their feet, they are a highly contaminated and unhygienic pest. They transfer disease-causing microorganism from poorly sanitised environments they lurk onto the food and preparation process. Read the full article of eight essential facts of flies we need to know by Rentokil Initial.

Why is pest control important for food business?

The main obvious reason why pest eradication of flies is essential especially for a food business is because ensuring food and product safety among consumers and users. Flies spread diseases including Salmonellosis, Dysentery and Gastroenteritis, that causes symptoms such as vomiting, nauseating, diarrhea and stomach cramps. In addition, all food establishments in Singapore are on regulatory compliance and this includes zero-tolerance to pest presence. Businesses are subjected to not only financial implications, business suspension or closure and even negative brand image when food contamination or fly’s presence are reported in the media.

Why are you seeing more flies in your premise?

Do you notice times where you observe more flies hovering around your premise compared to other times? Here are some possible reasons why you are seeing more flies lately:

• More activities and engagement with presence of food and water
• Uncleaned breeding sites that allow flies to reproduce
• Environment and climate that promotes faster flies’ development
• Cross infestation conditions where surrounding tenants or units have a fly infestation
• Open concepts and design of the premise that allow flies to enter
• Condition of the premise such as gaps and crevices that permits flies’ entries
• Continuous poor housekeeping standards that promote fly’s infestation
• Inefficacy in pest control services or inconsistent pest control regime in place
• Premise is located within high-risk environment such as nearby garbage or heavy infestation
• Wrong placement or wrong type of fly trap unit installed, thus leading to re-infestation
• User behavior that promotes fly invasion such as keeping kitchen doors

Complete guide for flies’ control in Singapore

Fly control is not a simple task and requires a pest control specialist to conduct a structured solution to ensure your premise is protected. Rentokil has written a complete guide for flies’ control in Singapore, covering essential information including the following:

• Learn the various fly’s species you can find in your premise
• Interesting fly facts that make fly control more challenging
• Possible causes of fly infestation in an environment
• Find out the signs of fly infestation to look out for
• Harm and diseases caused by flies
• How do you get rid of flies’ effectively?
• Debugged the common pest myths around flies
• Various fly control solutions you can engage in
• Useful fly prevention tips to adopt diligently
• How much does a fly control service cost in Singapore

Can you still consume flies that land on your food?

Because flies are attracted to food sources and scents, it is common finding them buzzing around your food and drinks be it at home or at a food outlet. So, the question is, is it still safe consuming them if fly lands on them? The answer is no because flies picked up various pathogens from the places they lurk and visit such as drains, sewers, garbage and grease traps. These places house all sorts of bacteria and cause food contamination diseases including dysentery, cholera, typhoid and salmonella. In addition, they can vomit and poop on the food as they land it. This increases the risk of food poisoning. While some individuals have a higher threshold in falling sick with contaminated consumption, it is best not to risk your health and safety by avoiding consuming them.

Complexities of running a food business

Food business in Singapore is challenged with various complexities. Firstly, consumers have higher expectations in food options and varieties including the service delivery and ambiance. Secondly, operations of the food business are massive where labour and resource can be a challenge such as understaffed during peak hours. Thirdly, operating cost and overhead can amount to a heavy sum in Singapore, let alone expenses on food ingredients and equipment. Finally, food safety is the number one priority and most consumers seek safety concern. Above all, any lapses in food safety leading to food contamination or encountering presence of pests in the premise may result in damaging brand reputation and negative customer reviews. Lastly, the business may be implicated in terms of financial penalty, operation disruption, service suspension, compensation and even potential closure.

Read also: What you need to know about food regulations in Singapore

How to get rid of flies with Rentokil Pest Control

There are a few ways to get rid of flies, from maintaining a sound sanitation standard, to adopting preventive and proofing approaches and finally, ensuring a sound pest control is in place.

Eliminate food sources and water in the environment

First step is to deny any food sources for flies to feed including food and water. Besides shelter that all pests require, flies feed on a variety of sources. They include fruits, vegetables (both ripe and scrapes), meat, plant extractions and nectar, decaying and organic matter such as waste, garbage and even human feces. Water is a necessity for all pests and individuals as well. It is important to keep the kitchen, serving area or other food preparation and consumption free from water spills and leaks. They typically come from food or hand washing activity, defective pipes or plumbing or drainage choke. Clear all waste matters regularly or alternatively, cover with a tight lid to avoid attracting flies with foul odour.

You may also like: What happens if you do not clear overnight trash?

Prevent flies from entering your premises

Flies travel and enter into your premise easily. This includes potential gaps, crevices and holes and any possible entries such as door gaps and ventilators. In addition, there may be a poor habit of keeping the kitchen or canteen door open at all times. This allows flies to detect the food smell in the kitchen as a result. Hence, fixing those premise defects to prevent entry and proofing can be applied to minimise cross infestation. These include door filter, insect screens, and underneath door proofing. In addition, always remind users to keep doors closed at all times to prevent multiple flies’ access.

Adopt a sound flies’ control programme

Firstly, ensure you engage in a proper pest control regime by checking on the premise environment and detecting key risk areas (including the type of pest infestation besides flies). Secondly, a customised fly control programme is recommended based on several factors. Examples include the nature of business, location of the premise, level of infestation and size of the premise. Programme typically covers both misting or residual spraying and placement of fly traps required on a mandatory basis. Thirdly, frequency and number of treatments (including intensity of treatment) is determined based on the key risk areas and condition of the premise. In some cases, because of its location in poor sanitised conditions or have a historically high presence of flies’ population, a more intense treatment is required.

Fourthly, fly traps come in various unit coverage scope and design where it is applicable for industrial setting or front of house. The unit’s glueboard will be serviced monthly (or fortnightly and even more frequent) depending on the flies’ population. Above all, some businesses require pest trend analysis and fly’s population count is necessary. In summary, a reporting and monitoring of the premise is carried out to ensure your flies control is in order.

Control your flies’ infestation with Lumnia – fly control with energy savings

Rentokil Initial has innovated a patented technology using LED to attract, trap and eliminate flies in a safe and hygienic manner. Called the Lumnia Fly Control, it offers a high attraction output that enhances the catch rate for flies and because it utilises LED, it provides additional feature of energy savings of an average 61% energy consumption reduction. How it works differently to cater optimal catch rate is the production of intense beams of UV-A light that can penetrate further and wider in the premise. As flies are sensitive to light, they can respond to the LED light more efficiently. Thus, they are attracted to the unit and traps them effectively. In addition, fly control can also enhance the aesthetics of the décor, with the Lumnia Compact Colour range and Lumnia Slim that fits the space and design of the environment.

Frequently asked questions on flies’ control

When do we need to call for a fly control specialist?

Fly control is necessary and should be engaged immediately and proactively especially for a food business. It should also be maintained on a regular and ongoing basis to ensure consistent control in pest infestation, including fly’s problem. However, there are cases of sudden surge or an escalation of infestation that requires additional flush out programmes. In this case, usually pest control specialists will perform a foaming flush out (depending on the severity, multiple flush outs are required) and monitor the pest trend analysis to see if infestation is under control.

What do we need to know about fly control?

Firstly, fly control has to be conducted by a professional specialist. This is because there is specific skill-sets and pest knowledge to carry out the treatments. Secondly, most DIY remedies may not work as effectively. They either serve as a repel function, or inadequate attraction and trapping capabilities to control the population. Thirdly, it is essential to invest in effective flytraps that can eliminate the presence of flies. This avoids having flies buzzing around customers or worse of all, land into the food served. Fourthly, fly control will not work if your facility is not well maintained from waste and food sources. Both efforts must work hand in hand to optimise fly control efficacy.

Finally, always do checks and inspections and remain vigilant in any potential risks and gaps. These help to avoid turning a mild infestation into a serious condition.

What are the common three flies’ species in Singapore?

The three species include houseflies that we are all familiar with that attracted to most food. These include what we eat, and to decaying and organic matter such as food waste, faeces and rotten fruits and vegetables. They usually hatch as quickly as eight hours and tend to reproduce in volumes, as much as 150 eggs at one time. Other species include the bluebottle flies that tend to lurk around at waste area and compost bins more, including dead carcass and insects. There is also the fruit fly, drain fly that tends to appear in drains and sewers. Finally, flies that can bite and sting include sand fly and horse fly where the bites tend to be stinging and painful.

Where should I check for fly infestation signs?

Flies lurk around food sources and places with smell attraction. These include waste and garbage areas, food preparation corners such as food supplies, tabletops and kitchen sinks. In addition, to check along the gutters and gully, drain and sewers where they tend to breed in it. Observe for presence of adult flies buzzing around at the serving area and front of the house where we serve drinks and snacks. Finally, breeding can also be found along gaps and corners of kitchen equipment, grease traps and within grooves and cracks that breeds larvae.

Why is my flying insect control service ineffective?

There are many possible reasons why pest control can be ineffective. Firstly, there could be an underlying root source of flies breeding that is not eliminated and resolved. These breeding tend to go unnoticed unless with adequate pest detection. Secondly, the frequency and consistency of the fly’s management may be inadequate and compromised. For example lapses in treatment, poor control quality and even lower efficacy in active ingredients used. Thirdly, the placement of the unit matters where strategic key risk areas can optimise catch rate. Fourthly, user habits and condition of housekeeping affect the quality of flies’ control. A well-maintained premise free from waste, food sources and water help eliminate chances of flies’ attraction. Above all, constant monitoring and inspection of possible breeding sites is essential to ensure a well-covered treatment

How much does a fly control programme cost in Singapore?

Price of pest control for fly management is dependent on a few factors including:

• The number of fly traps deployed to the premise including the type of fly traps in terms of coverage size and technology
• Frequency required to change the fly trap glue board and regular maintenance of the units
• Scope of coverage such as protecting front of house, a medium size restaurant to a large-scale industrial setting
• Schedule residual spraying and misting required including the type and quality of active ingredient
• Additional services including reporting, monitoring and pest trend analysis
• Audit regulatory support and quality audit control particularly for high compliance businesses
• Any additional treatments to resolve sudden infestation surge or persistent flies’ issue that requires separate treatment jobs
• Intangible assets of the pest control company including the brand, innovations and R&D support, positive customer reviews and resource capacity

Call Rentokil Singapore at 6347 8138 for pest control services today.