About Flies
Flies are small, winged creatures that are attracted to many of the substances secreted by human skin. This includes sweat, proteins, salts, sugars, carbohydrates, and other chemicals. They are even attracted by the flakes of skin that we constantly leave behind. Flies gravitate towards our rubbish piles as well. These all provide a means by which these pests can survive, thrive, and feed their offspring until they reach maturity. Flies sometimes even select human bodies as the place to live and lay their eggs. They are not picky, they just need something they consider a warm, hospitable environment to live.
The main types of flies are house flies, blowflies, and bush flies. With their acute sensory apparatus, flies are drawn to humans by their ability to detect the warmth of our bodies. They can also detect the specific odors it gives off. Like mosquitoes, they can detect the carbon dioxide that is emitted by our skin. They also have powerful apparatus in their mouths that enable them to pierce our skin to gain access to the contents within.
Other Common Summer Pests
Flies are far from the only pests you will encounter if you spend a lot of time outdoors during the warmer months. Mosquitoes are actually related to flies. Both belong to the order Diptera. But mosquitoes have the special additional characteristic of feeding on human blood.
Fleas, ticks, and lice are some of the other insects you might encounter in your travels this summer, who also long for a taste of sweet human blood. Not only are they annoying, but these pests – including flies and mosquitoes – are also potentially dangerous.
Many species of flies (even the common housefly) are suspected of carrying a wide range of diseases. These diseases include tuberculosis, cholera, worms, dysentery, and various other infections.
Mosquitoes, on the other hand, transmit even more dangerous diseases, like dengue fever and malaria. The itchy bites left by these creatures make you want to scratch them, which can lead to open wounds that are susceptible to further infection.
How to Keep Flies and Mosquitoes Away
Minimize any uncovered food and sources of trash around your home. This will stop you from attracting flies. It will also serve to decrease the number of potential habitats and breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes.
To minimize your exposure to mosquitoes, remove all standing water from your yard as well as any overly lush vegetation. Be sure to cover up or use mosquito repellents when you go outside.
No matter how hard you try, you will probably still be unable to keep all flies and mosquitoes away. This is extra true in certain climates and during peak fly and mosquito season. What about when you are out hiking, fishing, or camping? In these cases, one of your only options for preventing yourself and your loved ones from getting eaten alive by insects is a good fly killer.
About Fly Killer Sprays
How Fly Killing Sprays Work
The concept behind fly repellents and fly killers is very simple. You apply the substance to your skin or spray it into the surrounding air. Certain chemicals in that substance either repel the unwanted insects or kill them outright.
The repelling products work in one of two ways. For some, the insects find the active ingredients in the repellent so unpleasant that they do whatever they can to avoid it – and you. In other products, the chemicals mask and neutralize the skin secretions that made you so attractive to these bugs in the first place. Fly killers, on the other hand, do not bother repelling pests. They simply poison them instead.
Common Insect Repellent Ingredients
There are a vast array of different insect repellents out there on the market. Each contains a different set of ingredients chosen to create a formula that will effectively ward off insects. Here are a few of the best-known ingredients to look out for.
DEET
Diethyltoluamide, a chemical compound whose full name is actually N, N-Diethyl-m-toluamide, is by far the most well-known active ingredient in insect repellents. Known by consumers as DEET, for years it has been a mainstay in most fly killers out there on the market. It is certainly very effective at deterring and repelling flies and mosquitoes. Just how it manages to do that is still a bit of a mystery. It apparently has something to do with the way that DEET interferes with the insects’ sensory equipment. It keeps them from detecting the carbon dioxide and other chemicals emitted by human skin. The main problem is that DEET is a synthetic chemical that is thought to be toxic to humans and the natural environment. As a result, in recent years, many new insect repellents have been appearing on the market as an alternative to DEET.
Benzyl Benzoate
This organic compound is the product of letting sodium benzoate react with benzyl alcohol. The result, benzyl benzoate, is another common fly repellent ingredient.
Citronella
Citronella oil is an essential oil derived from the stems and leaves of the lemongrass plant. While traditionally used in candles, soaps, and perfumes, it also makes an effective insect repellent. This is an all-natural, non-toxic substance. That is why many people opt for it as a healthier, eco-friendlier choice.
Neem
Neem has been used for centuries as a traditional remedy for many ailments on the Indian sub-continent. The oil from the neem fruit is another eco-friendly, non-toxic option for use as a fly killer.
Permethrin and Cypermethrin
These are both examples of “pyrethroid” insecticides. This category of synthetic insecticide has a chemical structure which greatly resembles pyrethrum, which is a natural insecticide that comes from a particular species of the chrysanthemum. Despite being a synthetic fly repellent, it is only toxic to insects, not humans! Pyrethroid-based fly killers are the insect-repellent of choice in the military. Some other advantages that these repellents have over DEET are that they are long-lasting and are mostly odor-free.
DEET may have dominated the insect repellent market for many years. But now, DEET-based products are far from the only high-quality alternatives around. That is great news for those of you who want a fly killer that is as eco-friendly and non-toxic as it is effective!
The Different Types of Insect Repellents
When it comes to fly killers, there are many different types of products. You can find sprays, creams, ointments, lotions, gels, roll-ons, and even shampoos on the market.
Insect repelling creams and ointments are actually emulsions of water and oil. Ointments contain at least 70% oil while lotions consist of at least 70% water. Creams fall between these two extremes. Cream repellents are best in situations where you want to control precisely where the repellent goes. They can, however, be greasy and/or messy.
Gels are a good option if you wish to apply the repellent in difficult-to-reach areas. Also, they are gentle enough that you can generally apply them to broken skin that needs protection. Pour-on liquids are another type of fly repellent product whose main benefit is enabling you to control exactly where you apply them.
Roll-ons are a popular type of insect repellent. They are good for applying to sensitive areas like faces. You do not generally want to use a chemical spray on your or your children’s faces. The same goes for messy lotions and creams.
There are even fly repellent shampoos out there on the market today! If you want a product that does two things at once, then this is one option you may enjoy.
Why Fly Killer Sprays Are the Best Option
Last but not least, we have fly killer sprays. These are by far the preferred choice for most when it comes to insect repellents. Indeed, for their sheer range of coverage and convenience, they cannot be beaten. There is no need to rub a cream or lotion into your skin. You just spray whatever areas happen to need protection. If you don’t want to apply a spray-on repellent directly to your skin, you can also spray the surrounding air. Depending on the product, you can even spray your furniture or outdoor camping equipment. Sprays can generally be used on your pets as well. Because of their greater range, they also offer better value for money when used carefully in comparison to creams, lotions, and so on.
Conclusion
Flies, mosquitoes, and other airborne pests have the potential to turn your summer dream into a nightmare. Fortunately, with a good fly killer spray, you can prevent that from happening. In this article, we have looked at the stars in the world of fly killer sprays. Grab yourself one of the products reviewed in this article! Then you can enjoy the warmer weather without worrying about insects bothering you.
6 Comments
Esin Etim
Please, I need a good formula with a step by step instructions with all ingredients to start up house flies insecticide production in Nigeria from any of the companies above thanks.
I also want to know where I can get my active ingredients handy.
Karen
Our site is in no way affiliated with the companies that produce the above-mentioned products, Esin. Therefore you need to contact these companies directly by emailing them via the email addresses found on their websites.
Travis
My concern is if any of these products stain or remove outdoor house paint? I have flys outside that sun themselves on two sides of our home during summer. I’ve used fly paper to kill many along with a racket type hand zapper. But i need something like a spray to finish them off. Thanks
Karen
I doubt that any of the products mentioned in this article is strong enough to remove outdoor house paint. And most of them are also non-staining. Just check the label of the product you’re thinking of buying beforehand and see if the product leaves any residue or has a tendency to stain.
Kascha K
Hot Shot should not be on this list. The only way it kills flies is by completely dousing them in so much of it that they drown. I’ve emptied an entire team can of this stuff in two days just dealing with fungus gnats because spraying them in the air can’t get enough to them as it doesn’t even kill on contact when they’re stationary unless like I say, you drown them in it.
InsectCop
As stated on the label, the room is supposed to be filled with the mist of the product, then left for 15 minutes for the treatment to work properly. The product isn’t meant to be simply sprayed in the air.