In this article, I’ll be giving you tips on how to get rid of black flies outside in your yard and other areas in your home.
Black flies aren’t just a nuisance, they bite as well. Their presence is bad for you, your family, and your mammal pets.
If you’re experiencing a black fly infestation, or you’ve come across a few in your home or yard, then keep reading.
Features Of Black Flies
Similar to mosquitoes, female black flies are the ones who are heavily dependent on bloodsucking. This is because they require blood to facilitate egg production.
For this reason, they will perch on, and suck the blood of both humans and mammal pets.
They are small in size but their bites are very hard and will leave the victim with a sore on the bitten area. This can cause itching and other forms of allergic reactions.
Black flies are very active around May, running through the summer. They are very active during the day, especially after the sun comes up. They can bite all through the day and rest just before the sun goes down.
The females lay their eggs on water, so they can be found around lakes, rivers, and even your swimming pool.
How To Get Rid Of Black Flies Completely
There are different measures you can employ to get rid of black flies. I will discuss them below.
Remove Standing Water
Since female black flies love to lay their eggs on water, then you need to be sure there is no standing water around your yard.
Standing water can be caused by leaking pipes. If you notice a few black flies around your yard, then the first thing you should do is to eliminate their breeding ground.
Fix all leaking pipes around your yard to stop the flow of water. Eliminating standing water will leave the females with no convenient place to lay their eggs and they will have to find someplace else.
Your swimming pool is also an area the females will target if there are no other options. I don’t assume you would want to drain the pool because of a few pests. Nonetheless, you can keep the pool covered with a tarp when you’re not swimming. This will seal it off from the flies.
If there is any form of standing water in your house, the females will also explore the option. Check under your kitchen sink to see if there is any water dripping from the pipes. If there is, then call on a plumber to get it fixed.
You should also check around your bathtub for leakages too. Be sure to mop your kitchen and bathroom floors dry after you do the dishes or shower.
The drains around your yard are also a perfect spot for the females to lay eggs. Keep them clean at all times to limit black fly activities.
Remember, if the females lay their eggs in your yard, then there will be a new set of black flies for you to deal with later.
Dispose Of Animal Waste
While female black flies feed on human and animal blood, the males feed off animal wastes. If you have a barn, then you can find many male black flies there feasting on the waste.
For this reason, you should keep the area clean at all times, especially during the black fly season. If the males have nothing to feast on, they will be forced to move to a place where sufficient animal species are available.
If you have a dog (or dogs) then you should also dispose of their poop. If you make a habit of leaving dog poop to pile up, then it will attract black flies.
How To Get Rid Of Black Flies In Your Home
As much as black flies love the outdoors, they can also make their way into your home.
If you ever find them inside your house, then follow these tips to get rid of them.
Use An Insecticide
Using an Insecticide remains the fastest way to get rid of black flies in your home. A chemical-based Insecticide works a lot faster than organically made versions, so this will be your best bet in getting rid of them.
Visit a store, buy one of your choices, and spray around the areas where black fly activities are high. You don’t need to spray on them directly, simply spray into the spaces.
Be sure you are well protected before you begin spraying. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask to avoid inhaling the insecticide. As an extra precaution, be sure to put on a pair of rubber gloves as well.
This will keep you from making contact with the insecticide.
Install Window Nets
Since the window is the easiest means for black flies to get into your home, you need to take steps to restrict access.
You can keep them out by installing window nets behind all the windows in your home. This will keep them from flying through.
Black flies are small, so you should install a window net with tiny holes. This would be very ideal since the net will still allow air to flow through, but keep the black flies out.
Use A Bug Zapper
A bug zapper works against most flying insects, especially the ones attracted to light. Install a few in your home, mostly in areas where they are present.
They will be attracted to the light and fly towards it. They will be electrocuted as they make contact with the zapper.
This method of black fly control is effective against a small number of black flies.
Drown Them
Black flies can also be drowned using a simple trap. You can mix some vinegar, dish soap, and water in a container and place a plastic tarp over it.
Pierce a few holes in the plastic tarp, they should be large enough for the black flies to pass through. Female black flies will be attracted to this since they love laying their eggs on water.
They will creep through the holes but will not be able to get out, all thanks to the liquid soap. They will eventually drown as they struggle to get out of the container.
When the container is filled with dead black flies, you will need to take it out and properly dispose of the content.
You can set the trap as many times as you need to. Do this until all the black flies are gone.
How To Prevent Black Fly Bites
Black Flies have very hard bites that hurt. They can attack anywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Luckily, there are means by which you can protect yourself from their bites.
Follow these tips –
Wear Protective Clothing
If you live near a lake, then there will be black flies around, especially during May through July.
Knowing that these biters are around, you can protect yourself by wearing long-sleeved shirts to cover the full length of your arm. Also avoid wearing shorts, as this will expose your legs. The trousers are your best bet.
You can also keep on a pair of stockings to protect your feet from bites.
I have to mention that black flies are also attracted to carbon dioxide, which humans exhale. For this reason, you can also put on a hat with a net around it to keep the flies away from your face.
This type of hat is not the best option if you’re for fashion, but it will save your facial area from black fly bites.
You can put these on if you’ll be spending a significant amount of time outdoors.
This type of clothing may keep you hot and uncomfortable, considering the spring season, but I think you’ll prefer a little clothing discomfort to a hard black fly bite.
Turn On The Fans
It is true black flies have strong wings and can fly pretty far, but they are still small insects regardless.
If there are a few black flies in your house, then you can keep them from biting you by turning on the fans. They aren’t large enough to withstand the fan’s power, so they will not be able to get close to you to bite.
Use Repellents
You can use a vanilla or lavender-based repellent to keep black flies away from your skin. Buy a bottle and take it with you when you go on outdoor trips like family picnics.
Rub it all over your arms, legs, and neck to keep them away from you.
Light Camp Fires
If you’re out camping, then you can light campfires for visibility instead of using battery-powered lamps.
Campfires produce smoke, which will not only conceal your scent from the black flies but will also keep them away.
Conclusion
Black flies are not friendly to humans or animals, especially females. They have unpleasant bites and will strike any chance they get.
I trust this article on how to get rid of black flies has been helpful.
Take care.