Fly Larvae Control

With increased focus on Fly Larvae Control from the Environment Agency and a consistent problem with high fly populations, a new strategy was needed to control nuisance flies and better manage the fly populations on sites and surrounding areas during the summer months. The new strategy had to be both effective and financially viable.

Fly control is essential and can be achieved through an integrated control program focusing on both adults and larvae. Flies are classed as a statutory nuisance and must be controlled as part of The Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005. Flies can result in complaints from local residents and businesses and may result in enforcement action from the local authority.

Flies can also spread over 100 different pathogens, such as Salmonella spp & E.coli. Effective fly control forms part of waste management permits but without monitoring for efficiency, many waste management companies do not fulfil the minimum required criteria. The lifecycle of the house fly, for example, from egg, through larval and pupal stages, to adult fly, takes from one to three weeks (depending on temperature). There can be anything from 10 to 30 generations per year depending on the region and weather.

However, adult flies only represent 15% of the fly burden and so complete control cannot be achieved by only controlling the adult fly – particular focus must be on the larval stages too.