Do House Flies Bite? Here's How You Can Prevent Insect Bites!
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Flies are annoying, and biting flies are not just annoying but also dangerous!
It is unlikely that you have never encountered a fly. If you have, it is almost certain that you have wanted to kill the fly and save yourself from any bites!
Having a fly buzzing near your ears is most certainly one of the most unwanted situations ever, but to also be attacked by these insects and their bites is likely to have you reaching for the phone to call up pest control. In fact, you will be absolutely right in doing so.
Flies lap up blood from humans, and in exchange, they transmit dangerous and possibly fatal diseases. Keep reading to know about flies and the particular species that you must maintain a distance from!
If you enjoy reading this article, why not also check out house fly facts and do centipedes bite here at Kidadl?
Do house flies bite when it's going to rain?
Flies can be an absolute nuisance and have you chasing them around the house with a fly smasher.
The most annoying of the facts is that even when you are simply trying to enjoy a cup of coffee, these insects can make their way to you and not only irritate you with their buzzing noise but can also bite you.
Fly bites are often pain-free and only cause tiny red bumps. However, there are some flies that can put you at the risk of contracting some diseases or even some allergic reactions.
There are certain times of the year when flies start biting every human being or animal that they can spot around them. Flies are especially vicious during the rainy season since this is typically when they reproduce.
For reproduction, flies require certain proteins which they can only acquire from animal and human blood. You may notice that during other times of the year, biting flies are especially rare, and it is only buzzing that you have to deal with.
Fly bites can sometimes prove to be quite problematic since they often transmit diseases such as black fly fever, malaria and sandfly fever.
Horseflies can also spread rather grave diseases like anthrax in animals.
This is because biting flies carry bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in their saliva. When a housefly bites a human being or an animal, it transfers the pathogens, thereby infecting the healthy person as well.
Therefore, while you must always be careful of the several species of flies that exist on earth and try your best to keep away from them, you must also be especially careful during the monsoon season to ensure that these tiny creatures do not transmit disease to you or your loved ones!
What kind of house flies bite?
There are several species of tiny flies that bite human beings and animals. Each of these biting flies has their own characteristics and bring their own set of problems to the table. Some of these flies are deer flies, stable flies, houseflies, black flies, biting midges, and gnats.
Biting midges and gnats are especially troublesome since they are tiny and often cannot even be seen. They often draw blood, and their bites leave marks.
Biting midges are found all around North America and in some other parts of the world. They have been linked with the spread of diseases such as filarial worms. Biting midges should therefore be avoided at all costs!
Sandflies are also found in several places around the world. Sandfly bites are often painful and leave blisters on the skin of the person being attacked by these tiny troublemakers. Sandflies are especially common in tropical and subtropical environments and can easily be confused with other species of flies due to their easily mistaken looks.
Even the common housefly can bite when the breeding season is near. These flies require certain nutrients from human blood in order to be able to breed. Hence, humans are victims of the pinching bite of this tiny insect.
Horseflies are also particularly intimidating since they are large and oddly colored. These flies are dangerous as well since they are a biting fly species and can spread diseases.
Horseflies can leave bites that swell up and become red. In some cases, they are also directly associated with the spread of diseases such as rabbit fever. Horseflies are especially vigilant in moist environments, and hence, their places of breeding must be treated by pest control experts.
A stable fly can also be quite annoying since its bites can cause itching and redness. At the same time, stable flies aren't too dangerous in terms of the transmission of diseases.
These insects are only linked with minor rashes and itching. If you are bitten by stable flies, it can easily be treated by having some antihistamine medicines to soothe the itching!
How do you get rid of house flies biting you?
Species such as house flies, sandflies, deer flies, black flies, and horseflies bite humans when they need some nutrients to help in their reproduction. These insects are usually attracted to human households when there are any smells that seem delicious to them.
Such smells can be as repelling as that of feces, rotting food, and garbage. Hence, if you want to rid your house of biting flies, it would be useful to make sure that such odd smells are nowhere to be found near your house.
You can also save yourself from biting flies such as deer flies and black flies by using some insect repellents. Sweet smells also attract these biting flies, and hence, your fruity perfume may be the cause of your issues.
Worry not, you will not have to skip your perfume. Just layer your perfume over some odorless insect repellent cream, and that should be enough! Additionally, flies detest smells like lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, and clove; spraying these scents will deter these pesky insects from entering your house.
How long do flies live in your house?
The lifespan of biting flies is largely dependent on the species that you have been dealing with. While most of these species have an average lifespan of around 15-20 days, there are other flies that can live longer and can harm you with their bites over a longer duration of time.
The lifespan of a fly, however, can easily be reduced and even brought to an abrupt halt if you hire pest control to tackle the issue!
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Do house flies bite? Here's how you can prevent insect bites!' then why not take a look at '11 lesser know facts on traditional Chinese clothes explained!
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature
Shirin BiswasBachelor of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature
With a degree in English from Amity University, Noida, Shirin has won awards for oratory, acting, and creative writing. She has a wealth of experience as an English teacher, editor, and writer, having previously worked at Quizzy and Big Books Publishing. Her expertise lies in editing study guides for children and creating engaging content.
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With a background in digital marketing, Niyati brings her expertise to ensure accuracy and authenticity in every piece of content. She has previously written articles for MuseumFacts, a history web magazine, while also handling its digital marketing. In addition to her marketing skills, Niyati is fluent in six languages and has a Commerce degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University. She has also been recognized for her public speaking abilities, holding the position of Vice President of Education at the Toastmasters Club of Pune, where she won several awards and represented the club in writing and speech contests at the area level.
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