Fly Control in Oregon and Washington
Don't Let Flies Take Over Your Home or Business
Fly control starts with identifying the species and finding its source. Many common pest flies develop in moist, decaying material such as garbage, animal waste and drain buildup. A&A identifies the species, inspects inside and out, works from the outside in to reduce entry and exterior fly pressure, treats drains and moisture, and uses traps to monitor activity.
Contact our amazing team today and reclaim your space.
How do I get rid of flies?
Flies come from somewhere. Many common pest flies lay their eggs in moist, decaying material such as garbage, animal waste, fermenting fruit and the slime inside drains, and house flies can go from egg to adult in as few as 7 to 10 days. Swatting or spraying the adults you see leaves that source untouched, which is why extension services put sanitation first. The steps below are how an A&A technician works through a fly problem:
Step 1 of 5 shown
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Comprehensive fly inspection
Your technician identifies the fly species present and looks for breeding and harborage areas, such as drains, garbage bins, organic debris and food sources. They also check what is drawing flies in, including moisture, exposed food and sanitation gaps.
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Outside-in work on large flies
Large flies often come from outside, but we also check for indoor breeding sources. We look at how flies get in, recommend options such as vestibules, air curtains or plastic strips where doors open often, and use targeted exterior treatment and fly bait stations where flies gather, such as dumpster areas.
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Targeted fly treatments
Residual applications go where flies rest and breed, such as walls, windows and entry points, along with crack and crevice work and baiting in high-activity areas, including outdoor spaces and food prep areas. In severe infestations an aerosol treatment is used to reduce the adult flies.
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Drain and moisture control
Enzyme-based drain treatments break down the organic buildup where drain flies breed, and we recommend fixes for leaks and standing water. Treatment alone cannot replace clean drains and dry conditions, so this step goes after the breeding source.
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Traps, monitoring and prevention
Pheromone and light traps are placed strategically to catch flies and show how active they are. Every property is different, so the program mixes sanitation recommendations, exclusion of gaps and entry points, trapping and targeted treatment, and recurring service keeps fly pressure down.
Are flies harmful?
Some flies are only a nuisance, but the ones that develop in filth are a food-safety concern. House flies and blow flies breed in garbage, animal waste and rotting material, and they can pick up bacteria on their feet, mouthparts and body hairs, or in what they regurgitate and leave behind, then deposit it on the food and surfaces they land on. The risk depends on the fly: Oregon State University Extension says cluster flies do not commonly spread human diseases, and drain flies do not bite. The common thread is the breeding source, and removing it is where extension guidance starts.
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House flies can carry bacteria, including Salmonella, from waste and garbage to food and kitchen surfaces.
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Blow flies develop in carcasses, garbage and animal waste, and a cluster of them indoors can point to a dead animal in a wall, attic or chimney.
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Fruit flies and drain flies breed in fermenting material and drain slime, so they point to a sanitation or moisture problem.
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Cluster flies are an annoyance rather than a health concern, and they do not reproduce inside buildings.
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Numbers build quickly, since house flies can complete a generation in as few as 7 to 10 days.
Get Rid Of Those Pesky Pests
Want to know what A&A Pest Control can do for your home or business? Fill out the contact form and our office team follows up with pricing, service timelines, and scheduling. Contact us by noon and we will have a technician onsite the next business day. Prefer to talk it through? Give us a call.
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Your request is in, and it's with our office team. We'll follow up by phone, text, or email during business hours to confirm the details and get you scheduled. In a hurry? Call (503) 567-1188 in Oregon or (360) 209-1793 in Washington before noon, and we'll have a technician onsite the next business day.
Which flies are common in Oregon and Washington?
Four flies account for most of the calls: house flies, cluster flies, blow flies and fruit flies. They are not treated alike because they breed in different places. Oregon State University Extension separates the large flies that invade from outdoors, such as house, blow and cluster flies, from the small ones that breed indoors, such as fruit flies, drain flies and fungus gnats.
Drain flies are fuzzy and moth-like, and their larvae develop in the slime that builds up inside drains. Fungus gnats breed in the damp soil of potted plants. Both are handled through the drain or the soil, so they are covered in the treatment steps rather than given their own card.
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House flies
About 3/16 to 1/4 inch long, with four dark stripes on the thorax and a yellowish abdomen with dark markings. They breed in animal waste, carrion, garbage and decaying plant material, and in warm weather a generation can take 7 to 10 days. They are the fly most often linked to carrying bacteria onto food.
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Cluster flies
Slightly larger and more sluggish than a house fly, dark gray with short golden hairs on the thorax. The larvae parasitize earthworms outdoors, so they never breed in your building. Adults move in during fall to overwinter in attics and wall voids, and warm, sunny days draw them to windows from early autumn to mid-spring.
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Blow flies
Shiny, metallic blue, green or black flies with a loud buzz. Their larvae develop in carcasses, garbage, pet waste and other rotting matter. Flies appearing indoors with no obvious source can mean a dead mouse or bird in a wall void, attic or chimney, so finding and removing that source matters more than swatting.
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Fruit flies
Tiny, about 1/8 inch, tan or brown, often with red eyes. They lay eggs in ripe produce, fermenting material, drains, garbage disposals, trash containers, mops and cleaning rags. A female can lay up to 500 eggs and a generation can take about a week, so finding every breeding site is the only way to stop them.
Fly prevention tips
Flies need food, moisture and a place to lay eggs. These five steps take those away:
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Eliminate food sources
Keep food covered, clean up crumbs and spills, and refrigerate ripe produce so fruit flies have nothing to breed in.
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Manage trash and yard waste
Use sealed trash cans, empty them regularly, remove pet waste and fallen fruit, and keep compost away from entrances.
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Clean drains and sinks
Scrub the inside of seldom-used or slow drains with a stiff brush, or use an enzyme or bacterial cleaner, to remove the slime drain flies and fruit flies breed in.
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Reduce moisture
Fix leaky faucets and standing water, and let the top of the soil in houseplants dry out between waterings.
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Keep windows and doors sealed
Install tight-fitting screens, repair cracks and gaps, and use door sweeps, since cluster flies and other large flies get in through small openings.
FAQs
Where are the flies in my house coming from?
Most often from a breeding source you cannot see, such as a drain, a trash can, forgotten fruit, pet waste or a dead animal in a wall. Flies lay eggs in moist, decaying material, so a source can be indoors or just outside. Cluster flies are the exception: they develop outdoors in soil and enter buildings in the fall.
Why are there large flies at my windows in fall and winter?
They are most likely cluster flies, which enter buildings in the fall to overwinter in attics and wall voids. Oregon State University Extension notes they do not reproduce indoors, do no damage and, if left alone, die on their own. They become active again on warm, sunny days, and sealing gaps and keeping screens in good repair keeps more from getting in.
How can I tell drain flies from fruit flies?
Drain flies are fuzzy and moth-like and tend to rest on walls near sinks, showers and floor drains, while fruit flies are tan or brown, often with red eyes, and hover around ripe produce and trash. Both breed in drains, and drain flies do not bite. Placing a jar over a drain opening helps catch the flies emerging from it.
How much does fly control cost?
It depends on the size of the property and the extent of the problem, and pricing stays transparent with no hidden fees. For homes, our office team provides free estimates over the phone. We provide a complimentary site inspection for any multi-family or commercial property seeking a bid on recurring services.
How fast can a technician get here?
Next business day: contact us by noon, and we will schedule a technician to be onsite the next business day. Early treatment keeps the job smaller, so call as soon as you notice a problem.
Does A&A offer recurring pest control plans?
Yes, we offer recurring pest control programs designed to provide year-round protection against common Northwest pests. Service frequency is customized based on your property, pest pressures, and individual needs, with options ranging from monthly to quarterly visits. Recurring service helps prevent problems before they become infestations while providing ongoing peace of mind.
Prefer to talk it through?
Call Oregon (503) 567-1188 or Washington (360) 209-1793, or contact our amazing team today. Contact us by noon and we will have a technician onsite the next business day.
