Fly Control

About This Service

Flies are more than just a nuisance - they are active carriers of disease-causing pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and the bacteria responsible for gastroenteritis, dysentery, and food poisoning. A single housefly can carry over a million bacteria on its body and regurgitates digestive fluids onto food before feeding, contaminating surfaces it lands on. In Melbourne homes and businesses, the most commonly problematic species are the house fly (Musca domestica), the blowfly (large, metallic green or blue, attracted to meat and waste), the fruit fly (small, attracted to overripe fruit, fermentation, and drains), and the drain fly (small, moth-like, breeding in organic matter in drains and wet areas). For residential properties, fly control is primarily about eliminating breeding sites (decaying organic matter, uncovered compost, animal faeces, wet food waste) and preventing entry through screens and sealed gaps. For commercial food businesses - cafes, restaurants, food manufacturing, aged care - effective fly control is a legal requirement under food safety standards, and an unchecked fly infestation can result in health authority notices, closures, and significant reputational damage. Our fly control service begins with identifying the species, locating breeding sites, and recommending environmental changes to reduce the root cause of the infestation. Treatment options include professional residual insecticide spray, installation of UV insect light traps (ILTs) in commercial settings, drain treatment with bio-foam to eliminate organic build-up, and fly baiting. For commercial clients we provide monitoring programs and compliance documentation.

Signs You Need Fly Control

• Large numbers of flies visible indoors, particularly around food preparation areas, bins, or windows
• Flies clustering on windows or ceilings in a specific area of the property
• Small, dark fly spots (faecal deposits) on light fittings, walls, or food packaging
• Maggots found in bins, compost, or around animal faeces outdoors
• Drain flies (small, moth-like insects) appearing around sinks, floor drains, or wet areas
• Fruit flies appearing around overripe fruit, juice residue, or beer and wine bottles
• Blowflies entering the home - often indicates a dead animal in a wall cavity, roof void, or subfloor

Prevention Tips

• Keep all food - including fruit - covered or refrigerated, particularly during warmer months
• Empty and clean kitchen bins daily, and keep bin lids tightly sealed
• Clean up animal faeces in the garden daily to eliminate a major fly breeding site
• Ensure all window and door fly screens are intact and properly fitted with no gaps
• Clean drains weekly with boiling water or a biological drain cleaner to remove organic build-up
• Remove overripe, damaged, or fallen fruit from the garden promptly
• Keep compost bins covered and turn them regularly to discourage fly breeding
• If flies are clustering in a specific area, investigate for a hidden dead animal (roof void, wall cavity, under the house)