Things are stinking hot right now – so, naturally, flies are everywhere. Everything from big, fat house flies to minuscule pesky fruit flies are darting around our homes, on the hunt for nearby food sources.
What do we do when we spot one? We erratically swat it away. Moments later, it comes back, and round and round we go. There’s got to be a better way to keep flies at bay! Turns out, there is. I spoke to two entomologists and a pest expert to find out why it’s so hard to swat a fly, and if there’s a better technique to follow. Here’s what they said.
What happens when you swat a fly?
Before we get into the latest fly-swatting advice, we need to understand why our instinct to use our hands is so pointless. Bob Gilbert, board certified entomologist and staff entomologist with Blue Sky Pest Control, says:
‘Flies are difficult to swat because they’re very good at detecting danger before contact. House flies have large compound eyes with a wide field of view, excellent motion detection, and sensory hairs and bristles that can detect air movement. A moving hand creates both a visual threat and a small wave of air, giving the fly a warning before the swat lands.
‘When someone tries to swat a house fly, the fly usually reacts by launching away from the approaching object. After a few attempts, the person may move the fly around the room, but the fly often returns to the same food, counter or bin area because the attractant is still there. Swatting may kill one fly, but it does not remove the reason the fly came inside.’
So, we may not know it, but swatting by hand gives a fly plenty of warning signals. Between our movement and the air waves it produces, they know exactly what’s coming. And they’re so fast, they have more than enough time to get out of the way. In fact, flies have enough time to prematurely adjust themselves for take-off, according to Kevin Hathorne, lead entomologist at Terminix Service Inc:
‘They don’t simply wait until something touches them, they constantly monitor their surroundings for changes in light, movement and air currents. When they detect a fast-approaching object, they quickly calculate an escape route and launch into flight in just a fraction of a second.
‘One reason they’re so difficult to hit is that they often begin preparing for takeoff before they actually leave the surface. They shift their weight, position their legs and orient their body in the direction they’re planning to fly. By the time your hand reaches where the fly was sitting, it’s often already gone.’
So, try as you might, odds are you won’t successfully swat a fly by hand while you’re in its line of sight.
What should you do instead?
So, what’s the alternative? Obviously, you can turn to a dedicated fly swatter to improve your odds. This provides better reach and coverage as you swat. But it’s not ideal so close to food.
Bob says you should ‘never use an electric swatter or bug zapper near food or food preparation surfaces, as the electricity causes the insect to rupture or fragment, possibly resulting in fly body parts contaminating the food.’
Not a nice thought! Plus, you might not have a swatter to hand. In which case, Eliot Moakes, owner and pest control technician at EM Pest Control, says: ‘People should adopt a slower and more controlled approach in order to be effective. Usually, the faster you try to be, the more exaggerated the movement is, thus easier to detect by the fly. This is because if you just rush straight at the fly, it’s more likely to detect the movement and make a quick escape. One quick and decisive swat once you’re close tends to work better.’
Kevin goes on to say that you should ‘aim slightly ahead of the fly’s likely escape path rather than directly at its current location. Flies usually launch upward and backward relative to the perceived threat. If possible, trap the fly against a window or other surface where its escape routes are limited’.
So, slow and steady wins the race, rather than a sudden outburst. That’s difficult to do, particularly if the fly is edging closer and closer to your food. But it gives you the best chance of actually swatting the insect, otherwise it will just persist while the food source is still there.
It's not all about food, though. Check out this overlooked kitchen mistake attracting flies this summer.
How to prevent flies
Rather than skilfully swatting at rogue flies, it’s better to prevent the problem in the first place. Keeping a clean home is key, with bins that are regularly emptied (and out of the sun), screens applied to windows and doors, and potential food and water sources removed. That includes pet bowls that are left out, sticky residue in the recycling, and even leaky taps. Check out these and more in the 7 bad habits you need to stop today to keep flies out of your home this summer.
If you’re dealing with fruit flies, make a trap by combining apple cider vinegar with a few drops of washing-up liquid in a glass. The flies will sink and drown when they hit the surface.
Fruit fly removal kit
