25 Jun Common Flies in the UK

Although we have a lot to love and look forward to in the summer, something that is less pleasant at this time of the year is the appearance of the flies!

As the weather warms up, many of these pesky critters come out – here is a guide to some of the commonly seen flies in the UK…

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Housefly – A common household pest, the housefly has adapted to live with humans and will often make its way into the house through an open window in the summer months. They are attracted to food, so leaving food out is a bad idea, especially during the summer months. Although they don’t bite or sting, they are not a welcome house guest as they have the potential to spread diseases.

Tabanidae – Otherwise known as horse flies, and also deer flies, as well as clegs, these are the bane of the summer. They will tear into the skin of horses, deer and humans as well as other large mammals in order to feed on the blood, which can not only be painful but also can become infected, with many people needing antibiotics to treat them.

It is actually only the females that do this, the males are actually pollinators, feeding on nectar. They are common in the summer months in rural areas, around livestock and in woodland areas near water.

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Drain Flies – If you are noticing tiny flies around your drains, then these are likely to be drain flies. They look a bit like moths rather than flies, but they tend to hop rather than fly, and wont buzz around the house.

They will come if there is a stagnant water source or decaying matter in the drain – having an infestation of these means that it is a good idea to get a professional like this drain jetting company www.drainpower.co.uk/drainage-services/drain-jetting/ to come and check the drain for signs of a blockage.

Blue Bottles – These are another fly commonly found in the UK, and will be found around faeces, bins and any organic matter during the summer months. They are distinctive because they have a shiny, jewel-like colour to them and also because they are very loud!

Like the house fly, they will not harm you with a sting or bite but because of their varied and disgusting diet they are carriers of disease and certainly not desirable to have around!