Using an outside-in approach for commercial fly control can greatly improve results. This approach has three key steps: 1) Prevent entry opportunities for flies, 2) reduce fly pressure on the exterior of the facility and 3) eliminate fly activity on the interior of the building.

An Effective Approach for Fly Control

Flies are a nuisance that can pose a serious threat to food safety and your business. The most common large fly species in commercial settings are the house fly, bottle (blow) fly and flesh fly. These flies are also commonly called 'filth flies' due to their habit of feeding on filth such as garbage and food waste.

An outside-in approach to fly control focuses on finding the root cause of large fly activity and solving issues before flies reach the interior of a facility. This approach requires a good partnership between you and your pest-management provider. There are three areas of focus working from the outside to the inside of your facility:

Prevent entry opportunities. Open doors are the primary route for large flies to gain access to the inside of your building. Finding ways to minimize open-door time is essential, but often there is no other choice. In areas where there is high exterior pressure and doors are opened repeatedly, other options such as vestibules, air curtains and plastic strips should be considered.

Reduce fly pressure on the exterior. Good sanitation on the exterior of your building is the key to reducing fly pressure. Targeted treatment of exterior surfaces and use of Ecolab STEALTH Fly Stations and disposable fly traps in areas where large flies congregate (such as the dumpster corrals and garbage areas) will help reduce the number of flies near entrances, reducing large fly pressure.

Eliminate activity on the interior. If large flies are gaining access to the interior of the facility, the best options are to look for better ways to reduce pressure on the exterior and minimize entry opportunities. Killing flies inside is the least effective way to address a large fly issue.