PEST FILES :
Flies
The
Musca domestica, is known as the Common Housefly. They
feed by spitting out saliva on solid foods to predigest it, and
then suck it back inside. Flies have a very highly-evolved
evasion reaction which helps to ensure their survival. Flies are
also among the filthiest insects around, carrying more than 100
known pathogens. Combined with their ability to cover large
distances very quickly and their attraction to human food, flies
can pose a serious health risk.
The Threat :
The main
threat of a Housefly is its ability to carry and transmit
serious diseases. Houseflies can carry over 100 pathogens such
as typhoid, cholera, salmonella, bacillary dysentery,
tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmic, parasitic worms,
staphylococcus, E. coli and shigella. For businesses -
especially those in foodservice, food and beverage processing,
and food retail industries - flies are an especially dangerous
because every time they land on a food source, they drop off
dangerous bacteria that can contaminate food or cause serious
illness if ingested. Preventing flies from becoming a problem
can require considerations such as from altering your lighting
to reviewing your waste management system.