Where do bluebottle flies come from?

Do you live with a consistent buzzing noise around your home that disrupts the peace? If bluebottle flies seem to be materialising out of nowhere, you’re probably wondering where they’re appearing from.

Many UK homes are plagued by these flies; they infiltrate your space, contaminate your food, and are notoriously difficult to get rid of. You may notice an influx of them as the weather warms and populations grow.

However, you’ll be thankful to know that there are plenty of ways to get rid of them or prevent them altogether. Stick with us to find out how!

What Are Bluebottle Flies?

Bluebottle flies gain their name from their shiny blue exterior, which can also appear green in direct sunlight.

Scientifically known as Calliphora vomitoria, these are one of the most common types of fly in the UK, slightly larger than your average housefly (around 10 to 14 millimetres in length). You’ll be able to spot them by their insistent buzzing.

Where Do Bluebottle Flies Come From?

Bluebottle flies typically emerge from waste and decay, including rotting meat, pet faeces, foot waste, and rubbish bins. They can locate decaying matter from considerable distances, causing them to breed in your home.

A female bluebottle can lay up to 160 eggs in one batch, the eggs hatching in just 8-12 hours with the right conditions. With the larva stage lasting around 3 to 10 days and the pupa stage 7 to 10 days, the full lifecycle from egg to adult can be completed in as little as two weeks.

While they’re active throughout the year, you’re likely to see an increase during summer as breeding increases. However, they also seek shelter in winter, using your home as a breeding site.

Why Do I Have Bluebottle Flies Indoors?

If you’ve noticed an increase in bluebottle flies in and around your home, one or more of the issues below may be causing it:

Food waste left uncovered
Open fruit bowls
Overflowing bins
Dead birds, rats, or mice in your loft, chimney, or cavity walls
Pet waste
Blocked or dirty drains
Poor ventilation
Cracks in the walls

Are Bluebottle Flies Dangerous?

While bluebottle flies aren’t necessarily dangerous, they can be carriers of harmful bacteria and disease.

As they spend their time feasting on decaying matter and waste, they can spread Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter to surfaces in your home.

These bacteria and pathogens can contaminate food sources or come into contact with your skin, leading to gastrointestinal infections and foodborne illnesses, also known as food poisoning.

For the hospitality or healthcare sectors, a bluebottle infestation goes against the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and can result in:

Fines or legal action
Closure notices
Damage to reputation
Loss of customers

Signs You Have a Bluebottle Infestation

Seeing one or two bluebottle flies in your home isn’t a cause for concern. It’s only when they start to increase in numbers that it indicates a more serious issue.

Knowing what to look out for can help you tackle the issue before it gets worse. Here are the most common signs of a bluebottle infestation in your property:

Frequent sightings of them in your kitchen, near windows, or in food storage.
An increase in the number of flies at once in your property.
Spotting maggots in bins, drains, near pet waste, or old meat.
A sour or rotting smell in or around your property from decomposing food, blocked drains, or animal carcasses.
A cluster of bluebottle flies around light sources.
Consistent buzzing noises, especially at night.

How to Prevent Bluebottle Flies

As they say, prevention is better than a cure. Making a few simple changes can help you avoid this issue altogether or get a hold of it before it escalates.

Doing these simple hacks will help keep the flies at bay:

Keep bins clean, closed, and emptied

Overflowing bins not only make your property look unkempt and dirty, but they’re also like waving a green flag at bluebottle flies to infest your home or commercial space.

Instead, make sure you clean and empty your bins regularly, using disinfectant and soap to remove any lingering odours, stains, and bacteria. Use strong bin liners to prevent them from breaking and causing a mess, and always keep the lids tightly closed.

Store food properly

Leaving food out in the open is like openly inviting bluebottle flies to come and breed on your fruit and vegetables.

Instead, store any food in tight, sealed containers and store them away in cupboards and drawers. You can buy covers to go over your fruit bowls, keeping flies out while also keeping your fruit within reach.

Keep worktops clean of any crumbs and spills, and refrain from leaving pet food out for extended periods.

Maintain your drains

Food particles, grease, and moisture can accumulate inside pipes, creating an ideal environment for bluebottle flies to lay eggs.

To avoid this, flush out your drains regularly with boiling water and clean them with drain cleaner. Placing drain covers over your drains will also prevent any flies from finding their way in.

Promptly dispose of animal waste

It can be easy to forget about litter trays or wait to clean them out when you’re not busy, but doing so will cause bluebottle populations to double.

Always clean up any mess as soon as you see it, including pet waste that’s left in your garden.

Seal entry points

Bluebottle flies always have a way of getting in, so you need to be smarter and quicker at cutting off their entry points.

Install fine-mesh fly screens on doors and windows, and repair any damaged cracks, seals, and gaps around them. Sealing any chimney entries or holes in your loft can also prevent animals from entering and leaving carcasses that attract these flies.

Following these top tips from Premier Pest Control will help you take back your home from bluebottle flies.

However, if the problem persists, it’s best to contact a professional pest control team to handle the issue.

At Premier Pest Control, we offer services for a variety of pests in and around Liverpool, including ants and rats. Enquire about our pest removal today for a free quote.