The Buzz on Why Flies are Bad for Business

A couple of flies is no big deal, right?

Unfortunately, these pests are more than just a nuisance, and you shouldn’t let them fly under your radar. In business environments, flies can quickly evolve from an annoyance to a serious threat to your bottom line. Read our free Comprehensive Guide to Flies & Fly Control Strategy to learn how you can help stop a fly infestation before it gets out of hand.

Here are the top five reasons why you shouldn’t ignore flies in your facility:

1. Flies are fast breeders. In the right conditions, a fly population can grow at an alarming rate. The female housefly can produce as many as 1,000 eggs in her lifetime – and the larvae develop to adulthood in less than 10 days.
2. Flies spread disease. They can spread pathogenic microorganisms (e.g. Coli, Salmonella, Shigella) that cause fever, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, typhoid and dysentery, along with other ailments. Other bacteria carried by flies spread diseases causing food poisoning and respiratory issues for your customers and employees.
3. Flies contaminate surfaces they land on. After feeding on garbage, sewage, decaying matter and feces, flies transfer germs wherever they land, including your food. They only have one pair of forewings (hind-wings are reduced to balancing knobs), so they land often.
4. Flies hurt your reputation. In a survey of diners, Orkin found that 81% of patrons won’t return to a restaurant if they see a pest on their plate. And more than half of the people who see a pest write a negative review online or on social media.
5. Flies can cost you money. Fly sightings can deal a blow to your bottom line by turning away your customers and costing you points on your next health inspection. If you have flies at your facility, you can rack up violations and even be forced to close.

The bottom line on flies is they’re a small pest that present a big risk. Whether you have a fly infestation or not, work with your pest management provider to develop a strategy for attacking this pest at the source and creating a prevention plan. Download our free Comprehensive Guide to Flies & Fly Control Strategy to learn more about the six most common flies and how to help stop them.

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