Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville and Chattanooga TN
If you placed a house fly and a fruit fly side by side (assuming they’d stay still!), you’d quickly notice they look different. Both insects have the typical insect features—three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen), two antennae, and six legs—but their size, shape, and color vary quite a bit.
- House flies are dark gray, oval-shaped, and range from about ⅛ to ¼ inch long.
- Fruit flies are tan, slimmer and more oval, and roughly ⅛ inch long.
But appearance isn’t the biggest difference when it comes to the risk they pose to your home.
Why House Flies Are More Dangerous
When it comes to spreading illness, house flies are the clear threat. Studies estimate that house flies can transmit over 65 different diseases—including cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, poliomyelitis, and tularemia.
House flies are often found in extremely unsanitary places like dead animals, dumpsters, sewers, and animal feces. After crawling through these filthy spots, they can easily land on your food or kitchen surfaces. This means they pick up harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli and then transfer them to places where we prepare and eat food, increasing the risk of illness.
What About Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies don’t tend to frequent the same gross places as house flies. They’re mostly attracted to ripening or fermenting fruit and vegetables. While fruit flies are less of a disease risk, they can still carry bacteria and contaminants, especially if their population grows large or if the environment is unsanitary.
Why It’s Important to Control Both
Whether you’re dealing with house flies or fruit flies in your home, it’s important to control them quickly. Flies can contaminate food and surfaces, potentially putting your family’s health at risk.
If you live in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville, or Chattanooga and need effective fly control, Ameri Care Services Pest Control offers professional solutions tailored to your home’s needs. Early intervention can keep your home safe and comfortable from these common pests.