Struggling with Flies in Cape Coral? Discover How Your Dog's Poop Could Be the Culprit!
The Relationship Between Dog Waste, Fly Reproduction, and Helpful Fly Control Tips
We all experience house flies in Cape Coral. Open your back door and flies come inside. Walk into your backyard and see flies everywhere. They are annoying and, when you think about where they come from, gross. If you are not regularly doing the unpleasant job of cleaning up your dog’s waste this is likely the primary cause of your fly problem. Hundreds to thousands of flies can emerge from your dog’s waste within 7-10 days. Cape Coral dog owners who cannot remove pet waste, or simply don’t have the time, can expect a yard that becomes a breeding ground for thousands of flies. Below, The Green Hound explains why dog waste creates the perfect environment for fly reproduction and what steps homeowners can take to control household fly populations.
Dog Waste Accelerates Fly Populations
A few factors make Southwest Florida dog owner’s yards an ideal location for massive fly reproduction:
Nutrient-Rich Material: Dog feces provide a nutrient-rich food source for many fly species. Flies lay their eggs in dog poop, ensuring their larvae have ample food supply upon hatching. If you have not been able to scoop the poop, the next time you’re in the yard you will likely see many flies gathering on your dog’s waste.
Moisture Content: Fresh dog poop contains moisture, essential for fly larvae, or maggots, to develop. The combination of nutrients and moisture creates a perfect breeding ground for flies.
Cape Coral Weather: According to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences “Warm summer conditions are generally optimum for the development of the house fly, and it can complete its life cycle in as little as seven to ten days.” Cape Coral’s endless summer causes dog poop to remain warm longer, accelerating the development cycle of flies.
The Short Life Cycle of Flies in Cape Coral
Understanding the short life cycle of flies in Southwest Florida highlights why dog poop needs to be managed promptly:
Eggs (Day 1): Flies lay eggs on fresh dog feces. A single female fly can lay up to 500 eggs in 3-4 days. Several flies often will deposit their eggs in next to each other.
Maggots (Day 3): In warm climates, like Cape Coral, eggs hatch within 8-20 hours into larvae, which feed on the feces. Maggots completely develop in 4-13 days in warm climates.
Pupae (Day 5): Larvae then enter the pupal stage, developing into adult flies in 2-6 days.
Adults (Day 8): Adult flies emerge, ready to reproduce within 2-3 days, continuing the cycle.
Easy Ways to Control Flies in Your Yard
To stop the problem of flies attracted to dog poop, Cape Coral dog owners can adopt several preventive measures:
Regular Dog Waste Cleanup: Promptly pick up dog poop to remove the breeding ground for flies. Regular cleanups in your yard can significantly reduce fly populations. If you are unable to pick up your pet’s waste for any reason, or simply do not want to do the smelly chore yourself, consider hiring a pet waste management company like The Green Hound LLC to regularly dispose of your dog’s waste.
Disposal Methods: Use sealed bags or containers for disposing of dog poop to prevent flies from accessing it.
Tips for Neutralizing Smells from Dog Waste in Trash Cans: The Green Hound Pooper Scoopers of Cape Coral uses an effective method to eliminate smelly trash cans for those that elect for us to leave pet waste in the customer’s waste bin. First, use a high-quality bag that has a good thickness. Trash bag thickness is measured in MILs. First, add baking soda to the bag containing the pet waste. If you want to go above and beyond, you may also add activated charcoal (like you would use in a home aquarium) to the bag. Second, eliminate all the air from the trash bag used to collect the dog waste and tie the bag as closely to the waste as possible. Third, double bag the waste in a blackout trash bag with a higher MIL thickness.
Environmental Controls: Implement environmental controls such as fly traps and proper waste management systems to keep fly populations in check. The Green Hound LLC recommends hanging Rescue! Fly Traps on the perimeter of your yard to attract and trap flies. These traps are easy to use and highly effective, using a powder mixed with water to attract and trap flies. The small sizes are designed to trap up to 20,000 flies and the large reusable size can trap up to 40,000 flies. You will need to change out the traps as needed. You can purchase these traps at any local hardware store for $5 to $8 each. No matter your chosen method to control the fly population on your property, pet waste removal is necessary to see significant fly reductions.
Hygiene Practices: Maintain good hygiene by washing hands thoroughly after handling pet waste and keeping living areas clean.
Conclusion
Dog poop, while a seemingly minor issue, plays a significant role in attracting flies, causing significant water pollution, and posing potential health risks to your family (see The Green Hound’s other articles on these topics). Understanding the significant relationship between dog feces and fly infestations is crucial for identifying the problem and taking appropriate actions. Management. Regular cleanup, proper disposal, environmental controls, and maintaining hygiene can drastically reduce the impact of flies on your environment. By taking these steps, you not only protect your health but also contribute to a cleaner and more pleasant living space.
Remember, responsible pet ownership extends beyond feeding and grooming; it includes managing waste to prevent broader environmental and health issues in Cape Coral. If you need help with pet waste removal, consider hiring The Green Hound LLC of Cape Coral for dog waste removal service. Once a week service starts at just $15 per visit and twice a week service starts at $11 per service.