Houseflies & Plants

Houseflies

• Houseflies may be interested in your houseplants for a couple of reasons. The plants provide a reasonably safe and attractive resting place, and flies are lured to plants if decaying plant materials are present. More often, flies are interested in your garbage or pet wastes. With food available, these flies can live up to 50 days; however, if you remove their food sources, the flies will die within two to three days, according to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Keep your plants well-maintained, and remove any litter or diseased plant parts promptly.

Vinegar Flies

• Vinegar flies, commonly called fruit flies, are attracted to ripe fruit and rotting vegetation. The Ohio State University Extension suggests that by simply removing the materials that the flies find most attractive, you can greatly reduce the presence of these flies, so you should store unused fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator, particularly if they are reaching their peak of ripeness or just beyond. If you have a fruit-bearing plant, remove any dropped fruit promptly, and keep the area around your plants free of dead or dying plant material.

Fungus Gnats

• Fungus gnats look like houseflies and are more likely to be found on or around houseplants than typical houseflies. The gnats can be distinguished from houseflies by their antennae. They are most attracted to the soil around your plants. The larvae of the gnats can harm your plants by feeding on their root systems and stems, transmitting fungal infections and creating entry points that allow other agents of infection to enter plant tissues, according to the Purdue University Extension. To control these insects, make sure you are providing only the recommended amount of water and for your houseplants, as moist soil from over-watering can provide them an ideal place to breed.

Fly Prevention

• To prevent flies within your home, first act to keep the insects out. Check that your window and door screens are intact. Seal any gaps or openings to the outdoors where flies may enter. Inspect plants before you bring them indoors to ensure there are no signs of insect infestation. Remove any attractive substances on a regular basis.

  Fly traps, such as sticky strips, can help you to catch any flies currently present, but they should not be your first or only step in controlling fly populations. Insecticides are available, and the Texas Agricultural Extension Service suggests you focus their application to areas where flies tend to rest for the most effective use.