Tips for Solving Fly Problems

In any business setting, flies are a nuisance at best and a potential health hazard at worst. Flies can spoil a business’s reputation, particularly in the restaurant, food processing, and hospitality industries. What can businesses do to help solve and prevent frustrating fly problems?

Understanding What Attracts Flies

First, it’s important to understand what attracts flies. There are thousands of fly species in the world, including the house fly, little house fly, blow flies, flesh or latrine flies, fruit flies, and stable flies. Stable flies – commonly found where livestock are present – bite, while many other species are merely nuisance flies. Flies are strongly attracted to light, food odors, or other “favorites” and can enter your business through doors and windows, and can live in drains and thrive on trash receptacles.

Many people object to flies because they think they are unsanitary, and for good reason. According to the World Health Organization, flies are capable of spreading disease because they feed on human food and filthy matter, picking up and transmitting disease-causing organisms along the way when they make contact with people or their food.

Fruit flies can be especially bothersome for businesses. As their name implies, this species often breeds in ripe or rotting fruit, especially bananas, and in garbage and recycling bins. Fruit flies are often confused with other flies, but they can also be confused with gnats. Fruit flies are brown insects with red eyes. Fungus gnats are tiny, black insects with long wings and spindly legs.

To help get rid of fruit flies, find and discard items (in outdoor trash receptacles) on which the flies are breeding. Keep trash cans clean of debris build-up, and make sure no fruit or other food materials have fallen behind equipment or have otherwise been missed by cleaning crews. Make sure fresh fruit is stored properly and that old fruit is discarded promptly.

Related > 5 Tips on How to Help Get Rid of Fruit Flies at Your Bar

To help get rid of other fly species, here are some tips:

• Remove their breeding grounds by properly cleaning, maintaining, and emptying outdoor garbage receptacles and by removing animal waste that may be attracting flies. Locate dumpsters at least 100 feet from food concessions if possible.
• Properly seal cracks in walls or flooring where flies may be entering, and have your entry points, like doors and windows, closed or properly protected with screens or air curtains.
• Keep food covered and stored properly.
• Keep drains and grease traps clean and free of debris.
• Consider having fans strategically installed to help keep flies at bay.

Related: How to Control Spiders on Your Commercial Property

These methods work well for keeping the odd fly or two at bay in controlled environments. Commercial spaces, however, face persistent fly pressure from high foot traffic, outdoor waste management, and food service operations, challenges that basic prevention alone can't solve.

That's where professional fly control makes all the difference.

Stop Flies Before They Enter: The Outdoor Control Advantage

Managing flies indoors is reactive. The smarter strategy? Stop them outside before they become an indoor problem.

Outdoor fly control targets flies where they naturally gather near dumpsters, loading docks, outdoor dining areas, and building entry points, to create a protective barrier that significantly reduces indoor fly pressure.

Introducing EcoCatch Flies

EcoCatch Flies is a scientifically designed outdoor fly trap that outperforms traditional disposable alternatives. In controlled testing, EcoCatch Flies captured 60% more flies than competitor disposable traps ;, delivering measurable protection for commercial properties.

Why EcoCatch Flies Works

What sets EcoCatch Flies apart is its intelligent design that targets fly behavior: High-contrast colors draw flies from a distance (and away from your building!), the funnel entry traps them without escape routes, and weather-resistant construction delivers reliable performance year-round.

Built for Businesses

Disposable traps create a cycle of constant replacement and waste. EcoCatch Flies breaks that pattern with commercial-grade durability that performs through extreme heat, cold, rain, and UV exposure.

The long-term design philosophy carries through to materials: over 33% recycled plastic content and zero electrical requirements mean you're reducing both environmental impact and ongoing costs.

Industries That Benefit Most

• Restaurants and food service operations need outdoor dining spaces and waste areas free from fly activity to maintain health code compliance and customer satisfaction
• Hospitality properties require fly control for pool areas, patios, and outdoor event spaces where guest experience is paramount
• Food processing and distribution facilities must prevent flies near loading docks and exterior processing areas to avoid contamination risks and regulatory violations
• Healthcare and senior living facilities benefit from chemical-free outdoor fly control in areas where residents and patients spend time outside
• Retail locations with outdoor sections need to prevent flies from migrating into customer shopping areas from garden centers, outdoor displays, or waste zones.

Having a flexible, discreet, and effective fly control system can seriously benefit your business. Check out our EcoCatch info sheet to learn more.

Contact a Commercial Pest Control Company

While EcoCatch Flies provides powerful outdoor protection, the most effective approach combines exterior traps with interior management strategies.

Terminix takes a proactive approach to fly control to help ensure that these pests don’t become an issue in the first place. Instead of simply removing current offenders, Terminix will use a variety of methods at key points to help keep future invasions under control. With customized fly control systems, businesses can notice an immediate reduction in fly activity. Terminix also advises clients on sanitation methods to help deter flies, as well as other effective control methods.

Terminix commercial fly control solutions may include drain fly removal and ultraviolet Insect Light Traps (ILTs) that can be wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, free-standing, or designed as decorative wall sconces. Terminix commercial pest control professionals work with each individual business to establish solutions based on space and specific fly issues.

Don’t let flies adversely impact your reputation and revenue. Take steps to help prevent and control flies before your business gets a bad buzz.

Related: How to Identify Wasp Nests Outside Your Business