What do houseflies really like?

[Joseph C. Tallon]

Thank you Steven If I know the source of the adults (rotting tissue not
garbage)  and the source of what is attracting
the adults (rotting tissue or gas leak) then I can eliminate the
infestation by removing these. What we don't know is the distance that the
adults will fly from the first source to the second. Is it ten yards, hundred
yards, thousand yards or ten
thousand yards. Keeping in mind the urban setting. When this
question was addressed for the subterranean termite they captured, marked and
released the workers and then recaptured
them. They found marked insects a hundred yards away. I suspect that the flies
range will be to great to be able to seek
and eliminate the original source. I have been working on my
fly problem with my mules for the last couple of seasons mostly
repellents, trapping and exclusion. I am on five acres in a
combination residential and large animals zoning.  If I started
a neighborhood  fly program how large of an area would  this
be? I believe neighborhood  IPM would work for some insects such
as termites and  mosquitos  why not flies? Jim I read your last
post saying it is not the green or bluebottle fly so I suggest that
you get a positive ID from the ext. or university then you will know their
source, range, and other preferences maybe?  Question : Do we really want to
eliminate these very beneficial
decomposers from everywhere except our immediate living
and eating areas? I guess it is a good thing that pest control
cannot eradicate and can only control.  Joseph Talon Bakers field Ca.
 
"Steven M. Cohen" wrote:
 
> Dear Joseph:
>
> I am not up on my calliphorids, so hopefully a real expert will add more
> useful info.  I can tell you that these flies are attracted to carrion -
> they are the first to find road kill - and fecies [the expression "attracted
> to it like flies to s _ _ _ " applies to the bottle flies to the extreme] -
> and their larvae love corpses of all kinds.  On an interesting note, their
> lavae, or maggots, are used medicinally to clean up festering wounds.  They
> only eat dead tissue and leave healthy tissue alone.  Their range is very
> wide, but I cannot give you the parameters.  I know I have seen them
> throughout the northeast, from Maine to Pennsylvania, but I haven't paid
> very close attention.  I would guess they were nationwide, at least.
> I am only guessing here, but decaying flesh gives off gasses [odors] which
> calliphorids probably use to home in on their meals.  These bugs most likely
> detect fuel gas in much the same way, and expect a nice ripe carcass near
> gas leaks.  All gasses of the type we are talking about have several
> elements in common, including hydrogen, oxygen and carbon.  It's been too
> long since I've looked at organic chemistry, so I'll stop here before I
> mis-classify something.  Hopefully a chemistry buff will come to the rescue.
> Let me know what your research uncovers.  Good luck.
>
> Joseph C. Tallon wrote in message <37973B9F.E849880A at Netxn.com>...
> >Where do these two species of flys lay their eggs and develop
> >their larva in an urban environment? What is the range of the adults? Why
> are
> >the adults attracted to these gases and what
> >would be the common element in these gases?  I hope I don't
> >seem too lazy by not following your suggestion on a search
> >Steven but thought I'd ask first and if you didn't have it on the top of
> you
> >head I will research and post the answers.. Thanks
> >Joseph Tallon , Bakers field Ca.