St. George, Utah

Flies can be huge nuisances as they buzz around homes. For businesses, they can create an unsanitary and unwelcoming environment. In homes, they can create distractions and cause illnesses. They may seem harmless from afar, but the truth is that flies can make your family members very sick.

What do flies do?

Flies like to get into your trash, swarm to sewage and corpses, and spew their digestive juices on food. Because of this, they're covered in bacteria and germs from the (literal) crap they like to land on. They use these bacteria with their digestive juice to help break down food. When they land on your delicious piece of turkey, this is what they are sharing with you.

But they may be even worse than that. They may, according to new research, be carrying all manner of pathogens, and spreading them around on everything they land on (including your food, skin, and home). The insects' role in the spread of pathogens and infectious diseases is fairly well known - it's not for nothing that they have been referred to as "germs with legs." Now, researchers from Penn State's Eberly College of Science have led a study that adds to a growing body of evidence. By examining the microbes that flies carry on different parts of their bodies, the study provides some insight into the extent of the extreme filth of flies.

They studied the microbiomes of 116 houseflies and blowflies from three different continents. Some flies were carrying hundreds of different species of bacteria, many of which are harmful to humans, transmitting them to surfaces they land on - mainly via their legs. "The legs and wings show the highest microbial diversity in the fly body, suggesting that bacteria use the flies as airborne shuttles," said Stephan Schuster, former professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State. "We believe that this may show a mechanism for pathogen transmission that has been overlooked by public health officials, and flies may contribute to the rapid transmission of pathogens in outbreak situations," said Penn State biochemist Donald Bryant. This information will really make you think twice before eating uncovered Thanksgiving leftovers this season.

How you can protect your family and business:

Luckily, at Bybee Pest Control, we have solutions that will help keep you and your family healthy. Our fly lights attract the flies and trap them. These fly lights can help provide peace this season when flies decide to swarm. If you are experiencing issues, need help controlling, or just need advice, give us a call. We serve families and business around Utah, including Saint George, Cedar City, Washington, Dammeron Valley, Diamond Valley, Parowan, Hurricane, La Verkin, Toquerville, Enoch, Santa Clara, Ivins, and Salt Lake City