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How To Get Rid Of Corn Flies (10 Effective Methods)

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Corn flies, a relative of the fruit fly, are also known as hoverflies or flower flies.  They are vexing little pests that often live in and around cornfields and other sweet, nectary plants.

Yet, irritating colonies with their buzzing is a common nuisance in agricultural areas or near your home. Unsurprisingly, people always find ways to get rid of them.

How To Get Rid Of Corn Flies
via Pixabay

So, how to get rid of corn flies entirely? Your solution is right here. Keep reading to get hold of 10 practical ways to deal with corn flies.

Why Do Corn Flies Appear At Your House?

Sugary foods are the most appealing to corn flies. Thus, they often come into your houses or garden to find food (spilled sugar, sweet fruits) to stay alive. 

Moreover, these flies are primarily found in humid environments. And human sweat is the thing that attracts them a lot. As a result, your house smells like honey or pollen to them. Due to these two things, corn flies find your house a great place to visit. 

How To Get Rid Of Corn Flies – 10 Simple Ways

Of course, most people find it challenging to cohabit with corn flies and try many ways to get rid of them. Yet, only severe insecticides and chemicals kill vast numbers of corn flies, and these approaches may be hazardous to crops, indoors, or near humans.

On the other hand, deterrents assist in keeping pests away from the house and minimize their presence within the house.

However, depending on your demand, you can decide between deterring or killing them. This section will list down 10 effective methods to tame the corn fly invasion. 

1. Flytraps

The typical fly traps are still widely used to control flies due to their affordable price and convenience. They come in a variety of forms and sizes. Depending on the model, they may be used both inside and outside. Flytraps attract flies by using vivid colors and chemical attractants.

The flies readily enter the trap, yet the structural design prevents them from escaping. The capacity of traps varies, with some catching more than 20,000 flies.

Some fly traps can kill them, while others merely slow them down. Thus, it is worth noting that you should determine what your demand is: entirely or partially eradicate them. This helps you to look for a suitable fly trap with your budget.

Flytraps How To Get Rid Of Corn Flies
Outdoor Disposable Fly Trap via Amazon.com

2. Fly tapes

Fly tape is an example of a fly trap. Fly tapes are adhesive materials frequently applied to the house’s walls.

Generally, the fly tape is safer to use in the house than other chemical fly traps. The tape attracts corn flies using attractant and color but does not generally include pesticides. Most manufacturers utilize a non-toxic adhesive substance, such as rosin, for their tape.

3. Insect repellents (insect killer sprays)

It’s another way to keep corn flies at bay. Indeed, insect repellents are commonly used indoors to control insect infestations. In addition, varieties specifically designed to kill flies are available in most grocery and home improvement stores. 

Thus, utilizing insect repellents is the quickest and most cost-effective way to get rid of corn flies. However, the chemicals used in the repellents may be hazardous to both humans and pets, so you should use them with caution.

Yet, it is noteworthy that using such a synthetic technique is not advised. This is because you may easily cause harm and health issues for your family members and pets. In addition, these insect repellents are often aerosol sprays. Sprays are very combustible, and any negligent handling might result in damage in the event of a fire.

4. Remote-controlled zappers

Zapper installation is similar to that of lights hung above the ceiling of your home. First, they attract corn flies in your house. Then, you electrocute them by using your remote. 

5. Vinegar

If flies have infested your home and you need to get rid of them quickly, using vinegar as bait in a DIY flytrap is a safe option. Flies are drawn to the strong scent of vinegar, but when they land in the bowl, they become caught by the solvent.

For every cup of vinegar, use 1/4 cup of dish soap. Use a flowery or fruit-scented soap to make the mixture more appealing.

6. Sugar 

As mentioned before, corn flies are easily attracted by sweet things. Thus, making traps with sugar helps you easier to catch them. First, you put a tablespoon of sugar in a dish or bowl with some water.

Then, cover the container with clear plastic that has small enough openings to allow the corn flies to enter. When the flies enter the trap, they will find it difficult to escape and will become trapped.

Yet, if your homestead appears to have too many corn flies, this method may not work well.

7. Insect-feeding plants (carnivorous plants)

Carnivorous plants obtain part or all of their nutrition by capturing and devouring animals or protozoans, most common insects, and other arthropods. Thus, this plant is considered a natural enemy of flies. Here are some commonly known insect-feeding plants:

  • Venus flytrap
  • Sundew
  • Trumpet plant
  • Pitcher plant
Insect feeding plants How To Get Rid Of Corn Flies
Picher plant via Pixabay

These plants eat just about any fly; they are not choosy. Furthermore, they have a mechanism attracting and killing corn flies to utilize them as a protein source for themselves.

Remember that these plants are generally kept indoors. Put them in a nice pot and let the flies feed them. With this method, you can both get rid of corn flies and decorate your house with these colorful plants.

8. Herbs

Herbs can’t kill corn flies, yet they help to deter flies from coming near your house. If you enjoy gardening, consider growing these herbs in your yard or around your home: 

  • Mint: It has a strong odor that repels most insects and keeps mice away from the garden. When growing mint, keep in mind that it expands quickly and can take over the entire garden. Thus, if you want to avoid overgrowth, you should plant mint in containers outside or indoors.
  • Basil: This is a familiar Italian ingredient. Basil grows fast in pots or the ground. The smell of basil makes flies, ants, and other biting insects feel irritated.
  • Rosemary: The pungent odor of rosemary deters flying insects and corn flies. It thrives in gardens and pots. Another way to keep flies away is to dry rosemary in bunches and hang it around the home.
  • Lavender: The fragrance of lavender repels corn flies from houses and yards. Plant it in your garden or hang dried bunches in your house to get rid of corn flies. 

>> Relate Post: 10 Best Mosquito Repellent Plants to Ward Off Mosquitoes for Good

9. Essential oil 

All essential oils of the mentioned herbs in the previous section deter flies. Yet, other fly-repelling essential oils are available on the market.

Use essential oils around the house by combining 10-12 drops of your chosen oils in a full spray bottle of water and spraying about the house like an air freshener. Here are some kinds of essential oil you can refer to:

  • Holy Basil: Holy basil has a strong aroma that’s both spicy and sweet. While the oil is known for its antifungal and antimicrobial properties it can also help you get rid of corn flies and other pests. Wholesale Botanic’s holy basil essential oil gets rid of corn flies because the basil contains eugenol and citronella that can repel corn flies, mosquitos, and other insects. 
  • Eucalyptus: It is pungent and earthy in scent. This plant can deter flies, mosquitos, and other pests at bay. Moreover, it also works well as a wearable insect repellent. Simply dab a drop on your wrists and behind your ears for bug protection.
  • Lemongrass: This is a standard and straightforward essential oil that you can find at a grocery or local store. Lemongrass deters most species of mosquitos and flies.
  • Citronella: Citronella and lemongrass are closely related plants with a similar look and aroma. Due to its scent, citronella can repel most flying insects, including corn flies.
  • Tea tree: Tea tree is a popular antibacterial essential oil, but it also acts as a fly and beetle repellent in the house.
  • Cedarwood: Its essential oil is effective as an indoor and insect spray when combined with mint or lemongrass essential oils. However, you can also use cedar mulch in your landscaping. Mulch adds interest to the yard and protects the garden and house from flies, beetles, and other pests.
Eucalyptus oil How To Get Rid Of Corn Flies

10. Hire a pest control company

However, if you attempt all of the above ways and are still irritated by corn flies, hiring a pest control company is the final way. Professionals will eliminate these corn flies.

This option is efficient, yet it may have high-cost. Furthermore, although professionals can kill most corn flies in your area, they cannot control the re-infestation of corn flies. Thus, even after hiring a pest control service, you still need to apply some methods above to deter corn flies.


Conclusion

Depending on the effectiveness and number of corn flies around your house, you can use some of the options above to tame the corn fly invasion.

It’s recommended to use eco-friendly methods to retain them in the environment because of their biological benefits. To sum up, this article has provided 10 tips on how to get rid of corn flies, along with some helpful notes. Hopefully, those things can help you to deter stubborn corn flies.