Abortion fly: this is how to get rid of butterfly flies

An abortion fly, also known as a butterfly fly, is quite nondescript in appearance. When it occurs in abundance, it can become extremely annoying. Then it is necessary to drive them away quickly, or even better, to fight them.

Recognize abortion fly

The miscarriage fly (Psychoda grisescens) is quite inconspicuous in its appearance. The distinguishing features of the two-winged aircraft are:

• Size 1.5 to 2.5 mm
• brownish color
• oval wings
• outer ends are pointed
• very hairy, dark wing edge
• regular white dots along the edge of the wing
• two black dots on each wing
• Wing hairs in males very rich in contrast
• Females more inconspicuous
• Larvae 4 to 10 mm long, without eyes or legs
• but clearly visible head capsule

Because of the heart-shaped wings, the abortion fly is also often referred to as the heart mosquito. Their wings also give the animal other names, such as butterfly flies, because the animals with their wide wings look like butterflies when they are at rest. They are also known as gully mosquitoes or sewage flies, which already gives indications of their occurrence.

Note: The butterfly fly is a bad flyer, it only flies piece by piece. Mainly it can be carried away by the wind, but mostly it is on the move with continuous movements. The fly becomes really active in the evening hours.

The butterfly fly habitat

About 110 species of abortion fly live in Germany. They are usually found in the immediate vicinity of dirty water such as sewage treatment plants, cesspools, gullies and also when keeping animals on dung heaps. The females lay their eggs near these places. But these parasites can also nestle in the garden. Popular places are:

• Garden ponds without water movement
• on flower boxes
• Floor drains
• open rain barrels or
• Gutters

Wastewater openings and clogged drainpipes literally attract the flies. Even very small cracks and crevices are sufficient to get into the house and into apartments. Here they can often be found en masse in the bathroom, kitchen or basement. During the day they like to hang around drainpipes or the toilet. In this way, an infestation can also be easily identified. In drainpipes, the mosquito larvae find excellent conditions for their development, such as remains of skin, saliva and occasional hair. If an infestation is evident, immediate action must be taken to prevent further spread. The animals can breed all year round, especially in the house.

Note: In the wild, the butterfly flies also live in the forest floor or they attack animal corpses, dung piles or horse droppings.

Fighting & driving away

There are now various methods of rendering the abortion flies harmless. In most cases, chemical agents such as flying insecticides are not always necessary. One of the most effective methods of emergency relief is to suck the animals in with a vacuum cleaner. However, this only solves the problem temporarily, as only the adult animals are fought in this way. The cause of the infestation remains. It is important that the abortion flies are prevented from laying eggs. In other words, the flies must be deprived of all suitable living conditions, such as damp places where organic residues are present. In the house, these are usually drainage pipes. The following method can be used to determine whether the flies have already established themselves there:

• Dry off the opening of the drain pipe
• mask with adhesive tape / tape
• check on the following day
• small flies stick to it, hint of a nest

Now the cause has been found, it must also be fought in retrospect. This then requires cleaning the sewer pipe. However, a chemical agent should not always be used immediately, as this is due to its Ingredients can not only be harmful to health, but it also attacks and pollutes the materials the environment.

Note: Various UV devices are also available from specialist retailers. The flies are attracted by the bright light and finally burn on the heated metal rods. However, the cause is not fought here, only the pests.

Home remedies for cleaning

Soda or baking powder in conjunction with vinegar essence is particularly suitable for cleaning not only blocked drainage pipes. The procedure is as follows:

• Pour 4 tablespoons of baking soda or baking powder into the drain
• Pour half a cup with vinegar essence
• Place a damp cloth over the drain opening
• let everything work for at least 15 minutes
• When the two agents are mixed, bubbling noises can be heard
• Cloth prevents vapors from escaping
• then rinse with boiling water
• Use at least 1 liter

This means that the biological film in the pipe is removed and the larvae deprived of their nutritional basis. This not only cleans the pipe, but also the siphon. In addition, this mixture also has a disinfecting and antibacterial effect. The butterfly fly will no longer feel comfortable in this place. In addition, it is also important that hairs are regularly removed from the drains, because they create optimal breeding conditions. The use of a hair strainer in the sink can prevent the flies from laying eggs.

Preventive measures

Inside the home and outside in the garden, various preventive measures can prevent the egg-laying and further development of the butterfly flies. This is very easy to do in-house:

• Regularly clean drains, floor drains, siphons and overflows
• Rinsing with hot water is sometimes sufficient
• preventive cleaning with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar essence
• Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after each use such as shower or toilet
• Regular removal of hair from drains at least every two weeks
• Do not pour food down drains
• also no fats or oils, clog pipes
• Keep floor drains closed

Measures in the garden

• Seal rain barrels, floor drains and gullies
• Clean drains regularly
• Remove stagnant water from flower boxes
• Remove dirt, mud and leaves from gutters
• Use pumps and water features in garden ponds

If nothing at all works against an infestation caused by flying away, a professional pest controller should be consulted. This will look for the cause and then use a special high pressure sprayer filled with a mixture of water and insecticides that will fight butterfly flies forever.

Note: The beautiful arum in the garden also attracts abortion flies with its carrion-like smell. They lay their eggs there and the larvae develop in the arum flowers.

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