While Gauteng grapples with a “fly invasion,” a local resident has posted a video of a trap he claims has drastically reduced the number of flies in his home.
According to a pest control company, hot and humid weather conditions coupled with poor hygiene have led to an infestation around the country.
JOBURG MAN SHARES ‘GENIUS’ TRAP
In a TikTok video, a Gauteng resident posted a video about how he has tackled the province’s “fly invasion” in his home.
The man – using handle @myboyandmejhb – showed off a bucket trap that lured flies inside. Once in the contraption, the flies could not escape.
The TikToker claimed he had placed the bucket – hal brimming with death flies – inside his house.
He said: “This is two days’ worth of flies. So there is definitely a problem.”
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
The man claimed that the trap had had an “80% reduction of flies inside the house.” He added that he would discard it once a month or when it had filled.
He captioned the video: “It may be awful to look at, but it really does work”.
Take a look…
@myboyandmejhb It maybe a awful to look at but it really does work. flies have reduced a ton #SAMA28 #fyp #tiktoksouthafrica #tiktoksa #johannesburg #flies ♬ original sound – Prenesh
FLY INVASION? NOTHING NEW, SAYS ENTOMOLOGIST
Speaking to the SABCabout a possible “fly invasion”, entomologist John Midgley – who studies insects – stated that it was natural for the population to increase in summer.
“It’s also related to the amount of food that’s available for them. Most of the flies are breeding in rubbish, and with the high temperatures, their life cycles are completed faster”.
Midgley stated that the dense human populations in Gauteng and the availability of food waste – often left out in the hot sun – have exacerbated the situation.
He added that spraying insect repellants like Doom was only “treating the symptoms”.
The expert urged South Africans to dispose of rubbish as soon as possible to prevent the scourge.
NATURAL REPELLANTS ALTERNATIVES
If you can’t stomach the smell of insecticide or buckets brimming with dead flies, you can always look into these natural alternatives to tackling the “fly invasion.”
They include using a combination of ingredients such as gloves, cinnamon, lemon, apple cider vinegar, and essential oils like eucalyptus, citronella, and lemongrass.
Plantslike basil, mint, lavender, marigolds, and rosemary also naturally repel bacteria–infested bugs.
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED A FLY INVASION IN YOUR HOME?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to060 011 021 1.
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