July 16, 2025, 10:48 am | Read time: 4 minutes

A fly in the house is annoying. Many flies even more so. The housefly has a kind of “herd instinct.” This means that where one fly settles, more buzzing companions soon join.

Recognizing a Housefly

A housefly (Musca domestica) can grow up to eight millimeters long, has a gray to black body with many bristles, and can be distinguished from other fly species by the four dark longitudinal stripes on its back. With its large red compound eyes and keen sense of smell, it intensely perceives potential landing spots like decaying materials or excrement.

If not caught beforehand or if it doesn’t fly away, the housefly can buzz around for up to 70 days. The females, usually slightly larger than their male counterparts, lay between 150 and 400 eggs every three to four days during the summer months.

In the insect world, the housefly is considered a pest because of its preference for human and animal waste such as sweat and feces or carrion, making it a carrier of diseases. However, when the housefly lands on a fruit bowl after laying eggs on a pile of feces, it’s primarily just disgusting. Typical diseases like dysentery, typhoid, or cholera are not a concern in Central Europe.

Small Tricks Against Houseflies

To prevent these flying nuisances from entering the living room in the first place, dishes with food residues or sweet liquids should not be left out for too long. Rotting fruit also magically attracts houseflies. With trash cans, especially in the summer months, it’s better to empty them more frequently; otherwise, the emanating scents are enticing. Fly screens are considered particularly preventive. This way, windows can be opened safely in the summer.

Not all entryways can always be sealed off. To get rid of the housefly, a conventional fly swatter or a natural fly trap is suitable. You can even make one yourself with a bit of crafting skill:

• Simply cut a few strips from yesterday’s newspaper.
• Tie the strips together with a string to form a paper whisk.
• Then, use a brush to apply some honey to the strips; it shouldn’t drip.
• Finally, hang the homemade honey fly trap in central locations in the house and wait.

Otherwise, certain scents also act as a deterrent for the housefly. Geraniums, lavender, basil, or tomatoes have repeatedly proven to be natural fly barriers. Placing these plants on the terrace, balcony, or simply on the windowsill keeps at least a large portion of the insects away.

Related: 6 common mistakes that attract flies into the house

Essential oils also prevent houseflies from entering the house. Small cushions soaked with eucalyptus or lavender oil work particularly effectively. A pleasant side effect: It smells wonderful and also keeps other pesky insects like mosquitoes or wasps away.

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No Chemicals or UV Lamps

Even professional pest controllers advise against chemical solutions. “The housefly quickly becomes resistant to such agents. Moreover, a larger spread is naturally controlled by predators,” reports a pest controller from Nuremberg.

UV lamps, often seen in bakeries or restaurants, should also be avoided in private settings. “If such lamps are used, then only in enclosed spaces,” advises the Federal Environment Agency. “Otherwise, beneficial insects like moths are also killed when used in gardens.”

There is probably no complete protection against the housefly. However, with a few small tricks, the extent of the summer insect plague can be minimized. And for those who are particularly kind to the creatures, they can catch them with a glass and release them back into the wild. Perhaps the little creature will be grateful and choose to fly to a different apartment next time.