Smells that flies hate: what we know
Flies are incredibly common, especially in the warmer months in Australia. As well as being a nuisance, they can be carriers of disease and spread germs around your house. When looking for ways to keep these annoying bugs at bay, knowing what smells flies hate may be useful. You’ll be able to introduce these scents around your home and garden to help deter flies and help prevent them from entering your house.
Why are flies bothered by certain smells?
Flies rely on their sense of smell to locate food and places to lay their eggs. They’re attracted to nasty scents like rotting meat, decaying organic matter and food scraps. You might wonder how there are smells that flies hate if they love so many things we find putrid? Well, the answer is in their sensitivity. In order to hunt down food or breeding sites, flies have highly developed olfactory receptors. Not even the faintest odour will escape their senses. This also means that certain smells, especially strong ones, can be repellent to flies. Scent-based deterrents may be a potential solution for fly control.
What smells do flies dislike?
If flies are bothered by some smells, one of the logical ways to keep flies away would be by using scents they find unpleasant. But is it that simple?
There are lots of theories when it comes to natural ways to repel flies. You might find articles discussing the power of garden plants like mint, basil, rosemary and more. How nice would it be to just have to use scents that we love but that flies hate!
But there is yet to be scientific research validating the efficacy of such methods to deter flies.
There are also many home recommendations for essential oils from DIY spray bottles to the use of diffusers. While evidence to support how effective they are in this format is yet to be proven, you can try them out, they may deter flies and at the very least, make your home smell pleasant.
Summary
If flies have a strong sense of smell, further research still need to be done to consistently prove that some scents are effective in repelling flies. For now, essential oils of vetiver, cinnamon, neem and lemon eucalyptus are the most promising scents that may deter flies.
We would still recommend using traditional methods to get rid of flies, especially if you are facing an infestation. You can try an flying insect killer spray for immediate action or an automatic spray for ongoing protection.
Sources
- Efficacy and repellency of some essential oils and their blends against larval and adult house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvec.12357