Flies and Insects Really Like the Australian Climate
Captain James Cook encountered firsthand the bush flies that are bothering us especially during the summers, outdoor barbecues and holidays. It’s a good thing to know because you know you’re not alone in this kind of suffering and the problem has been here for a really long time.
But it can feel alarming if you learn that there are around 30,000 species of fly in Australia. Although we only often encounter a few groups (e.g. house fly and Australian bush fly), the problem and concern is serious enough. Worse, we can’t do much in controlling their numbers without relying on harsh methods.
But we can still do something
Flies have continued to exist because of their strong physical and evolutionary traits. Try to swat one and you’ll witness their superior reaction time and agility. Their nervous systems have evolved for dodging physical attacks. Even if you spend all day swatting the flies, you would just get disappointed.
Also, flies reproduce in an exponential manner. For example, bush flies only have weeks to live but they get down to business quickly. After all, they only need to eat, survive and mate (and not think about career, retirement, expenses and taxes). They produce eggs quickly (they lay their eggs on animal dung) and many of those eggs will eventually become full-grown bush flies that will annoy everyone outdoors. They also need very little to survive because the sweat and moisture near our eyes, noses and mouths are already enough to provide the flies’ daily protein needs.
It seems we’re defenceless. Their numbers are outside our control and even if you clean up your house every day, it’s guaranteed that flies will still come in and look for food. After all, there might be lots of rotting organic matter in your area and the bush flies don’t need much for them to survive.
Good news is that we still have control on how many of those flies can enter our dwelling. Having window flyscreens and flyscreen doors can prevent most of the flies and other insects from coming in. This is great because you don’t have to rely on chemical methods and other harsh means. You’re not actually getting rid of the flies but you’re limiting how many of them you allow in your house.
Flies and insects really like the Australian climate
Australia’s moderate climate is the ideal condition for the annoying bush flies. They especially love the warmer days because flies have evolved and thrived in tropical environments. In addition, there are lots of food sources lying around during the warmer months because people are outside (remember that flies feast on our sweat and moisture) and other food sources are just everywhere (more human activities mean more foods and trash lying around).
Even if your area is relatively urbanised, flies are amazing at reaching your residence because some flies can actually travel up to 30 kilometres. So if there are grass fed animals being raised kilometres away (or if there’s some garbage lying around) from your residential block, this is bad news for you because the bush flies and house flies will do everything in their power to reach your home.
Although flies and most other insects only have a short time to live, they actually have all the time in the world to fulfil their purpose (to eat, mate and reproduce). They also have the strength of numbers and even some of them get scorched during barbecues, some of them will indeed survive and reproduce to hundreds more in the coming weeks and months.
Summer barbecues are never complete without the bush flies. But your home and household can do well without the annoying house flies and other insects. With screens that keep the insects out, home living becomes a lot easier and much more relaxing. Moreover, the screens allow good air ventilation which provides a natural cooling effect and efficient regulation of temperature and humidity.
Screens are also good at keeping potential allergens and irritants out (pollen, dust, particles from mowed grass). Although screens can block out up to 75% of air that’s supposed to come in (as opposed to having a door or window wide open), this is a much better option than letting potentially harmful insects and irritants in. Flies are disease-carriers and irritants can cause serious allergies that may require immediate medical attention.
Aside from screens providing protection against flies and allergens, the screens can also actually complement your home’s design. Screen doors and windows come in various styles and designs which can add to your home’s aesthetics. Hinged and sliding flyscreen doors are available and you can choose which one better suits your home interior and exterior. Back then you might only have very few options but now you can actually select one that suits your preference.
Contact us here today at Sydney Flyscreens and we’ll provide you with some options. You can also describe your preferences and we’ll customise the installation for you.