Why Most Sydney Apartments Don’t Have Fly Screens Yet
It could be about costs because installing new fly screens on windows and doors require labour and materials. Other adjustments (installing other fixtures that ensure perfect installation) and considerations (the overall appearance of the resulting installation together with the apartment’s design) are also important factors.
However, fly screens can really add value to the apartment units. After all, people are looking for residences that are safe and secure. Bush flies and mosquitoes might be coming in and out and they carry with them diseases and contamination. In addition, those little creatures are annoying and might interrupt your focus and sleep. In these modern times it’s just hard for humans and insects to coexist healthily and peacefully. One has to give way to the other so that the former can survive and thrive.
About the Australian bush flies
It’s especially the case with the Australian bush flies that can pester you particularly during the warmer months. They want the little amounts of protein found in your tears, saliva and blood (if you have a fresh wound). Even your sweat has little amounts of protein along with some minerals. They need that protein for their daily survival and for the females, that protein is essential in developing their ovaries and for reproduction.
The female bush flies pester us the most because of their high requirement for protein. The females are also found in much higher numbers than the males (three is to one ratio). When we’re talking about reproduction and survival of a species, females are more important because it takes time to lay eggs or give birth. A high number of females laying eggs helps ensure the next generation even if the males are low in numbers.
What does this have to do with our apartment? Well, female bush flies only spend their time for what matters in their survival and reproduction, and that is their lives are all about eating and mating. In contrast, we humans are faced with countless responsibilities and while we’re busy doing something else, the female bush flies are dedicating their whole lives searching for protein sources (which is already enough if they’re feasting near your eyes and mouth). They don’t waste time and get to business quickly. In addition, male bush flies might also be coming in and out of the apartments. Although these male bush flies have a much lower protein requirement, they still come around because of the female bush flies.
Why should you keep the bush flies out
Aside from disturbing and annoying people, bush flies might also make us sick because they’re disease carriers. You might get trachoma or conjunctivitis (both eye infections and diseases). Note that they are carriers and might not be the actual cause of the diseases. After all, bush flies land on a wide variety of surfaces which might be dirty and contaminated in the first place. And yes, where do the female bush flies lay eggs (and where the maggots live and eat)? It’s on the garbage and animal dung where nutrients are plenty. Also, garbage and animal dung are often undisturbed and chances of the eggs’ and maggots’ survival are high on those places.
For most of us though, it’s more about the disturbance and annoyance. Early morning you’re enjoying a quiet and relaxing time and you open the windows and doors for a second and bush flies are already invading the kitchen (or looking for a way to land on your skin especially near your mouth and eyes). Without ways to keep them out (such as flyscreens on your doors and windows), they will just keep coming in until they got their fill of protein.
Why most Sydney apartments don’t have fly screens yet
Although flyscreens bring a ton of benefits (keeping the insects out while still allowing free air circulation and enough natural daylight), additional installations also means costs. Also, in major urban areas Australian bush flies are much lower in numbers so they’re not that much of a concern. There’s not much animal dung (especially cow dung) to be found where eggs and maggots can thrive. Highly urbanised areas (with high levels of sanitation being practiced) are also less friendly to bush flies and most other insects. As a result, installing fly screens is not the priority.
This doesn’t have to be the case because you can have window flyscreens and a flyscreen door that can make your apartment stay much more worthwhile and relaxing. For around $600 you could already have a high-quality screen door plus a window flyscreen that can effectively keep the bush flies away. You can contact us here today if you require such a cost-effective solution for your apartment.