Patios should be for relaxing and enjoying an outdoor picnic or BBQ, but what happens when uninvited pests overtake you? So, how do you get rid of hoverflies on patios?
The best ways to get rid of hoverflies are to use a fan to deter them from your patio, put up fly traps, create fly repellants, and plant appealing flowers away from your patio.
This article will detail why you find hoverflies on your patio and the best ways to get rid of them. In addition, we will cover ways to prevent a future infestation so that you can relax on your patio in no time.
Why Hoverflies Are On Your Patio
Hoverflies are most commonly found during the summer when there are plenty of available food sources outside. In addition, they are often mistaken for wasps because of their black and yellow bodies.
However, hoverflies don’t sting or cause harm, but you likely don’t want an infestation of hoverflies during your afternoon BBQ.
Here are the top reasons you find hoverflies on patios:
- Hoverflies look for dirty places, like trash cans, to lay their eggs.
- Hoverflies are attracted to sweet smells, like pollen and nectar.
- Hoverflies are attracted to human sweat, although they won’t bite you.
Finally, if you are growing corn, you’ve likely seen hoverflies flying around your crop. Some people refer to hoverflies as corn flies because the larvae feed on the aphids in corn fields.
Best Ways To Get Rid Of Hoverflies
Hoverflies can be a nuisance, especially if you want to spend your summer days on your patio. While hoverflies serve some purposes, like eating aphids’ eggs before they hatch, no one wants them flying around their head. Instead, there are several ways to eliminate hoverflies that will have you enjoying your lazy days of summer in no time.
Use A Fan To Keep Hoverflies Away
Hoverflies do not like the feeling of a fan blowing on them, so it’s an effective way of keeping the pest away from your patio. You will have to run your fan throughout the day to ensure the hoverflies are not flying around while you are inside.
Create Fly Repellants
There are several methods for creating fly repellants to eliminate hoverflies on patios. Since killing the flies is unnecessary, it’s helpful to have a few natural methods on hand to keep them away.
- Add dish soap, water, and vinegar to a spray bottle. Once you have your solution, you can spray the common areas where you have spotted hoverflies to discourage them from sticking around.
- Use citronella smoke to send hoverflies away. Citronella smoke is not pleasant for hoverflies, and they will go on their way if it’s on your patio.
Place Fly Traps Around Patio
Several fly traps on the market can help get rid of hoverflies. The flies are attracted to the bait and then get stuck to the trap. You might have to move the fly traps around your patio until they prove effective.
You can either purchase a suitable fly trap or make your own using one of the following methods:
- Mix sugar and water in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. You’ll want to make small holes in the plastic to allow the fly to enter but not exit.
- Use vinegar and dish soap in a bottle to attract hoverflies. First, cut a soda bottle in half and then fill it with a drop of dish soap and vinegar. Next, wrap the top of the bottle with plastic, poke holes, and watch as the hoverflies enter the trap but get stuck in the soap.
Plant Flowers Away From Your Patio
Hoverflies are attracted to pollen and nectar, so it’s best if you plant any appealing flowers away from your patio. Hoverfly larvae can help reduce the number of pests in your garden, so you don’t need to get rid of them but instead utilize them.
How To Prevent Hoverflies On Your Patio
If you’ve ever had pests, you know preventing the problem before it starts is essential. So while hoverflies can become a pest on your patio, there are several ways to avoid an infestation.
Keep A Dry Garden
Like many flies that invade patios, standing water is appealing to hoverflies. Most insects use water for breeding and laying eggs. While you must water your crops, preventing overwatering and keeping your garden dry is vital.
Plant Herbs Around Your Patio
Planting herbs around your patio is beneficial to you but can be effective at keeping hoverflies off your patio. Highly fragrant herbs are a repellant to pests and keep your patio bug-free.
There are certain herbs hoverflies don’t like, including:
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Lavender
- Basil
- Citronella grass
Keep Your Patio Clean Of Trash
Hoverflies are attracted to garbage left outside, so you must keep your patio clean. If you have trash cans outside, ensure they are covered and don’t allow hoverflies entry points.
Use Essential Oils On Your Patio
Essential oils aren’t just for calming you after a long day’s work. Instead, you can use essential oils to keep hoverflies off your patio.
You can use the following essential oils to get rid of hoverflies on patios:
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Tea Tree
- Eucalyptus
- Lemongrass
You can add the desired essential oil to a spray bottle and put two cups of water in it. Once you have your solution, you can spray the common areas where you find hoverflies.
Install Warm Yellow Bulbs On Patio
You will find hoverflies attracted to white bulbs on patios. Instead, you can install warm yellow bulbs to prevent hoverflies from coming onto your patio. Yellow bulbs will significantly reduce the number of flies you find on your patio.
Place Citronella Candles On Patio
Citronella candles do a superb job at keeping hoverflies away. In addition, the candles will help keep various pests off your patio. It would be best if you plan on putting citronella candles out in the evening to prevent hoverflies from gathering around your patio.
Why Is It Better To Repel Hoverflies Rather Than Killing Them?
Hoverflies are important to the ecosystem and killing them can do more harm than good. Hoverflies help with pollination and are a key player in the food chain. When you kill hoverflies, you can unintentionally kill other insects that rely on them for food. It’s essential to take a step back and think about the long-term effects of killing hoverflies.
Conclusion
While hoverflies can become a pest, there are ways to prevent them from coming into your patio area. By following the tips above, you can keep your patio hoverfly-free all season long!
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