Know thy pest: From flying termites to house flies, we dug around for more on these commonly found winged insects in Singapore. Here are some ways (organic, effective and inexpensive) to get rid of a flying insect infestation.
1. Flying Termites
One of the most commonly found winged insects are flying termites. You might recognise them swarming around fluorescent lights in your home during humid and rainy nights.
Don’t be afraid of them though, because they’re generally harmless. During this stage of their life, they’re simply swarming to mate and form new colonies. Note that this is the only time you’ll see termites flying – after the deed is done, their wings drop, the males die and the females burrow in warm and damp areas to lay eggs.
You can easily get rid of flying termites with these two affordable and non-toxic methods:
Pail or bowl of water
Hold a pail or bowl of water as close as possible to the swarm – the bright reflection on the water should attract the termites, drowning them. You’ll have to hold it up for awhile, or prop it up with a stool.
Orange oil spray
Orange oil works so well that it’s recommended even by professionals! Simply purchase some orange oil and put it into a spray bottle. Now, all you have to do is spray any flying termites you see or areas where you spot termite activity.
Turn off the lights
One absolutely fuss-free trick that worked for us was to simply turn off the lights in the room (or kitchen, in our case). Leave your windows open so they are attracted to the corridor or lights outside.
2. Flying Ants
Another commonly seen winged bug is the flying ant. They look pretty similar to the flying termite but don’t mix them up! They bite and rarely come indoors.
Dish soap alone is effective against flying ants – it sticks to the ants’ bodies and dehydrates them. To make this dish soap spray, simply dilute the dish soap with water inside a spray bottle and voila!
3. Moths
Moths are another common household problem – they can be annoying as they feed on grains, cereals and closets. However, you can easily get rid of them with items already lying around your house.
Essential Oils
Moth balls are an effective way to kill moths but they are also made using toxic chemicals and leave a pungent scent on your belongings.
Try natural substitutes – essential oils made from herbs like dried rosemary, thyme, lavender or bay leaves are effective as a deterrent as well. Simply sprinkle them in your closet or cupboard.
Herbal sachets
If you don’t have essential oils around, an effective alternative is using sachets. All you have to do is fill a small cloth bag with said herbs, tie it with a string, and hang it up.
4. House Flies
House flies are major carriers of disease and can infest all types of premises! They are attracted to all types of food, including human food, pet food, food waste, and even faeces. You’ll be able to recognise house flies from their yellow-brown abdomen and a dark grey thorax with four narrow stripes. Once indoors, they’re typically found resting on walls, floors or ceilings. When outdoors, they can be seen on plants, the ground, fences, compost heaps and rubbish bins.
Make sure to keep house flies away with these solutions:
Plants
If you’re looking to remove flies outdoors, garden plants like basil, lavender, bay leaf, and mints do wonders when it comes to deterring flies.
Apple cider vinegar
Another environmentally-friendly solution to house flies is to fill a glass jar with apple cider vinegar and place a paper funnel in the jar.
5. Fruit Flies
Yet another winged pest is the fruit fly. They’re commonly seen infesting fruit or hovering around rotten fruit. Despite their small size, fruit flies can turn into a huge nuisance, especially once they start breeding. What sets them apart from other flies is their yellow-brown colour and bright red eyes.
Here’s how you can get rid of pesky fruit flies:
Red wine
Pour a mixture of red wine and a bit of dish soap into a small container, then wrap the top of the container with plastic wrap and punch a few holes. Set it up near the presence of fruit flies and let the magic happen!
Rotten fruit trick
Similar to the previous method, stick a rotten or overripe fruit into a container, put a plastic wrap around the container, punch a few holes into the plastic and watch as the fruit flies fly into the trap like a moth to a flame.
Text: Home & Decor