7 ways to get rid of mayflies
TRANSCRIPT
7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
Mayflies are harmless to humans, as they do not sting, bite or attack, but they often emerge in plague like numbers which can be difficult to
deal with, or even frightening
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
• Mayflies are born from eggs. The female mayfly can lay anywhere from 400 to 3000 eggs, depending on environmental conditions and the exact species.
• Eggs are most often dropped onto the surface of water and allowed to sink down to the bottom.
Life Cycle of Mayflies
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7 Ways to Get Rid of MayfliesLarvae are typically brown or green and about 1 inch in length. They have no wings and either a
flat or cylindrical body. Their colour usually blends well with their surroundings. They can
have between four and nine sets of gills on the edges of their stomachs, which are normally
white, off-white or brown Identifying Mayflies
Subimago mayflies have wings and resemble their fully mature form. They generally have
duller colouring and their wings look hazy. They have tiny hairs all over both their bodies and
their wings. They generally stay in this stage for only one or two days.
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
Unlike many other pests, a mayfly infestation is not something you will have to look for. If you
have a problem with mayflies it will be obvious and you will know it.
Although these insects spend most of their lives in or near water, they are attracted to bright lights. If you live near areas of water where
mayflies exist, adult mayflies may be attracted to outdoor lights as well as light escaping
through windows at night.
Signs of An Infestation
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
While mayflies aren’t harmful to humans, they are considered nuisances, as they pile up on surfaces and roads, coating them in a mat of
living insects.
In addition to being considered pests, they are seen as traffic hazards and are rare cases of accidents when they build-up on windshield.
How can you deal with mayflies when they annoy the life out of you at home?
Signs of An Infestation
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
7 Ways to Get Rid
of Mayflies
Lights
Like many flying insects, mayflies are attracted to bright light, especially white light. If you live in an area prone to infestations, it is recommended to move outside lights away from your home if possible.Replacing white lights with yellow “bug lights” should also help. To addle do what you can to reduce the amount of light that escape through windows. Close curtains or shutters at night to keep your indoor lights from attracting the newly hatched mayflies.
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
7 Ways to Get Rid
of Mayflies
Standing Water
Adult mayflies have only one purpose, breeding. They do nothing but try to reproduce. They don’t even eat.
The most important part of their reproduction involves depositing their eggs in water. Remove any standing water around your home to make the area less attractive to females looking for somewhere to drop their eggs.
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
7 Ways to Get Rid
of Mayflies
Garlic
The odour of garlic has been effective in repelling mayflies. You can make a repellent spray that can be applied around your home to help keep them away. You want to make a sort of tea of crushed garlic and water. The more garlic you use the better. Put the solution in a spray bottle and spread it generously around the outside of the home. Of course, this may need to be reapplied several times, but should help to keep the critters off your home and away from windows. You can also throw dry minced garlic around the perimeter of the home for a similar or additional effect.
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
7 Ways to Get Rid
of Mayflies
Sweeping or Spraying
If you have problems with large numbers of mayflies on the outside of your home or in an area of your yard, they can be killed and removed with a broom or spraying with a garden hose.
Mayflies are very delicate, so simply sweeping them with a broom will both kill them and remove them from whatever surface they’ve taken over. Spraying with a garden hose will usually have the same effect. Large numbers of them can actually make sidewalks and walkway slippery, so be careful when attempting to move through or clean off large swarms on walkways.
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
7 Ways to Get Rid
of Mayflies
Ponds and Water Installations
If you have a small pond or other type of water installation in your yard, make sure it is clean and free of algae. Remove any fallen leaves or plant waste from the water.
These are the main food sources for mayfly larvae and they are exactly what females will be looking for as they choose a spot to lay their eggs. Your yard will be less attractive to them if these things are not present.
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
7 Ways to Get Rid
of Mayflies
Wait It Out
It might sound like no solution at all, but simply waiting for them to leave or die is an option as well. Mayflies spend the majority of their life in a larval stage under water.
Adult mayflies have an extremely short lifespan, usually only living for one to three days before they die. Once an infestation starts, it normally only takes a few days for the population to die.
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
7 Ways to Get Rid
of Mayflies
Chemical foggers
If you live in an area with particularly large numbers of mayflies, such as next to a lake, you may opt to use a chemical fogger. These can quickly kill large numbers of mayflies, but you should check with an expert to be sure their use is legal and that you know how to properly use any chemical pesticides.
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies
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7 Ways to Get Rid of Mayflies (Video)