Flies in Savannah and the Lowcountry, explained

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - If it seems like flies in Savannah and the Lowcountry are worse this year, you aren’t alone in feeling that way.

Even though it snowed, sleeted, and iced over last January, in the three winter months combined, we had above average temperatures.

In those conditions, flies in Savannah and the surrounding area thrived.

“The flies have been bad. The flies have grown in population,” says Richard Evans, the County Extension Coordinator with the UGA Extension in Garden City.

Evans says a warm winter and our third wettest May ever lead to a bug boom.

Anything around the house that is staying wet, your garbage can, the areas around your garbage can, your grass clippings, these are all areas that flies like to harbor in. These flies when they have these sites to harbor in, they produce a lot of progeny, they produce their life cycle quickly.

Richard Evans, County Extension Coordinator, UGA

Evans suggests a simple, cheap, and relatively environmentally friendly way to trap the flies.

Outdoors I tell people to use bottle traps. A bottle trap is a two liter bottle; you basically cut the top of it off, and you fill it up with water and something sweet, so syrup, honey, a sugary substance, and over the course of time, the sun is going to ferment that and then flies love that. So drop a dollop of soap in there, and that breaks the water’s tension, and when the flies land in that they’re going to drown and get killed.

Richard Evans, County Extension Coordinator, UGA

It may not be the prettiest fly trap, but it’s natural and you can hide it behind a large potted plant or a palm.

Creating a homemade fly trap can also be a fun little project you can do with your grandkids or your kids.

Evans also suggests cleaning the inside of your outdoor trash cans perhaps once a month.