Anyone who lives within a short distance of animals like cattle, horses or dog kennels probably knows the heart break of "visitor flies." These are flies that have hopped the fence from where there's plenty of manure to your property, spartan as it may be. The more surrounded you are by livestock, the bigger the problem. But, you don't have to put up with this unpleasant side effect of outdoor style living. A few strategic changes and you're on your way to becoming a fly killer virtuoso.

Fighting flies, really understanding how to get rid of flies using organic methods, takes a bit of know-how. Steadfastly maintained sanitation, cultivating beneficial insects and poisonous bait traps are among the better first lines of defense. Properly implemented, these methods can help you put a big bite into the fly reproduction occurring on your property.  Unfortunately, visitor flies require taking extra steps. And, that means fly traps. The issue is knowing which fly traps work best for which species and purpose. Improperly used fly traps can inflame the very fly problem you're attempting to subdue.

If organic pest control involved nothing more eliminating the flying pests at your place, controlling flies would probably be a far simpler affair. However, given the influence of your neighbor's animals, their fly control and sanitation methods, it's up to you to become as knowledgeable as possible. Sure, once upon a time, fumigation, exterminators, insect repellent, insecticides and homemade fly trap solutions were the first line of attack. But, with our growing combination of sophistication and the clamping down on toxic fly products on the market, these more evolved fly-fighting strategies should get you going on the right track.

Knowing which fly traps to use with which flying pests.

Targeting House flies with fly traps is a fairly tricky business, IF, you don't know what you're doing. They two main traps for this species are, "Odor Lure Traps," and "Adhesive Traps." The best House Fly Odor Lures use a special scent-formulation of fly sex pheromones, rotting organic matter and decaying flesh. We suggest researching fly trap sites and reading independent reviews to pick the best ones.

You probably visualize a, "Sticky Fly Trap," when you hear the term fly trap & have probably seen the ones that look like yellow party favors, covered in flies, hanging from the rafters. Research indicates that flies prefer bright yellow flat surfaces. So, again, surf the web for sticky traps bearing these characteristics and refer to reviews before you make your selection.

One of the most infuriating flying pests is the, "biting stable fly." While they may look like house flies, they certainly add more insult to injury with their repeated, vicious bites. Taming a biting stable fly outbreak takes uniquely designed traps engineered to visually trick the insect into thinking they've found a meal ticket. They enter the trap and boom, they rarely if ever get out.

The most important thing to know about odor and biting stable fly traps is to place them AWAY from the areas most frequented by you and your pets. Placing an odor track in a dog's kennel could draw a fly infestation to your dog's sanctuary. Be sure to only place sticky traps near your pets, house and working areas and to use the odor and biting stable fly traps to draw these pests away from living areas.

Finding the best fly traps takes more than a quick trip to your local, big box superstore. Most store clerks know next to nothing about fly traps, and the wrong advice could turn a fly elimination effort into a pest tsunami, right where you don't want it. Understanding which species you're targeting, which fly trap strategy will keep the flies away from your living spaces, requires an almost artful approach. So, how do you determine which fly species you're battling with?

The common House Fly is quite aptly named, given its universal presence. At 1/4 inch long, these tiny antagonists love to alight on garbage, animal remains, feces and moist animal parts, such as eyes, mouths and noses. Stable Biting Flies, which enjoy biting animals in pursuit of a warm, blood meal, can wreak havoc, driving animals to stomp and flail as they attempt to avoid the little beasts.

The Tabanidae family plays host to Deer & Horse Flies, considered the giants of the flying pest world. And, Horn Flies love to harass their mammal hosts around the clock, scurrying about their backs and bellies as they feed, ad nauseam.

Last, but certainly not least, are mosquitoes. Floodwater mosquitoes are daytime pests and while Semi-permanent mosquitoes favor daybreak and dusk.

Once you've identified the species that's troubling you, it's time to get cracking. Whether you've got the occasional fly infestation or worry about how to get rid of flies in the house throughout the summer, doing your homework will most certainly pay off. Feel free to contact your local pest control agency. They'll more than likely be thrilled to give you the local lowdown on effective pest control strategies for your area.