Keep reading this article if you want to know how to get rid of sand flies. Also included are recommendations for a good sand fly repellent!
Sand flies is the name given to the flying blood-sucking flies that live in sandy areas in the U.S. This is where they got their name. However, they also go by different names, such as biting midges or no-see-ums.
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How to Get Rid of Sand Flies – About Sand Flies
The reason for the second name is that they’re particularly small, and won’t grow larger than 1/16 inches long (about 3 mm).
This makes them very hard to see and allows them to easily slip through the nooks and crannies of doors and windows and even pass through regular mesh screens.
The fly has a golden, brownish, or gray color, with long mouthparts that are designed for piercing and sucking the blood out of their host.
They like humid beach environments, which is why they’re abundant around beaches and lagoons because they count as an optimal environment for females to lay their eggs.
They’re most active around the summer from June to august in medium to low light settings, such as sunrise and sunset.
However, you find the microscopic larvae all year round. Among the things that attract sand flies are ideal conditions for laying their eggs, warmth, UV light, shiny surfaces, and above all carbon dioxide gas.
How to Get Rid of Sand Flies – A Brief Guide
Step 1: Prevent the Sand Flies from Getting into your House
The best way to avoid sandflies in your house is by proofing it against sandflies in the first place. You can install some special window screens with a pore size that’s smaller than 1/16 inches.
Remember to consider all entrances to your house while finding out the amount of mesh screen you need, including all the chimneys and vents.
Make sure that you lock the doors properly and inspect the areas around the bezel and the windowsill for any cracks or gaps that might allow the tiny flies to come in.
Also, if you find large gaps or cracks, you might want to contact a professional to seal them properly.
Step 2: Wear Proper Protective Clothing When you’re Going Outdoors
Unlike mosquitos and most other flies, Sand flies are attracted to dark-colored clothes. Make sure that you wear light-colored clothes that cover up your body to prevent them from biting your skin.
Step 3: Make Your House a Less Appealing Target
To make your house a less attractive target to sand flies, you should also consider your outdoors.
Keep in mind that sand flies, as well as other pests, love tall weeds because they provide a moist and dark spot for them to live, especially if there’s a small body of water nearby.
Check for any still puddles of water and dry them up to cut the access of sand flies to water, and keep your grass short to prevent them from hiding or nesting inside. A landscaper might be a good idea if you want the best results.
If you have a small garden in your backyard, you might want to cover it so that its scent doesn’t attract the sand flies.
Step 4: Experiment with Natural Sand Fly Repellent
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The process of extermination has various steps and might require you to combine a variety of other methods to work. Since natural insect repellants are the safest route to take, you should try it out first.
Most of these remedies are subjects of high debate on whether they work or not. Some claim that it works like charm for them while others believe that they haven’t helped at all.
These ingredients include the essential oils of a variety of plants, including:
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender oil
- Lemongrass
- Mint
- Clove
- Tea tree oil
The essential oils are either added to a humidifier indoors or sprayed outdoors. One thing you should know about them is that they’re never as effective as other artificial ingredients, but they’re great for people with allergies.
In addition to these ingredients, it has been reported that marmite is also a great repellant for sand flies.
Apparently, vitamin B is on the list of things that sand flies hate, and eating marmite regularly deters will keep them at bay.
Step 5: How to Get Rid of Sand Flies – Use a Sand Fly Repellent
- Safe for use on the whole family, long-lasting insect and tick repellent lotion deters a wide variety of pests — up to 14 hours against mosquitoes...
- Fragrance-free topical insect repellent with 20% Picaridin — more effective at repelling biting flies than DEET; repels disease-spreading ticks...
- Very comfortable to wear on your skin, it's ideal for all your outdoor adventures, from camping, backpacking, hunting, and fishing to backyard BBQs,...
Sand fly repellents contain a blend of active ingredients that are scientifically proven to deter those flies either by producing a smell they can’t stand or by preventing the flies from reproducing.
Among the most popular ingredients in sand repellents is N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, also known as “DEET”.
DEET is a highly effective repellent that is proven by the Environmental Protection Agency to work without health risks.
Picaridin is also a chemical repellent that you can also apply to skin and clothing without worrying about side effects. It blocks a variety of insects and pests, including sand flies and mosquitos.
Step 6: Consider Using Zappers
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After applying the repellents to your skin and clothes, you might want to add an extra zapper for good measure.
There are also carbon dioxide traps, which produce the gas to attract the flies then have them stick to glue paper.
While they’re good in theory, CO2 traps aren’t that functional and many users found them completely ineffective, as they might attract even more pests.
How to Get Rid of Sand Flies – Sand Fly Repellent: Top 3 Products
Here’s a top list of the best three options to go for on the market:
1. Repel HG-94108 100 Insect Repellent Pump Spray
- REPELS: Create a barrier against mosquitoes, including those that may transmit the Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses, ticks, gnats,...
- FORMULATED FOR SEVERE INSECT CONDITIONS: Contains 98.11% DEET for protection in heavily infested conditions.
- PROTECTS FOR UP TO 10 HOURS: Enjoy the outdoors without the bite – provides long-lasting protection, so you don't have to limit your adventure...
This one is among the best DEET insect repellents on the market. It contains up to 98.11% DEET for maximum potency against insects.
It works with a wide variety of pests and can be applied directly to the skin. The spray creates an invisible barrier that prevents sand flies from biting the exposed skin.
It’s one of the most long-lasting formulas out there, with up to 10 hours of insect protection and it’s safe for kids above 2 years old. The main downside of this product is that it’s a bit pricey.
2. Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent
- Safe for use on the whole family, long-lasting insect and tick repellent lotion deters a wide variety of pests — up to 14 hours against mosquitoes...
- Fragrance-free topical insect repellent with 20% Picaridin — more effective at repelling biting flies than DEET; repels disease-spreading ticks...
- Very comfortable to wear on your skin, it's ideal for all your outdoor adventures, from camping, backpacking, hunting, and fishing to backyard BBQs,...
Sawyer is the best insect repellent that uses Picaridin as the main ingredient. The 20% concentration of the repellant is extremely effective at full power and is relatively more affordable than DEET products.
The spray is applied to the skin directly and can be used up to 2-year-old children. The formula is marketed to last for up to 12 hours.
However, sweat and time reduce their efficacy greatly, so the actual protection time should be around 6 to 8 hours.
3. DynaTrap DT1775 Mosquito and Insect Trap with AtraktaGlo Light
- What We Catch – Attracts and traps mosquitoes, biting flies, house flies, moths, no-see-ums, June beetles, wasps, yellow jackets, stink bugs, gnats,...
- 3-Way Protection – The AtraktaGlo UV light, diffuser, and TiO2 coating lure insects to the trap, then the whisper-quiet fan sucks them into the...
- Powerful Protection – The trap effectively protects up to 1 acre of your property
Lastly, if you prefer fly traps that can be used indoors or outdoors, consider the DynaTrap DT1775 Mosquito and Insect Trap with AtraktaGlo Light.
This durable and affordable zapper works by giving off UV light that sand flies and mosquitoes are attracted to, then electrocuting them as they come in contact.
The device is efficient and harmless to babies and pets when hung relatively high. However, the only problem with it is that it might produce a slight hum and popping sounds as it zaps the insects.
How to Get Rid of Sand Flies – Wrap Up
Now you know how to get rid of sand flies using various methods, whether indoors or outdoors.
As you can see, there are tons of options and methods to keep those pesky bugs and other annoying animals at bay. The best and most convenient method is Repel HG-94108 100 Insect Repellent Pump Spray.
To view all of our non-toxic pest control solutions, CLICK HERE!
- NO FLY ZONE: Trap and kill fruit, ranch, and house flies, along with many other pesky flying insects
- HIGH QUALITY: Made from recycled paper and utilizes sticky glue that lasts up to 90 days
- ORGANIC GARDENING: Remove small pests with no harsh ingredients
