Mzansi, what's up with all the flies?
Usually, the saying is, "If there are too many flies, maybe it's time to check what’s rotting." But this is unusual...
Truer words cannot be said about these buzzing annoyances, which we call flies. The abundance of flies in Johannesburg has caused some residents to look up and wonder if there is a reason behind this supposed infestation.
eNCA addressed the concerns by speaking with Genevieve Theron, an entomologist at the Agricultural Research Council. She said that more flies can be expected during the summer as this weather is the perfect breeding ground for them.
She went on to say that keeping our areas clean, disposing of rotting food, storing our food away, putting up barriers on our windows and doors, and practicing general hygiene can all help lessen the number of flies we encounter in our homes. But even then, there's no guarantee these pests won't bother you because they are naturally attracted to areas where there is food, aka our waste.
One Johannesburg resident attracted lots of attention online when he posted his solution to the 'apparent' fly problem. He showed people on social media that he invested in a fly bucket. The TikToker claimed that this contraption had reduced the number of flies in his home by 80%.
Watch the video below - courtesy of TikTok.
@myboyandmejhb It maybe a awful to look at but it really does work. flies have reduced a ton #SAMA28 #fyp #tiktoksouthafrica #tiktoksa #johannesburg #flies ♬ original sound - Prenesh
There's always this negative connotation associated with pests, and besides the most noticeable part—their nuisance— we do tend to magnify the problem, making it worse than what it really is.
Theron was reassuring when she said that although climate change does contribute to extreme weather patterns, the heat and rain contribute to the reproduction of flies and "drives the lifecycles to become quicker and quicker."
Perhaps it's time to take heed of these fly bucket traps that seem to be working, according to Johannesburg resident Prenesh. Check a second video he posted on how he disposes of the flies - courtesy of TikTok.
@myboyandmejhb the question asked the most, was how I dispose of the flies. here's a follow up #SAMA28 #johannesburg #tiktoksa #tiktoksouthafrica #johannesburg #flies #fyp ♬ original sound - Prenesh
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Image Courtesy of iStock