After the recent heavy rains that hit Lubbock within the past couple months, you may have noticed quite a few flies buzzing around the hub city. Local pest control shops are getting more calls throughout the community with complaints of excessive flies. Texas Tech students, like computer science major, Azri Azmi said he has been struggling with them.
“I hate flies and my house is filled with them,” said Azmi. “They are somehow getting into my house and my windows have mesh over them so I’m not sure how they’re even getting in.”
Other students have noticed them as well, while eating outside on campus or studying at the library with food. Tim Gafford with Gafford Pest Control said that the flies are swarming due to the constant rain and then the transition into the cooler weather.
“The barometric pressure drops down and all flying insects run for shelter,” said Gafford. “Mother nature is telling these insects to take cover, so the best thing to do is close your doors and windows.”
Local restaurants are struggling to keep the flies off their patios as well. Gafford said they have been helping them to get rid of them without using a spray that will disrupt the setting in any way.
“Some of the new restaurants coming in are unaware that this can happen this time of year,” said Gafford. “We’re using different products on them inside and out.”
The shops say that fly problems usually begin to die down when the first freeze comes toward November.
