People often get afraid when they see hoverflies around. These flies actually look a lot like wasps or bees, and that causes some people to run from them or try to kill them.
You might notice that hoverflies are drawn to certain flowers in your garden. This is because they feed on nectar and pollen.
If you see one while you’re outside, then you don’t need to be afraid. They don’t have stingers and they aren’t going to attack you in any way.
Even so, you might wish to keep them away just because you find them to be a nuisance. Read on to learn about ways that you can get rid of hoverflies.
Hoverflies Aren’t Bad
The first thing that you should try to understand is that hoverflies aren’t actually bad. In fact, they’re beneficial for your gardens in many ways.
Many people actually choose to take steps that will attract hoverflies because of what they can bring to the table. Having more hoverflies in your garden area will be a good way to keep aphids under control.
Aphids can become a real problem for your plants, and that means that hoverflies are doing you a favor. People mostly just dislike hoverflies because they find them to be unnerving.
If they didn’t have a coloring that made them look sort of like wasps they wouldn’t get so much hate. Before you decide to get rid of the hoverflies, it’s good to know that they’re actually good for your garden area.
If you still wish to get rid of the hoverflies, then you have a number of different options. Below, you’ll find various ideas for getting rid of hoverflies that will work like a charm.
1 – Make a Repellent
Making a repellent might be a good way to get rid of hoverflies on your property. You can make a repellent using something such as vinegar and a bit of soap.
Mixing those two things together along with a bit of water will make it easy for you to scare hoverflies away. You just need to spray the mixture near where the hoverflies are living and they will go away.
The soap makes it so that the mixture will stick a bit and it works out nicely. If you really don’t like hoverflies and don’t want them to stick around, then this should do the trick to help you get rid of them.
There are many other repellent styles that can do things just as well as vinegar and soap. You can grow citronella to keep hoverflies from coming around, but many people simply choose to burn citronella candles.
Citronella candles are very useful because they can help to keep mosquitoes at bay, too. You could also try essential oils such as peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and basil oil.
2 – Fly Tape Works
Since hoverflies are basically just a type of fly, it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that fly tape works to get rid of them. If you hang fly tape near the area where hoverflies are appearing, then you’ll be able to get rid of many of them.
Fly tape is simply a sticky type of paper that you hang somewhere to trap flies. It will eventually kill the flies because they get stuck on the tape and can’t go anywhere.
Other types of fly traps will work just as well on hoverflies as they do normal flies. For instance, you can hang an electric fly zapper that will electrocute the hoverflies when they come into contact with it.
You could use a simpler method such as placing vinegar in a beverage can that has been cut in half. Adding a bit of dish soap ensures that flies will touch the liquid and then get stuck because of the soap.
There are so many types of fly traps and fly-killing solutions out there that you could try. It’s just up to you to decide which ones make the most sense for your situation.
3 – Just Use a Fan
Something as simple as just using a fan can make hoverflies go away if you don’t necessarily want to kill them. Perhaps they’re bothering you on your patio because there are way too many of them.
You can use a standard box fan or some type of ceiling fan to create air circulation in the area. The power of the fan will make them want to stay away from the area.
They won’t be able to fly around properly when they have to deal with the fan blowing the air around. This is generally going to make the hoverflies flee and try to find other spots where they can hang out.
If you’re looking for an easy and peaceful solution to having too many hoverflies on your patio, porch, or deck, then using a fan is sensible. So long as you have an outlet close enough that you can use, it’s going to be very simple to do this.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve had some time to learn about hoverflies and how to get rid of them, it’ll be up to you to figure out what your approach should be. Some people will choose to kill the hoverflies because they don’t like having them around, but others will see that they can be beneficial.
If possible, it might be best to avoid killing the hoverflies because of how good they can be for people’s garden areas. You might even want to keep them around yourself, but you might just be trying to guide them away from your sitting areas outside.
Thankfully, the options that you have available to you are somewhat nuanced. There are ways to make the hoverflies want to go away such as using a fan, but there are also lethal methods such as hanging fly tape.
Don’t worry too much about hoverflies if you find them to be a bit intimidating. They might look a little scary due to their coloring, but they’re nothing like wasps and they don’t even have stingers.
You might become comfortable with them over time if you decide to leave them alone. Otherwise, you can just use the simplest method that you have available to get rid of them and be done with it.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel