What essential factor determines effective fly control in most situations?

Basic sanitation plays a crucial role in effective fly control because eliminating the breeding grounds for flies is fundamental to reducing their population. Flies are attracted to food waste, organic debris, and other unsanitary conditions that provide ideal environments for them to reproduce. By maintaining cleanliness, such as regularly disposing of trash, cleaning up spills, and managing waste properly, you minimize the resources flies need to thrive.

While regular pesticide applications, fly traps, and exclusion measures can be effective components of an integrated pest management strategy, these methods will be less effective if the underlying sanitation issues are not addressed. Without proper sanitation, flies will continue to find suitable environments for breeding, leading to ongoing infestations despite other control efforts. Thus, maintaining basic sanitation is essential for long-term success in fly control.