KEY POINTS:
They're noisy, unhealthy and seemingly intent on being unwanted guests at every meal we make at this time of year.
And with up to 170 species of exotic flies in New Zealand besides the common housefly, it's important to keep them under control.
But despite the large number of products on the markets it sometimes seems there's no way to stop the aerial annoyances.
So the Herald on Sunday asked two households plagued by flies to put three popular products to the test - and discovered cheap doesn't always equal weak.
Stacie Taylor has spent many dollars trying to find the most effective product since moving to Howick in East Auckland with her partner and their german shepherd Raven.
"Flies are a real problem where I live and I have tried everything," the account manager says. "It's so annoying having them buzzing around when you're preparing food and having people over."
Glenn Wilson, 32, from Mission Bay has also had enough of flies intruding his home.
On average, he'll have a dozen insects buzzing around each night as he cooks dinner or watches a film.
"It seems like there are more around this summer. Maybe because we didn't have a very cold winter, I don't know. I keep clean and tidy and don't have any pets.
"I usually use a spray because you can chase them around the house and get the little buggers."
Glenn and Stacie tested Raid Fly Control System window stickers, Home Brand Fly & Insect Spray and the Mortein NaturGard Automatic Indoor Insect Control System, using a different product each night between Wednesday and Friday.
All products were bought from Foodtown on Auckland's Quay St.
Raid window stickers ($5.18)
VERDICT:
Glenn said: "Before the test I had been using them for three weeks anyway. I spotted them in the supermarket and thought I'd give them a go.
"I bought two packs and stuck three on different windows but they don't seem to do anything and then I got the sticky residue which ran down the window. I won't be buying any more."
Stacie said: "It recommends to put one sticker on each window. You only get two in a packet so if you've got a lot of windows, it's going to be costly.
"There wasn't an odour at all which was good. However I wouldn't use them because they look hideous.
"I think if they don't eliminate the use of fly spray, only reduce it, then really there is no point."
Home Brand Fly & Insect Spray ($2.61)
VERDICT:
Glenn said: "I like using a spray. It is more directional so you can actually chase them around the house and get the little buggers.
"I normally wouldn't go for this one because I'd think that as it's one of the cheapest, it would smell the worst. But it had a lemon scent and wasn't at all that bad.
"Normally I would spray everywhere before I go out so the fumes are gone by the time I get in. Otherwise I can kind of taste it on my tongue. This one did the job."
Stacie said: "Well, it worked. I was really surprised because I didn't think it would be that good.
"The smell wasn't as bad as I expected it to, being a budget, brand either."
Mortein NaturGard Automatic Indoor Insect Control System ($39.99)
VERDICT:
Glenn said: "I put it up high so it covers a large area. It's expensive but it's the best way to go. It does the job without having to worry."
Stacie said: "This is more effective. It builds up a film over time. I put it up somewhere high so it's not glaringly obvious.
"The noise of the automatic spray took a while getting used to. The dog used to jump every time it squirted but we don't even notice it now. It is in our living room. I wouldn't have it in children's sleeping areas.
"I don't think it's too pricey because it lasts for around two months and it does the trick."
A Home Brand spokeswoman said sales of the spray had gone from strength to strength since it was launched late last year.
"Customers tend to buy Home Brand the first time because of price, but they keep buying because of the quality and value."
SC Johnson, which owns Raid and Mortein, did not respond to a request for comment.
ARE BUGS FRIENDS?
There are no flies on TV's Bugman Ruud Kleinpaste - and he credits natural techniques.
Kleinpaste believes bugs aren't our enemies and he refuses to buy fly-zapping products.
"If you like to be living where insecticide is part of your life, then do it.
"But there are things people can do without having to spray chemicals around their living space."
Kleinpaste said people should open their windows to the wind, because flies don't like strong air currents.
They should also invest in window screens and screen doors and get rid of fly breeding grounds, such as compost and piles of grass clippings. "The smaller version of the housefly breeds in bird faeces so keep that off frames and doors."
