What is the best way to kill flies in the house

A. Fly sprays are generally pretty lethal, but the pungent chemical aroma, plus the fact that many contain organo-phosphates, which have been linked to health problems, make them increasingly unpopular. The good old sticky flypaper is actually very effective, especially if you position it in a place where the flies are attracted to, like a window. However, you're going to need more than one and, let's face it, you can't make a piece of sticky brown paper covered in fly carcasses look attractive whatever you do.

A. Bead curtains might seem like a throwback to the hippy era, but they are actually highly effective at stopping flies entering through open doors while letting air in. On the continent many house will have inner mesh doors or windows that can be pulled over during the day and stop all sorts of insects getting in.

A. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. If you have a pond you should either introduce a pump that keeps the water moving, however imperceptibly, or else you need to add something to the water. Fish like guppies or carp are a natural control as they will feast on the larvae. If you don't have fish there is a non-toxic biological treatment available from most garden centres.