Autumn is the season when it’s not unusual to find cluster flies in your home, especially in your attic, garage or shed spaces. At this time of year, they look for somewhere to hibernate until spring when they will make their way back outside. They, like most flies, are attracted to light and warmth and are able to squeeze through even the smallest of gaps.
While cluster flies pose no health threats (unlike houseflies who feed on our food) to humans, as well as being annoying, these insects will leave stains on the walls, floors etc with their excrement which also produces an unpleasant odour.
How Do They Get In?
How does any fly get in? Doors, windows, holes… the trouble is, they seem to come in through the smallest spaces but refuse to find their way back out when you open up every door and window in the house!!! Cluster flies are likely to revisit year after year so if they are getting in through gaps, it’s important to identify this and seal the entry points.
How Do You Know if You Have Cluster Flies
You may not always be able to see the flies (especially if they are residing in your loft, but obvious signs of an infestation are the presence of dead and lame flies. You may also notice a number of flies around various parts of the home. It’s worth checking your loft space to ensure that you don’t have a cluster fly problem. They also like sunken spot lighting and making themselves comfortable under insulation layers.
How to Tell if its Cluster Flies
There are many different types of flies that can be found in the home – houseflies, bluebottles, horseflies (if you live in more rural areas), and cluster flies. When they are buzzing around it can be hard to determine what species they are. The key differences are that cluster flies are generally 8mm long which is slightly larger than houseflies and bluebottles and they have short gold hair on their thorax making them somewhat lighter, unlike the darker bodies of houseflies and the petrol colour of bluebottles. They are also slower moving and almost seem to stagger when in flight.
How to Get Rid of Them
One way to get rid of cluster flies is to get the hoover out and simply suck them up but be sure to empty the hoover immediately. You could also use citronella to deter them or set up sticky sweet traps however, for larger quantities and peace of mind, it is recommended to call in a fly pest control expert. Unlike the odd housefly, cluster flies like to gather in swarms and can be much more problematic to deal with.
As professional pest controllers, we advise treating them twice a year as they are creatures of habit and like to come back in the autumn each year. When they return they come back in greater numbers after breeding in the summer months. Treat once in the autumn and then once again in the spring before they go off to breed again.
If you have an issue with Plymouth cluster flies, we can help. Give us a call on 01752 929292 and we can have a chat and arrange to visit the property and take a look.
