Do I have cluster flies or house flies?

Do I have cluster flies or house flies?

The body of a cluster fly will be black with a silver checkered pattern. Cluster fly wings will overlap while at rest, house flies have wings that remain separate. BEHAVIOR: Cluster flies will cluster together. They are commonly found clustered around windows, in attics, they will be found in sunny spaces.

How do you identify cluster flies?

Cluster flies

1. Colour Dark grey.
2. Size From 8 mm to 10 mm long.
3. Description Have golden or yellowish hairs on their thorax, while their abdomen features a black and silver checked pattern.
4. Notes Cluster flies strongly resemble house flies, but are larger, darker, and slower.

Why do I have cluster flies in my house?

A warm autumn day might cause cluster flies to “bug” you around the house. In search of sunny sides of homes to escape the cold, the over-wintering pests crawl out of wall voids and attics to enjoy the warmth, clustering in large numbers on the sunny exterior of buildings, as well as at windows within the home.

Where are cluster flies coming from?

Cluster flies are capable of crawling through small openings in the walls of a structure. These flies enter homes looking for overwintering sites during the cold months. Cluster flies prefer warm areas, so homeowners often find them flying around houses on sunny days in the winter and late fall months.

How do I get rid of cluster flies?

Methods for getting rid of cluster flies

1. Insect spray.
2. ‘Citronella’ fragrance wick.
3. Vacuum cleaner.
4. Sealing all openings around doors, windows, eaves, pipes, electrical sockets…
5. Foggers (performed by a trained professional)
6. Smoke bombs (performed by a trained professional)
7. Electric fly killers.
8. Fly boxes.

How do you get rid of cluster flies naturally?

You can also use some home-made sprays against cluster flies to create an unwelcoming atmosphere around your trash bins.

1. Citronella sprays or natural insect repellents are useful sometimes if you don’t want to spray chemicals.
2. A strong vinegar solution discourages them from hanging out around trash bins as well.

Do cluster flies lay eggs in houses?

Historically cluster flies would hibernate in hollow trees, under lose bark or other dry sheltered areas. However, our warm, weatherproof and protected homes are particularly inviting to them. The adult flies will eventually leave in late summer to lay their eggs in soil.

How do you stop cluster flies?

If you find cluster flies in your attic, try to prevent these pests by using a ‘Citronella’ fragrance wick that emits a smell into this area, which can work to deter these flies from returning. Alternatively, you can spray these insects with fly killer and vacuum the area afterwards.

Will cluster flies go away on their own?

They lethargically float around in a zombie-like state, and sometimes just fall to the floor like they’re dead. At any point, cluster flies can appear to be half-dead or dead, but, like zombies, they never quite go away if left alone.

What do cluster flies eat?

WHAT DO CLUSTER FLIES EAT?

• Cluster fly larva (maggots) burrow into the soil and feed on earthworms.
• Adult cluster flies feed on flower nectar and plant sap, fruit, flowers, and other types of organic matter.

What is the difference between a cluster fly and a house fly?

There are many differences between cluster flies and house flies. SIZE AND COLOR: Cluster flies are larger than house flies at approximately 7mm long compared to the 3-6mm length of a house fly. The body of a cluster fly will be black with a silver checkered pattern. House flies are dark grey with four narrow black stripes down their bodies.

How to get rid of cluster flies in house?

Step 1: Get a mason/canning jar.

Step 2: Fill it with sugar and water in a 1:1 ratio (half water,half sugar)

Step 3: Pour the solution into the jar and leave it alone.

Step 4: Use the perforated lid and open it slightly so that flies can get in.

Step 5: Put the jar wherever you see cluster fly activity. The flies will smell the sweet water and lure themselves into it. Once they go in,they

Why are there so many flies outside my house?

One main reason for dead flies in a home is that flies enter the home through cracks and crevices, then are unable to gain access to the outside again, thus ending their life cycle inside the home. Flies generally seek indoor environments for warmth or for obtaining food.

Are house flies breeding inside your home?

House flies rarely breed indoors , but may enter through open windows or doors. The soldier fly and the carrion breeding flies may breed indoors when an animal dies inside or under a structure. Good pest proofing will generally prevent these larger flies from becoming an indoor problem.