Cluster Flies

[EcoMick]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum and therefore I thought I would begin by asking a question. I am an ecologist but on this matter I have no idea what to do. I know cluster flies lay their egga in earthworms during early spring but as it comes to winter the flies look for somewhere to shelter. They look especially so I have read, for white buildings where they can get into loft spaces and develop a state of torpor. My house is on farmland close to Merseyside and everytime the weather warms up slightly I end up with a dozen or so flies in the bedrooms, buzzing around half asleep and generally making a nuisance out of themselves.

Anybody got any tips of eradicating this problem?

[ChrisR]

Sticky fly papers might do the trick for the flies when they get into the rooms but really it isn't easy to stop them completely ... you'd have to block up a lot of holes in attic spaces and that isn't always easy (or desirable) in older buildings. Buildings with open loft spaces (like church belfries) are particularly prone to them.

[EcoMick]

Chris,

Thanks for the comment, I was pretty sure that that was the case. I have heard that you can get 'smoke bombs' that can get rid of them - but the information on this method is variable as to its success.

Being an ecologist and working with a wide variety of species all the time they dont bother me that much, but my girlfirend really does not like them!!!!

[EcoMick]

Chris,

Thanks for the comment, I was pretty sure that that was the case. I have heard that you can get 'smoke bombs' that can get rid of them - but the information on this method is variable as to its success.

Being an ecologist and working with a wide variety of species all the time they dont bother me that much, but my girlfirend really does not like them!!!!

[The Woodman]

I have dealt with some large overwintering groups and have successfully removed them (or most of them) with a vacuum cleaner when they emerge to the windows in the spring and become a visible nuisance.

Be aware that using flypapers in lofts may catch bats if present, particularly brown long eared bats. they will, or should be, in hibernation at the moment but will emerge at a similar time to cluster flies in the spring.