Cluster flies, also known as attic flies have been a nuisance to a lot of people to have been wanting to lead a quiet and peaceful life. They are recognized by the yellow hairs on their thorax and their all-black body. There is an issue though, even though these flies aren’t particularly damaging, they add a great deal of stress nevertheless. These flies are mainly active in the early spring and this is because they are looking for a place to overwinter, especially in the attic.
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Their life cycle will not last more than a month max and the adults are mainly herbivores, Interestingly, the young, larvae are mostly dependable earthworms which the mother cluster flies put them close to. Cluster flies cluster at the windows mainly because they are attracted to light and this is also the place where you will see many dead cluster flies as well. So how do you get rid of cluster flies and what can you do to prevent them?
Sticky fly traps
These sticky traps do wonder and actually put into perspective how severe the fly infestation might be since the results are there for everyone to see. If you have fly strips, these cluster flies might fly into these and will get stuck forever and will die on these strips. They are effective but will need to replacement every now and then.
Cleaning up clutter and debris
Cleaning up clutter will definitely help in this regard since cluster flies will thrive in these areas. Cluster flies will also seek an opportunity to breed in these areas if the infestation is severe enough since they are known not to breed normally. Cleaning up any spills from the trashcan will also help immensely since that is what they are also attracted to.
Vacuuming
Getting a hand vacuum for this may seem extra but if you happen to have one handy then that would be very beneficial since you can suck up the population that is clustering and gathering around windows. It will not decrease the actual population by a lot but will certainly help contain the issue better than just randomly swatting these flies.
Bottle trap
These traps happen to be very effective and not so hard to make. All you need is vinegar and something sweet to trap them in preferably honey. What you need to do next:
- Cut the top part off and inverse the top part and put it into the bottom part. It will now look like a siphon.
- In the bottom part put honey. This will work as the trap itself and top it off with vinegar. Others have used dish soap as a trap. Once the fly enters the trap, it cannot escape.
- Placement is very important. The place where flies will hang out is the attic space. Make sure to place it near a window sill or near the window to get the optimum.
If you have cluster flies in a commercial space or a residential property and want to get rid of them, hire professionals from Exterminator Peterborough for insured and licensed exterminators! Call 705-535-0854.
