Cluster flies are one of the most widespread and persistent household pests. These flies search for warm places to rest particularly in human habitations, and since they tend to gather in large numbers.
They also differ from house flies in that they are not drawn to food or filth. At times they may become a nuisance and unseemly so, here are 20 different ways how to get rid of cluster flies:
These flies move to houses through narrow openings and crevices near windows, doors, and areas where utilities access the building. These entry points should be sealed using caulk or weatherstripping.
These measures help to prevent the flies from even gaining entry into the house thus preventing cases of an infestation. It is also recommended to check for new gaps more often, especially before the fall when cluster flies look for warm spaces to spend the winter in.
Seal all the crevices that cluster flies might use to gain access to your home by installing fine mesh screens in all the windows, doors, and vents. Check that screens are properly clean with no rips or puncture marks.
Screens are designed to provide ventilation while at the same time preventing insects from accessing your homes hence acting as a shield against cluster flies. It is important to have a schedule for proper maintenance of the screens and to replace the screens when they are damaged.
Fly strips, also known as flypapers, are sticky surfaces on which cluster flies are trapped upon contact. Drape these strips across the areas of high fly activity typically windows, lamps, or other points of access.
To ensure that the fly strips are effective one should replace them often. It is a safe, chemical-free method of controlling small-scale infestations and maintaining low fly levels inside homes.
It is important to use a vacuum cleaner to help in the removal of cluster flies from places like the windowsills, walls, and other surfaces that they prefer to rest on. This method is useful for visible fly control and when used together with other techniques is very useful.
After vacuuming, dispose of the vacuum bag or canister where you are unlikely to find flies such as outside the house. Effective and frequent vacuuming is beneficial in minimizing the fly population and cleaning the areas that the flies favor.
These traps employ ultraviolet light to lure the cluster flies where they are either trapped on non-stick boards or zapped by electric shocks. They are best positioned in hidden and dark areas within homes since flies usually rest in such regions.
They are especially suitable to be installed in the attic, the basement, or other storage places. Make regular checks and cleanings to the traps to ensure they are functioning properly.
Insecticide sprays with pyrethrin perform best since they eliminate cluster flies on contact. Spray the solution directly on points that bring the flies around including windows, doors, and other openings.
When using any product, it is always important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid harm and enjoy the best results. Pyrethrin is a natural extract from chrysanthemum flowers and is safe for indoor use provided it is applied in the right manner.
If your cluster fly problem is severe, it is advisable to get services from a professional pest control company to eliminate the flies. In addition, they have different types of equipment and treatments that are not easily accessible to laymen.
They can locate where the pests have invaded, spray the affected zone, and give guidance on how to keep off pests in the future. This option gives a holistic solution on how to deal with cluster flies in your home.
Another organic material that does not contain toxins is diatomaceous earth, which originates from fossilized remains of aquatic life. Apply it at the doors and windows and any place where the cluster flies are observed to be frequenting.
The fine powder inflicts a lot of harm to the external skeleton of insects, leading to dehydration and death. Use food-grade diatomaceous earth so that it does not pose a risk to the health of pets or children who come into contact with it.
Like most other insects, cluster flies are less mobile at cold temperatures. If viable, reduce the humidity in areas where these pests breed, like attics or basements, to decrease their activity.
This method is particularly useful especially during the cold season when cluster flies in search of warmer habitat. Use it in conjunction with other control strategies to enhance the overall outcome.
One of the natural ways of exterminating cluster flies involves using a traditional hand-held fly swatter. You should always ensure that you have a fly swatter nearby for use especially where the flies are most prevalent.
This method is time-consuming and might involve responding faster than the speed of the flies but it is an effective way of preventing flies from increasing in number without having to use chemicals.
Some of the oils that help in repelling flies include lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint oils. Mix a few drops of essential oil with water and put it on a piece of cotton.
It is recommended to spread the cotton all around the house, mainly near the windows, doors, or any other possible entry points for the cluster flies. Another way is to use diffusers or sprays containing essential oils to disseminate the scent around the house.
Cluster flies can also be trapped using sticky traps, also referred to as glue boards. These traps should be positioned where flies tend to be seen, around windows, near sources of light, and doors.
The sticky surface captures the flies, thus denying them the freedom to move and fly within your house. Sticky traps should be checked often and replaced if they become inefficient due to accumulated dust and debris.
Commonly referred to as bug bombs, Insect foggers emit a mist of insecticide that penetrates through crevices and other areas where cluster flies like hiding. Follow fogger's guidelines strictly, and only reoccupy the area after it has been adequately aired.
Foggers are ideal for a large number of pests but the chemicals used should be used carefully. They offer a fast and effective remedy for eradicating cluster flies in the house.
Make a simple fly trap using a dish that contains vinegar and a few droplets of dishwashing soap. The vinegar helps to trap the flies known as the cluster flies while the soap lowers the surface tension which leads to the drowning of the flies.
Put the bowl in the different places you observe flies moving and refill the solution when it runs out. This home-remade trap is a simple and cost-effective method of decreasing fly densities in a home.
Do not open windows or doors or leave screens open when flies are most likely to be active, such as during the later part of summer and early fall. Otherwise, use airborne mechanisms like air conditioning or fans to provide ventilation.
This simple measure goes a long way in avoiding the influx of cluster flies into your home. However, when used alongside other preventive practices, it is most efficient technique to get rid of cluster flies in house naturally.
Such wastes, feces, dead animals, and other waste products must be disposed of to reduce their attraction to flock to your house. This includes things like dead leaves, grass trims, and piles of compost.
Trim your lawns and gardens to avoid areas where the flies can breed. Sanitation is a critical component that maintains its efficiency in controlling infestations as well as supporting other methods of pest control.
So, if you are wondering how to get rid of cluster flies naturally, start by cleaning up the debris in your home.
Electric fly swatters trap cluster flies by illuminating them with a UV light and eliminating them by electrocution. Position zappers in those areas that are still and shaded at certain particular times of the day when the flies are most dominant.
Also, the zappers should be cleaned often enough to eliminate insects that have been killed there and restore efficiency. Electrified fly killers provide one with a safe means of eradicating flies within homes.
Deploy sticky traps with UV light close to the opening points to catch live cluster flies and kill them. These traps exploit ultraviolet light to attract flies and once they are trapped, they are killed on adhesive papers or through the application of electric shocks.
When using the bait, ensure that it is set in areas that are not easily accessible by light, especially during the night. One must check and clean the traps frequently so that they remain effective in catching the pests.
UV light traps are effective in eradicating fly problems since it does not pose risks to the health of the user or the environment.
Store-bought fly baits have attractants and insecticides that attract and eliminate cluster flies. The bait stations should be placed where there is likely to be high activity of flies such as near windows, doors, and other points of entry.
Always follow the product usage guidelines to avoid adverse effects. This form of control is effective when used appropriately; it can reduce the number of flies and prevent a full-blown infestation.
One should install reflectors like aluminum foil or reflective window film to prevent the cluster flies from landing and subsequently gaining entry. This is one of the most effective ways if you want the cluster flies to stop evading your house.
These treatments form a visual screen that helps in repelling the flies and thus they are less attracted to your home. Use them on the windows that they frequent most.
Cluster flies (Pollenia rudis) belong to the family Calliphoridae. Some of their major characteristics are as follows:
These flies are bigger than common house flies and they measure about 8-10 mm in length. Adult males have a dark gray or olive-colored thorax covered with golden-yellow hairs, and females have a gray abdomen with a mottled appearance. They tuck their wings when in repose.
Cluster flies begin the life cycle when a female lays eggs in the soil close to the earthworm burrows. Larvae feed on earthworms; the mature larvae burrow into the soils to form pupae. Finally, adult flies are formed when they go through the process of pupal stage.
Cluster flies are not very mobile; they fly slowly and in groups. They do not follow food or dirt but in search of warm, quiet areas such as attics and wall spaces to nest. They infest human residences in late summer and early autumn and reproduce during early spring or on warm days in winter, normally congregating at windows and areas of light.
While cluster flies are not known to cause health dangers or property damage, they are a pest. They can be quite overwhelming in large groups and their corpses are an attractant to other rodents.
These flies are most active during certain transitional periods of the year. They invade homes during late summer and early autumn to go in search of food and shelter with the intention of hibernation and resuming their activities in early spring or during warm weather in winter.
