As the days draw longer and warmer, what parent hasn’t heard the phase “can I go out now?” from their children. When cabin fever kicks in our children are not the only ones eagerly anticipating the great outdoors. Their annoying buzzing and swarms at times has become an indicator that spring is near. No, I’m not referring to the anxious children longing to play outside, but rather to Cluster Flies.

Normally they are quite happy to be in the great outdoors until the weather begins to get cold. Then, like us they pursue a warmer place to overwinter. This migration begins in the latter part of August to the early part of September. They usually work their way into our attics, wall voids, behind baseboards, behind draperies, under carpets as well as into cracks and crevices.

Cluster Flies are nature’s way of letting us know that spring is near. Those first warm days will bring them out of hibernation and as they emerge, they are in essence asking “can I go out now?” You will find them making their way to your windows or doors. At this time they are not very alert but rather sluggish and can easily be caught or vacuumed. If they appear in large numbers it may require that your cracks and crevices be treated. By the way, you will also notice the Asian lady beetle (most call them lady bugs) emerging, this is also an indicator that you have Cluster Flies. Since Asian lady beetles are considered a beneficial insect there is no treatment prescribed for them other than removing their food source – other insects.

The most effective control for these pests is to treat the perimeter of the structure (especially the sunny side) prior to their migration indoors in late summer, early fall. The timing of course is crucial if control is to be achieved. This would also include pest proofing your home by sealing cracks and crevices along the areas used to gain entry into your home (eaves, windows, doors and where the siding meets your foundation). However, the reality is that once you have Cluster Flies, it becomes an annual occurrence that will be reduced only with regular treatments, reducing their numbers year after year.  If you follow my recommendations, the only ones you will be hearing asking “can I go out now?” will be your children.

It’s that time again! No, not back to school time, though I’m sure, as a parent, by this time you can’t wait. Like children, they like to cluster together and this is where they get their common name. If you haven’t guessed by now, I am referring to Cluster Flies. Large, dark grey and rather slow moving, they are beginning their migration indoors between August 15th and the 30th.

The adults will go dormant over winter in your home/business and emerge in the spring to mate. The eggs are laid in cracks in the soil and hatch in about three days. This is the cool part of the whole process as the larvae parasitoid, which is a fancy word for larvae that are parasites that eventually kill their hosts. The development time can vary from 27 to 39 days and there is usually four generations per year.
Read more…

You have had reservations to the hottest restaurant in the area for weeks. As you walk in you can see why its ambience is perfect and the aromas are mind blowing. As the maitre d’ escorts you to your table your mouth starts to water. Just then you notice a fly buzzing around the table not to alarm your dinner guest you say it’s only a fly.

Do you have any idea where it’s been? They are general feeders, being attracted to a variety of substances from excrement to human foods. Flies have been shown to carry over 100 different kinds of disease causing pathogens, many of which are associated with filth. The pathogens include typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, tuberculosis, and salmonella as well as parasitic worms. Read more…