Catseye Pest Control

Habitat: Adult flies of the last generation of the year become numerous during the latter days of September to mid-October. As cold weather progresses, adults seek protected places to spend the winter. In many cases, this is within walls, attics, storage rooms and basements of houses. Screens offer no protection since these flies prefer to crawl in through small openings elsewhere around the building. For this reason they are extremely difficult to keep out of houses. Isolated houses in the country are especially prone to invasion, since they offer the only warm shelter for miles around.

Life Cycle: The female lays eggs in the soil near the burrows of earthworms. The tiny maggots that hatch from the eggs seek out earthworms to feed upon. The maggots of Cluster Flies have never been reared on any other food but living earthworms. When full grown, the parasitic maggot leaves the body of the host and enters the soil. There are about four generations a year.

Type of Damage: Cluster Flies are parasitic on certain earthworms.

Control: Complete control of Cluster Flies is almost impossible since the overwintering adults are concealed in walls, attics, etc. When possible, cover the louver to the attic with screen and use a caulking compound to seal openings to the outside. Adults are sluggish enough in the winter to be picked up with a vacuum cleaner. It is probably not practical to attempt to control the host of Cluster Flies - earthworms in the ground around the house. Earthworms are important to soil, and Cluster Flies would simply come from surrounding areas. Chemical control should be concentrated in the home where the adults hibernate. Timing is the most important factor. Application should be made in the first two weeks of August.

Interesting Facts: These flies appear during late autumn, winter, and early spring at windows and in rooms not frequently used. When crushed, they leave a greasy spot on upholstery, carpets and wood surfaces.