Invasion of the Flies

This past week we have been overwhelmed with flies. Not a couple of flies, but a dozen or two dozen a day. I get rid of some, and more appear.

So here's the question: Where are they coming from?

I don't think they are getting in through open windows and doors, because there are so many. Are they hatching out of some piece of food? Wouldn't I be seeing maggots? Eeeww, gross, yuck, disgusting... but they have to be coming from somewhere???

We don't have rotting food laying around but I am open to the possibility that something is causing this. What should I be looking for?? Any thoughts??

This happened to me last summer--by the fall it was terrible...I never figured out the source, just assumed a couple got in and then multiplied as nature intended. It was vile. Had to bomb the house. So far, knock on wood, it hasn't repeated but I've put fly strips in front of the door to the deck and quickly destroyed anything that got in the house. Fingers crossed that continues to do the trick. It might help to figure out what they are--if they're fruit flies, there are a lot of suggestions on line for getting rid of them.

Not fruit flies, those are very small. These are medium sized.

So far the best way to get rid of them has been to open the door on the back porch and let them collect on the screen, then open the screen and shoo them out, five or six or eight at a time.

But more seem to arrive, there seems to be a constant presence of a dozen or more every day.

This happened to us about four years ago... a sudden explosion of flies. Thankfully, they were confined to the basement. It was easier to deal with in the basement, but I suspect the same method would work at night. I got three of those tall, long, triangular flypaper traps -- the ones with glue on three sides -- hung them surrounding a really bright light bulb, and eliminated all other light. Then I'd pop in periodically and rotate them as the sides nearest the bulb filled up (there... um... were a lot of flies). In less than a week, I caught over 150 flies and completely eliminated them.

At the time, I think I read that the maggots can migrate 100 feet or more before hatching. My understanding was that if they found a route, they could be coming in from the outside, for all you know. I suspect that was the case for us, as we had one of those stairwell doors in the basement that opened directly onto the front sidewalk, and in Baltimore all the trash went on the front curb on garbage day.

If you have any kind of a problem with pesky varmints, that could explain it. A dead mouse or chipmunk behind a wall or in the ceiling can birth a lot of flies over a week or 2 period. The good thing is that if they cant find another carcass they will tend to die out. I once had a dead chipmunk in my garage, and I am not sure how I didnt notice the smell earlier, but it was the flies that alerted me to the problem. It only takes 1 to get to the carcass to make a lot of flies later.

-Will

OMG, Will, that's disgusting. But I also suspect it could be the answer. Yuuuccckk!

There could very easily be a dead mouse in the garage-- and the door to the garage is not tight. And it's right next to the kitchen, which is where the flies are, except for the ones that are trying to escape outside, and have gone to the sun porch. Where I have been pretty successful at shooing them out the door -- they land on the screen, and every half hour or so, I open the screen door and shoo three or four more flies out (this morning, it was six at a time).

Two weeks?? Maybe I can put tape around the edge of the garage door into the kitchen. I'm sure there must also be entries through the walls, but if the dead mouse is in the garage, that would at least slow them down.

Possible of course that the dead critter is in the walls.

Still, I feel a lot better having an explanation that does not involve food being infested.

Dmkly, I've been thinking about that sticky flypaper. If they persist, I will invest in some. Way better than using chemicals, although I will have to get my husband to remove it, because it is sooooo grossss.

Judy H wrote:...although I will have to get my husband to remove it, because it is sooooo grossss.

Yes. Yes it is. *shudder*

I have noticed an increase in fruit flies or gnats, as well as the mid-sized pests. Several other people have also commented on it, and a couple of them are compulsive neat-freaks, so I know it is not a sanitation related issue. I wonder if the odd weather we have had this year contributed to an abundance of insects?

Medium-sized flies might also be drain flies. Try pouring bleach down all your drains and letting it sit a bit before flushing.

Had an infestation in the basement last year. It was a horror. It ended with the bleach down all the drains trick. These were darn close to horsefly size.

I used the sticky flypaper and then cranked up the AC (ha- evolve you cold blooded mofos) then there was a grim pursuit with an old Golf Digest. My lil daughter developed quite the bloodlust - "Kill them Daddy, kill them!"

I had a problem with flies last year. I taped Tomcat brand mouse glue traps to my windows and caught them. Other brands didn't work but they seemed to be attracted to these. They're pretty cheap at Menard's.

d4v3 wrote:I have noticed an increase in fruit flies or gnats, as well as the mid-sized pests. Several other people have also commented on it, and a couple of them are compulsive neat-freaks, so I know it is not a sanitation related issue. I wonder if the odd weather we have had this year contributed to an abundance of insects?

HI,

This thought was affirmed on a radio broadcast I heard. Insects are seeking the indoors for a cooler environment and water.

Regards,

A trick I learned for killing fruit flies is to pour some red wine on a plate and leave it on the kitchen counter. For some reason, the flies are attracted to the wine and drown, which is weird since they don't drown in water. Maybe they get too drunk to fly.

Cathy2 wrote: Insects are seeking the indoors for a cooler environment and water. Regards,

This is perhaps true of rodents also. A couple of weeks ago we found a squirrel had eaten through a second floor window screen (accessed via the gutter) and was trying to make his way through the window frame and into the house. I was thankful the window was closed, threw out the screen and put down the storm window.

Squirrels must die!

Fly season is just about over. But I have found this on the internet.

Fly repellent for the outside

Mix equal parts of vinegar, water, and pinesol, with a squirt of dawn dish soap and spray on things to keep flies away.

I also saw a mouse in my garage yesterday. Now is the time for them to try to come inside due to the colder weather. Now is also the time to arm yourself
against them invading your home. I've put a mouse bait trap out already.

Judy H

Did you ever find an answer?

I ask because we have had a similar problem. We are also in Evanston