They can sit anywhere; your food, clothes, face, hands etc. Although cluster flies don’t pose a direct health risk to humans, they can be an annoyance. However, our warm, weatherproof and protected homes are particularly inviting to them. Cluster flies, also known as attic flies, are household pests.. Cluster flies are common in the loft and attic spaces of homes and business premises. Adult cluster flies live out of doors in the summer but seek refuge (usually loft spaces) in the autumn to hibernate, sometimes in vast numbers to emerge in t… Cluster flies are not just limited to infesting homes, they re also known to infest business premises and cause a lot of damage to the business reputation. A Cluster fly is very much similar to a house fly. Although often confused at first glance with the standard house fly, cluster flies are actually considered less dangerous to humans because they do not lay eggs in human food. Cluster flies are unique because they are parasites of earthworms. However, a large gathering of cluster flies near a window or on a warm indoor wall can still make for an annoying and messy intrusion, and building owners do well to keep cluster flies from setting up shop where they don’t belong. Rentokil Pest Control is Ireland's longest-established, best known and most trusted pest control service provider. The name cluster fly or loft-fly, which comes from the Northern Hemisphere, refers to Pollenia rudis Fabricius, and P. pseudorudis that are parasitic on four species of earthworms. Camberley. House flies and diseases: How to get rid of house flies, Reply to amol to amol joshi" aria-label=', Reply to Rentokil to Rentokil IE" aria-label='. © 2020 JP Pest Services. You may need the help of an experienced pest professional to adequately identify address hard-to-find openings to keep flies out for good moving forward. Body: Light and dark gray-checkered abdomens. Pollenia. Once that window of opportunity has passed, it might be difficult to do an effective treatment. The larvae seek out and parasitise earthworms which are eventually killed. Cluster Flies: The mild Autumn has lead to Cluster Fly pest control problems being extended (we were getting our first Cluster Fly pest control enquiries and jobs in September). Cluster flies are most common along the northern part of the US and in other countries around the world. 3,500+ employees They breed in soil and host on earthworms during the larva stage of their development. The thorax of an adult cluster fly is covered in short, golden hairs and the wings overlap when at rest. They usually enter through gaps in roofs, attics, and eaves, and settle in warm, sun-facing spaces. If you notice this pesky pest in your office or building, contact our pest management experts at JP Pest Services and we can work to make sure your autumn is fly-free for months to come. But for one particularly troublesome fall invader, this strategy carries exceptionally well right out of summer and into the colder autumn and winter months: the cluster fly. Most cluster flies first start to appear during late August and early September, and by the time the leaves start to change color they’re in the market for one thing and one thing only: warmth. Because of what they feed on, these flies can carry and spread disease. Viewing 8 posts - 1 through … All Rights Reserved. Tidiness and cleanliness are vital allies in the battle against flies: If an infestation has already occurred, you need to take immediate action. A secondary issue with cluster flies is that if they die in areas such as wall voids or false ceilings, they may attract other pests such as larder beetles, which are known as stored product insects (SPIs). White River Junction, VT 05001. In autumn, adult cluster flies will begin to seek out overwintering sites. What are cluster flies? Cluster flies can be distinguished from common house flies by their relatively sluggish flight patterns and distinctive coloring, as well as the small amounts of excrement or waste they might leave behind on whatever surface they’ve gathered on. Cluster flies are very similar in looks to house flies, but they have a longer body and a yellow sheen on the thorax. Their abundance varies from year to year, possibly in relation to the amount of rainfall through the summer. They enter through cracks and crevices. Those large flies in your home in winter are probably cluster flies, which overwinter in the protected areas between the inside and outside walls of your home, or in the attic or basement. So how can you get rid of cluster flies in the house? In summer they lay eggs in cracks in the soil and maggots enter earthworm hosts through the body wall. They are unpleasant indeed and might spread disease. The large, black, pesky flies that show up in bed rooms and on window sills from late fall through early spring are a common household pest. Here’s a look at what property owners and business professionals can expect from a cluster fly infestation, and what you can do to keep your building safe from the scourge straight through until spring and beyond. Cluster Fly image licensed under CC. You are likely to need the help of a professional pest controller, who can use treatments such as residual sprays to target all active flies and others as they emerge from hibernation. They will appear inside homes to overwinter only during the cool fall, winter or spring months. This warm weather means that the Cluster Flies are coming out of the hibernation sites … This article will help you identify and understand everything you need to know about cluster flies and what are the top remedies to get rid of them. The cluster fly is often considered a parasite of earthworms and breeds outdoors in fields and lawns during spring and summer. Although many cluster fly colonies will seek out the solitude of a quiet corner for their home base, it’s not uncommon to find several gathered indoors by a sunny window on a cold winter day. They travel in packs and live in groups, hence the name. Fill in the form below and we will be in touch soon, I want to receive marketing communications from Rentokil (you can change your preferences at any time). They can also stain fabrics and walls. Cluster flies pose a particular problem for home or business because they could contaminate the food or spread diseases. 41 Brigham St. Unit 16 Asian Giant Hornets in the US: Here’s the Scoop from the Pros. They are strictly parasitic on earthworms; the females lay their eggs near earthworm burrows, and the larvae then feed on the worms.Cluster flies seek refuge in cold weather and find their way into attic spaces and similar areas indoors. Although flies can be a nuisance at most times of the year, cluster flies tend to become most problematic as autumn turns into winter. The warmth generated here means that flies are naturally drawn into these cavities and voids, particularly during the months of October and November, where they congregate in groups or clusters. West and south facing buildings, with large, open lawns, exposed to more sunlight, are especially attractive to cluster flies. Another common suspect, often confused for a housefly, is the cluster … While not much of a threat to human health, cluster flies can be an annoying and unsanitary addition to your indoor space during the fall and winter seasons. They can live together in groups of hundreds to thousands. Otherwise, you could face reputational damage if customers see flies swarming around your premises. They do not transmit disease. Cluster flies are named for the way they tend to hibernate or “cluster” together in groups while overwintering in wall voids or attics during the colder months. It is important that you correctly identify the source of the cluster fly infestation before you decide the correct course of action. These flies are known as cluster flies, a name that describes their habit of clustering in large numbers inside attics. Retail Risks 2021: What Are The Main Causes? Although flies can be a nuisance at most times of the year, cluster flies tend to become most problematic as autumn turns into winter. The cluster fly is seeking warm sites with protective cracks for shelter, crawling back as far as they can get. The Cluster Buster is a type of fly trap to get rid of cluster flies that is absolutely eco-friendly. We lead the way in developing innovative, environmentally friendly and sensitive pest control solutions for the detection, prevention and elimination of troublesome pests. Cluster flies come from the ‘Calliphoridae’ family. Appearance What Do They Look Like? The eyes of the most common cluster fly (Pollenia rudis) are a deep red. House-fly diseases: what you need to know, How to Protect Your Car from Rats and Mice, How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies? Cluster Fly Season. Small, black with a checkerboard abdomen, and with wings that overlap almost completely, cluster flies are a regular of a nuisance to gardeners for their parasitic taste for earthworms. There’s an old bit of wisdom that says there is strength in numbers - and for flies of all sizes, the numbers game plays a huge role in their continued success. It is adviseable to clear up dead flies where practical. You can also apply a residual pyrethroid-based insecticide such as Suspend SC or Demon WP on the exterior of the building in late August or early September, right before adult cluster flies show up. Eggs are laid in damp soil and rotting vegetation and hatch in approximately 7 days. Cluster flies are actually a parasite of earthworms and thrive in areas where there is fertile soil. There are two or three generations of flies produced each year. Autumn has arrived and with that comes the cluster fly season. Learn how your comment data is processed. Historically cluster flies would hibernate in hollow trees, under loose bark or other dry sheltered areas. But if you see flies in the spring, you can also get rid of them with insecticides. Rentokil Pest Control Ireland offers highly innovative solutions for businesses to get rid of flies. In early summer, be sure all your suspect cracks are sealed up. 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