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THE CLUSTER FLY
 

Flies > Fly Control Products

 

  cluster fly

IDENTIFYING THE CLUSTER FLY

 

 

 

 

The cluster fly averages between 1/4 to 3/8 inch long. They are dark gray, never metallic blue or green. When crushed, they give off an odor like buckwheat honey. Cluster flies closely resemble house flies, but they are usually larger and have a yellowish sheen on the thorax.




BIOLOGY AND HABITS OF THE CLUSTER FLY

 

The cluster fly is a parasite of earthworms and breeds outdoors in lawns and fields during the spring and summer. You can find cluster flies almost everywhere in the United States and Canada, except for the Southern states bordering the Gulf of Mexico.

Female Cluster Flies lay their eggs in cracks in the soil, which hatch in three days. The larvae use earthworms as a food source. The larvae feed for about 22 days. After that, they go into the pupae stage, which lasts 11-14 days before emerging as adults. Adult flies feed on flowers. There are about four generations hatched per summer.

When fall approaches, the cluster flies begin to enter structures in large numbers. Problems with cluster flies begin in late August as they move to winter quarters to over-winter. The cluster fly is seeking warm sites with protective cracks for shelter, crawling back as far as they can get. It is important to consider treatment before this happens.

Cluster flies have been known to squeeze around the edges of windows that are weather-proofed. As the number of cluster flies attracted to the building increases, large clusters of flies huddle inside wall voids, attics, and false ceilings. Most infestations occur in the upper regions of a buildings, such as the attics of homes. In multi-story buildings, the cluster flies can be found in the upper two or three floors, and almost always of the south and west sides of the buildings.

If you have unseasonably warm weather in the late fall or winter, the cluster fly may emerge thinking it is spring, going for the warmer air outside. Cluster flies fly very slowly when they just wake up. They are strongly attracted to light, so they are usually found around windows. At night they are attracted to lamps.



CLUSTER FLY INSPECTION

 

Check around windows for live or dead flies. If you can find the voids in which they are over-wintering, you can treat the voids with a dust or aerosol, but that is not an easy task. In most cases, the voids can't be located.

 

To locate the voids, start with an inspection of cracks and crevices on the southern and western exterior walls. Usually the only accessible voids are the attics, crawlspaces and false ceilings.




 

CONTROL MEASURES: GET RID OF CLUSTER FLIES

Cluster fly problems can be partially prevented, but after the fall little can be done. All of those currently found within the home had infiltrated walls months ago. A "mini-vac" is the best control of the individual flies that are currently present.

If this is not successful an aerosol like CB-80 pryethrum contact aerosol can be used. Spray lightly and repeat spray as needed.

Electronic fly traps for residential and commercial use can be found at FLY CONTROL.

Late August and early September are the times to use a good residual spray like Suspend or Demon WP,spraying the outside walls of the building where cluster flies are likely to land and rest before entering the building.

These residual insecticides are applied outdoors to window frames, door frames, soffits and eaves as well as any other areas that are vulnerable to entry.

Application of to the surrounding soil may also help minimize Cluster Fly populations and later entry.

Recommended also would be a dust like Delta Dust, dusted into cracks that have not been sealed, allowing the dust to flow back into the void areas.Thoroughly caulking all exterior cracks on the sun-exposed sides (south and west) is very important.

 

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