flies in loft

[Anonymous]

We use our loft rooms regularly and they are heated and cleaned but whatever we try, sealing cracks etc, we have a problem with flies appearing, as if from nowhere, particularly at this time of year. We think they are cluster flies and as we are not prepared to use chemical treatments, we are at a loss as to know what to do. Is there anyone out there who has shared this problem?

 

[Anonymous]

Joan, I'm pretty certain that we've had a thread on this topic not very long ago. A site search may well prove fruitful.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply Moo but I can't find any reference to flies at all.....I'm not too competent with computers so that's probably why. Can you remember any suggestions re the dreaded creatures?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, Joan - mind like a sieve and all that. But I'm relying on the razor-sharp minds of the rest of the posters to point you in the right direction.

 

[Anonymous]

I've done a site search going back 16 weeks and I can't find anything useful for you.

Frankly, if you want to get rid of these flies, I think you're going to have to put aside your dislike of chemicals. You'll never be able to "seal" the room sufficient to keep them out physically, so the only solution is to use fly killers to massacre the little bu**ers. It's a choice between one unpleasantness or the other, I'm afraid.

 

[Anonymous]

Ugh! spontaneously appearing flies! Read M R James' "The Residence at Whitminster", then think carefully before doing anything at all about them ;o)

"'I wish, Spearman, you'd listen to an odd story and keep a close tongue about it just for a bit, till I get more light on it.'
'To be sure,' said I, 'you may count on me.'
'I don't know what to make of it,' he said. 'You know my bedroom. It is well away from everyone else's, and I pass through the great hall and two or three other rooms to get to it.'
'Is it at the end next the minster, then?' I asked.
'Yes, it is: well, now, yesterday morning my Mary told me that the room next before it was infested with some sort of fly that the housekeeper couldn't get rid of.' "

 

[Anonymous]

or try one of those fly killer lights which you can get for £15-20.

Although its probably not for the energy conscious amongst us

 

[Anonymous]

Well it were only a dead pigeon that was the cause of my flies --- I'm pretty sure twas nothing more .........

 

[Anonymous]

... but I distinctly remember something to do with flies. I'll do some searching right now, if only to prove Mr Penrose right yet again.

 

[Anonymous]

There is a traditional solution of course, very natural and PC - spiders!

 

[Anonymous]

The internationally approved biological control agent for flies is... Muscovy ducks! (As an example, see http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+1-10/Footsteps+10/Tips+from+around+the+world.htm ). I've read scientific papers on the impact that these birds can have on farmyard fly populations.

I've not looked for it but I would agree that this topic has been covered several times over the last couple of years on the forum.

 

[Anonymous]

[No message]

 

[Anonymous]

From August '04:

Re: house fly problem
david ernest -- 26/8/2004 at 14:51:53

Hi
Last year I obtianed some good advice from this web site and previous correspondence. Not sure that they are the same, but diagnosed as a type of cluster fly . In practcie can only control them not totally eliminate them, But following advice bought a couple of units called "cluster buster", it seems to do the trick in that they attract, trap and eliminate the flies, can take a couple of hundred each unit and then just throw them away. About £12 each. They seems to do the trick. Locate by typing in cluster buster in google.
Another option is to use a special type of electric unit that gives off a light that attracts the flies, and zaps them. Butchers use t hem etc, but beware the light source needs changing every six months. There are domestic versions around, saw one advertised in the times c couple of weeks ago.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Worms. That's the message I was thinking of. You're now cast as Fairy Godmother, and I'll be the pumpkin.

 

[Anonymous]

Joan - Worms has found the message we were looking for.

 

[Anonymous]

Good grief! Flies, Muscovy Ducks and now Worms!

I bet Noah didn't have all this trouble.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the advice....the Cluster Busters have been ordered. I'll keep you posted.....