In the fall, cluster flies are a particular nuisance to residents of New York. Also known as attic flies or buckwheat flies, cluster flies invade New York homes searching for a warm winter location. Before you find cluster flies in the house all of a sudden, find out more about these pests and how to keep them away. BHB Pest Elimination provides reliable pest control in New York to get rid of cluster flies in your home.
About Cluster Flies In New York
Although cluster flies may look like house flies, there are differences, such as:
- Larger body than a housefly
- Greyish with black markings
- Yellow hairs on the thorax
- Golden sheen appearance
Unlike other types of flies, cluster flies do not reproduce when sheltering in your home; instead, female cluster flies deposit their eggs in the soil outside the house when they exit the home in the spring. Areas favorable for cluster fly eggs are gardens and plants used for landscaping. A condition conducive to reproduction is a high amount of summer rainfall. If the summer was dry, the cluster fly population is smaller when compared to summers with high amounts of rain.
What Could Be Attracting Cluster Flies?
Flies cannot survive the frigid outdoor weather in New York. Unlike other common types of flies, cluster flies possess an instinct for finding shelter. When they are outside for the summer, they shelter in tree hollows.
Later, as the weather begins to cool, cluster flies instinctively seek warm spaces in homes such as:
- Attics
- Subflooring
- Voids in walls
- Space between screens and windows
As the temperature begins to cool, the cluster flies will bask in the sun on the warmest exterior side of the home. When the outdoor temperature cools, they relocate into the house through open doors, holes in screens, cracks, and crevices. When in the home, cluster flies seek locations to hibernate for the winter. Favorite locations include under insulation, inside walls, in cracks and crevices, and in vents. Cluster flies leave homes when spring begins to arrive.
What To Do If You Suspect You Have a Fly Infestation
Unlike the common house fly, cluster flies do not feed on decaying food. Since they do not thrive in unsanitary conditions or feed on rotten food, they are not known to carry diseases. Cluster flies do not bite or sting. Their excrement may leave small dark spots on walls and windows, but they will not damage your home.
The potential for a cluster fly invasion is likely following a wet summer season. The best way to prevent a cluster fly infestation is to prepare before the cooler temperature arrives.
Here are some prevention ideas:
- Keep the doors to your home closed.
- Repair holes in screens in doors and windows.
- Seal cracks and crevices that flies may use to access the inside of your home.
If cluster flies have infested your home, you can seek to reduce the population by vacuuming in cracks in the walls and between screens and windows. Cluster flies hibernate under insulation and inside walls, making it difficult to eliminate them once they are in the house. The best solution is to secure the services of our professional team at BHB Pest Elimination.
Total Cluster Fly Control Programs For New York Residents
The best way to get rid of cluster flies is with the help of the licensed professional team at BHB Pest Elimination. Our experts know where to find hibernating cluster flies. We use the safest and best home pest control and commercial pest control treatments available and will apply appropriate treatments in hard-to-reach places. Reach out to us today to get rid of cluster flies in your New York home.