In the late winter or early spring, adult cluster flies (pollenia rudis f. ) will ‘magically’ appear in windows, in light fixtures or on ceilings of brightly lit rooms. They are considered a nuisance because they appear indoors in large numbers, particularly during the fall and winter months. · cluster fly larvae or maggot are parasites of earthworms. These flies normally live outdoors and are most likely to appear in the spring and fall. They often emerge on warm days, and cluster at windows attempting to exit (hence the name). Overwintering insects generally stay in secluded areas until the warming and lengthening days of spring pull them from hiding. Caulk or otherwise fill all cracks and crevices in the homes structure, including: In old specimens, these can be rubbed off. There are numerous short crinkly golden hairs on the sides of the thorax. Pesticides have limited effectiveness in control of these flying insects. Also take care to ensure all doors and windows are tightly fitted, and repair any holes in window screens. This makes managing breeding sites an unlikely control option since earthworms are almost everywhere. Once cluster flies enter a building, to harbor within the walls or buzz around the rooms, control methods are limited. Thus, the keys to cluster fly control are exclusion and prevention. Cluster flies dont cause much of a problem beyond annoyance. But overwintering cluster flies can emerge into homes and build throughout the winter as well as spring and fall. · the cluster fly is one of several species of insects that enter homes in late summer and early fall in search of protected sites in which to spend the winter. They are not known to transmit disease or damage structures, and they do not reproduce after emerging into the home. · a cluster fly (pollenia rudis) is a common pest that frequently invades homes as the weather cools. However, they can leave tiny dots of excrement where they cluster, and large numbers can be a significant nuisance within a home. The cluster fly can be distinguished from the house fly in several ways: The cluster fly is dark gray to almost black with a checkered grayish abdomen. The flies are frequently reported as ‘big house flies’ that are slow, lethargic and easy to swat and kill. However, some control can be achieved by a professional application of an insecticide to the south-facing (sun-warmed) side of the structure before the flies begin to cluster on the walls in early fall. 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. Although insecticides can kill the flies harboring within walls, large numbers of dead or dying flies can attract secondary pests such as beetles and rodents. The fly is a sluggish flyer, buzzing loudly while flying aimlessly in concentric circles in buildings. Cluster flies resemble the common house fly but differ in that they have a patch of yellow hairs under their wings. For ongoing pre. But all too often, overwintering c. Maintain the home in good condition and implement pest-proofing procedures. See full list on thespruce. com An application of pesticide dust in wall voids can help to kill the flies. How do you know if the winter fly is a cluster fly or some other large fly ? Cluster flies seek refuge in cold weather and find their way into attic spaces and similar areas indoors. The adults seek overwintering sites indoors (attics, wall voids, etc. ) making them a nuisance pest.
