Pest Identification: Pest ID: Cluster Flies

The adult cluster fly will enter into homes to over winter. In suburbs, older country homes become more vulnerable to the invasion. As the winter warms into spring, these large sluggish flies appear mostly around windows to look for a lighted escape route. They enter your living quarters through window rope pulley holes, overhead lighting, vents, and access points from your attic. Large gatherings (clusters) can be seen on the sunny side of your house during the warm days of spring. These flies are of no immediate threat to humans.

The eggs are laid in the soil and hatch in three days. The newly emerged larvae (maggot) will penetrate earthworms and feed for 13-22 days and then pupate. The pupae stage is 11-14 days before adulthood. Control of these insects begins with preventing entry by interior caulking and physical barriers such as insect screening. Insect light traps can help control and catch the adults. Rarely is professional spraying necessary as these insects do not live very long indoors. This is a pest problem you can anticipate each year, however with the proper procedures mentioned above alleviation is possible.

Cluster Flies are considered an Occasional Invader, the best time to treat for them is early Fall (mid-August to early September) with our Fall Invader Program. Once they get in, they are in. Please call Ford's Hometown Services for a quote at 800-649-9992.

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