Flipping Flies!!!

We are plagued by flies and crane flies in the summer.
I got my DH a Bug Assault for Christmas, so he’s happy shooting at the things. Uses table salt for ammo and really effective. Not exactly cheap but a lot of fun.
YouTube have videos.

It might be an idea to see if your neighbours have the same problem. Round here there was a noticeable increase a few years ago so our local councillors got on the case and it proved to be because of a local water treatment works. He raised it with them and they were required to do something to prevent the invasion. Whatever they did worked, though they do need a sharp reminder every summer

Every year we hang up a Red Top fly trap in the garden and it works like a dream. Ok it gets very smelly and has to be replaced a couple of times but wouldn’t be without one of these. We live directly opposite a farm and were plagued with flies when we first moved in. A Red Top, fly screen on the door and fly zapper keep things under control!

www.redtop-flytraps.com/

What kind of windows do you have? Can you fit fly screens?

Make sure indoor rubbish bins have tight-fitting lids and are emptied and washed daily. Keep all food covered. Put food out for domestic pets at the times you expect them to be hungry and remove anything that is not eaten. You can be sure that the animal will come and ask for food when it does want to eat.

Make sure that compost and other garden waste is kept covered.

Surely, you don't mean that visitors are rude enough to decide that your house needs to be aired? I would give very short shrift to anyone who left a door opened tht I had asked them to keep closed.

I know it sounds weird but it works for us, we always have the doors open in summer.
Sliced cucumber is my answer 😉
I have a couple of small dishes in the kitchen and a couple in the lounge (4 slices on each) and NO flies 🪰
Give it a go you have nothing to lose 🤞

My DS & DDiL have millions flitting about their kitchen & lounge. I donated the splat racquet I bought on Amazon to kill the really huge spiders I get every year. With arthritic hands couldnt use it properly apart from one humungous spider I found on my bed-Yeuk- hate them with a passion. Works so well they bought another one & I am still using spider catchers to evict the nasty 8 legs.

I have fields of suckler cows on two sides of the garden but only a few pesky flies around the house. I often leave doors and windows open. The pesky ones generally get fooled by the ‘advanced fly trap window sticker’ from rentokil … very sticky 10cm clear plastic square with large yellow flower 🌼 poison free and no dangling 😊 Swop for a fresh one when disgusting because a bit pricey usually. I was lucky to get a load when Homebase did huge reductions when they closed.

Horrible, grew up on a small farm with cows, pigs and chickens and the house swarmed with flies! However, currently in Scotland and the midge season has kicked off early with a big bang, 100 times worse, resorted to wearing a veiled hat at times.

Edinburgh, Scotland. I buy bananas & keep them well wrapped in a plastic bread bag in the kitchen, but the wee flies know I have bananas as they suddenly appear on walls & ceiling in their hundreds no matter what time of year. I have to wear my hat in the kitchen as they get in my hair & bite. Every time I go in there I swat loads with a towel. They don't come from the bananas as there are none inside the bag, how do so many get in? My doors & windows are usually closed.

Does anyone know if Venus Flytraps actually work? And if so, what special treatment do they require?
The flies are driving me bonkers now, I`m scared of trying to prepare any food because they keep landing on it. My language is getting bluer by the minute!!

ViceVersa

What baffles me is how they can get in through the tiniest of spaces, but can't get back out again even if you open the windows wide!

There's always a possibility that a fly has already got in to the house and laid eggs. These go through their life cycle and become flies inside the house. That's why they can't find their way out....they never found their way in!!

Flies hate shiny reflective things because they have very sensitive eyes. I have metal wind catchers outside my back door (they never come in the front!) and it seems to work well for me.
Put them up years ago and have been fly free ever since. If any do get it I zap them with a small cotton cloth although you have to aim with purpose and speed!

“Raid” fly spray really does work and seems to have quite long lasting effect, at least in my house it does! I have found other fly sprays are just a waste of money!

Unigran4

ViceVersa

What baffles me is how they can get in through the tiniest of spaces, but can't get back out again even if you open the windows wide!

There's always a possibility that a fly has already got in to the house and laid eggs. These go through their life cycle and become flies inside the house. That's why they can't find their way out....they never found their way in!!

No, these ones are definitely coming from outside.

I have to say swatting flies with tea towels really disgusts me!

David49

After a few years with few insects they seem to be back in force this year, aphids are very numerous, car windscreen is covered. We also have more house flies than usual, not too many wasps yet but very early for them.

I agree about the aphids, we need a plague of ladybirds like what happened in 1976!

(I don't mean it, but just a few would help)

ViceVersa

What baffles me is how they can get in through the tiniest of spaces, but can't get back out again even if you open the windows wide!

🤣

Small hand held vacuum cleaner sucks up live and dead ones

Raid works if aimed well, but I don`t like to use it when the cat is in the room.

Fly screens on windows and doors? Standard issue here.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202505/medium-g09rrt-img-9709.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202505/medium-amfjfb-image.jpg

Here is a recipe I found for shoofly pie

Macadia

ViceVersa

What baffles me is how they can get in through the tiniest of spaces, but can't get back out again even if you open the windows wide!

🤣

They lay eggs in window crevices/ lofts when the windows are open. Then theses hatch out later.

I am currently using a citronella reed diffuser that I got in LIDL. It’s been so good that I went out and bought a couple more. The lemon balm room refresher spray from Dunelm (their own brand) sprayed liberally around also seems to deter them, along with horsefly spray. We always have a problem with flies due to living in a very old cottage and having dogs.

Last night I was shoving a aah! Bisto Classic Bangers & Mash in the microwave for 9 minutes, when it was done I opened the door and as I took it out a flying beastie actually tried landing on it! Thankfully I still had the plastic film over it, I'm not having it scoffing my bangers!

''Listen here, fly! I've worked mightily hard doing a grueling 16 hour work shift to get the cash to pay £2.50 for a pack of bangers, mash, peas and gravy and I'm not having you, that's contributed nothing at all to my household, mugging me for it so buzz off, freak!''

Then in bed last night there was a HUGE one, extremely loud, built like a Antonov An-225 Mriya plane physically buzzed my face and head 3 times in seconds! I screamed and was absolutely hysterical! I ran to the kitchen where I keep my tin of Raid and shot back to the bedroom but the demonic ratbag was gone! I would have LOVED to have Raided it to death ... and beyond!

Don't dust; leave the cobwebs in situ and let the spiders do their job!!! Works for me - fairly fly free! It is fascinating watching a spider wrapping its web around a fly - it really is.