How To GET RID of Cluster Flies

I noticed a strange smell in our attic space, and then realised we had a HUGE infestation of cluster flies. In this video I will show you how I eliminate them, and explain how and why they can create major problems if they enter your home.

#infested #infestation #loft

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[Umski]

I hadn’t even realised that this sort of fly did what it does sp thanks for the lesson 👍 I had wrongly assumed that they were attracted to dead rodents in our loft space rather than the other way around 😮

[AlanWilliams-qldg]

I had the very same problem in the attic of a 105 year old cottage back in 1994. I sprayed Cuprinol woodworm killer (which I was using at the time) in the air, and shut the hatch. Next day thousands of dead flies. Result. They never returned in the 5 years that I continued living there.

[elchimpo]

Your videos are so entertaining, time just flies right by watching them 🤪

[bridgetcastle]

Thanks Keith! Have this problem - now have a solution!

[dan.w.hoover]

Oh, the glamour of home ownership! Thanks for sharing

[suecox]

I live in a Grade II listed building with extensive attic spaces and a cluster fly population from the local farms. Apparently the best way to eliminate them is to treat your attic spaces twice a year--in the early winter (November) and again in the spring (around April.) This gets the first group as they enter your home to hibernate for the winter, and the second group when they wake up to start their migration outside again.

[jbclassics]

I also had this problem! We had an old slate roof with the lime mortar torching underneath.

We recently replaced the roof, when it was being stripped off you could see the cluster flies inbetween the slates!

No wonder they were difficult to get rid of. The slates and mortar torching was protecting them from the smoke.

Even though we have a new roof we have still been using the smoke bombs. However we do not come across as many as we used too. Just one or two at certain times of the year....

[eggycat]

This video helped me realise what I had to deal with when we bought our house around 6 years ago. We now only get a few every summer returning but originally there were hundreds.

[antking]

Welcome to rural living. I always use these every year. I usually light these and then vacate the house for a good couple of hours.

[athenarocar]

Thank you for showing this. I know its not glamorous to watch and probably film, but I hope someone is able to use the information to solve their problems.

Home ownership is not all fun, especially when you need to deal with the not so fun bits.

I live in rural USA, we had -15°F temps this week and my septic tank froze. It killed all the bacteria in the tank, and no longer pumps. I had the fun task of digging the lids out of frozen ground, for access to fix the dousing tank pump. After 2 days of concrete blankets and a kerosene heater I finally got it dug out. Looking like just a cracked pvc pipe. A few bottles of septic microbs will restart the biological process.

Who tells homeowners that they can expect to do this kind of stuff? And yes, cluster flies are not fun... i have a few hanging around but a fly swatter is enough to take care of them. I recommend hanging a fly tape or 2 in the peaks for help identifying a growing problem or to help control them. No electricity needed and you can leave them up long term.

[danialsturge]

Thank you for this video! We bought a house last summer and realised it was a cluster fly haven come autumn.

We spent some time today cleaning up hundreds of flies in our loft after using two of the smoke bombs you suggested. We’ve set off another two to leave longer to mop up the rest.

The same company also sell foggers - so no flame - which we’re going to try next time. They also sell a spray version, which might be useful for spraying the areas they’re entering (and escaping). Ours congregate around windows too, so intend on using the spray there.

[box.]

We get 100s of these in our caravan which is permanently sited on a farm right next to a cow field. Think ill try these bombs as I think they are cluster flies. Thanks for the advice 👍

[richardelsdon]

I’ve had these. A 1900’s house with slate roof and no backing. Bombarded the loft with serious fly spray. We had THOUSANDS! Literal bucket fulls. If you kill them all there are no generations to return, so you’ll only get odd random new visitors. After 5 or 6 years we find a few dozen in the Xmas decorations or anything stored up there. But harmless as you say, they fly away when brought into the house.

[Wordsnwood]

I'm trying to think of a "Lord Of The Flies" joke, but I feel like I'm buzzing around in circles.

[andyc]

Thanks Keith, sorry that you had this to deal with, not something I'd come across, but good to know, I've used smoke bombs for greenhouse pests before and they are very effective ! We are like you in a rural setting so will be keeping an eye out for this, as you say it's very hard to entirely seal your property even assuming you want to !

[liliofthewest]

Love the Mickey and Hazel inserts White you explain the issue ❤❤😂

[darrenmackenzie]

I always remember as an apprentice I was in a old farm house and had to go into a tiny loft space and the light that shines into the loft I could see the loft ceiling was a glossy shimmering of flys... It was something from a horror movie

[malibugrove]

I love the look given at 1:51. Oh so that's my job is it?

[mattwall]

We moved into a new house and it had been empty 2 years cluster flies in the loft I had the guy come out with single shot insect killer (that you can buy on Amazon) £50 later worked a bit but still loads then done the smoke bomb method twice loads more dead. Hoovered for a day got thousands. But they did come back but not as many so I put loads of fly strips hanging from the rafters. Need to check see how they did.

Watching your video was funny as I done exactly what you done with the baking tray glad it's not just me having this problem.

Great video keep up the good work 👍

[straylightcb]

We had cluster flies in our home in rural Italy. After clearing, we left flypapers up, and they seem to manage the issue. Although unsightly, it is not like you decorate the loft for company.