Light and dark gray checkered abdomens.
Attic flies spring.
Apply insecticide to the outside of your attic to prevent flies from coming in.
Cluster or attic flies are the genus pollenia in the blowfly family calliphoridae.
Do this in the summer or early fall at the latest.
The result has been a greater than normal abundance of these large black pesky flies in houses this winter.
Adults measure 8 to 10 millimeters.
If the springs are in bad shape it may be wise to use a stepladder instead of the attic ladder to climb up.
This is the same family to which bottle or blow flies belong.
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.
Step 2 shut the attic door once you and your partner are in the attic.
Cluster flies also known as attic flies are household pests.
Appearance what do they look like.
As much as possible seal cracks and openings around the outside of the house especially under the eaves as you would for energy conservation.
The grass flies or cluster flies or attic flies are the genus pollenia in the family polleniidae are completely harmless to human health.
The tendency of clustering in large numbers inside attics.
Spray as best you can around your roof chimney eves ventilation holes etc.
The females lay their eggs near earthworm burrows and the larvae then feed on the worms cluster flies seek refuge in cold weather and find their way into attic spaces and similar areas indoors.
They are strictly parasitic on earthworms.
Cluster flies are also known as attic flies this name describes its characteristics very well i e.
Cluster fly image licensed under cc.
Unlike more familiar blow flies such as the bluebottle genus phormia they do not present a health hazard because they do not lay eggs in human food.
The thorax of an adult cluster fly is covered in short golden hairs and the wings overlap when at rest.
Last summer s abundant rainfall was favorable for development of cluster flies.
Overwintering insects generally stay in secluded areas until the warming and lengthening days of spring pull them from hiding.
The springs are most relaxed when the attic ladder is in the stowed position.
Cluster flies cluster.
Attic flies are especially abundant this spring.
Cluster flies facts identification control latin name.
A cluster fly is very much similar to a house fly.
Remember attic flies want to cluster indoors when it starts to get a lot cooler outdoors.
Cluster fly larvae develop inside earthworms living in the ground outside of homes.
Cluster flies come from the calliphoridae family.
Preventing attic flies is a job for the summer and fall.
Insecticides can be used on the outside of the house in mid september if you have a persistent problem with attic flies.
