Another fly problem

[Freakuk]

It's that time of year in the Freak household.

We live in a converted barn, on one side we have a series of skylights (Velux) and hundreds of flies seemingly collect between the frame and where the skylight closes, they lay dormant and it's only when you open the window the rooms end up full of dopey flies, we end up hoovering them up mainly as although still alive they fall to the floor for a few seconds before they take flight.

I then proceed to poke my head out of the skylight and lash the outside of the frame with fly spray to hopefully deter any further visitors, you can hear then somehow in the plastic frame buzzing away as I frantically spray the stuff.

This however is a very temporary fix, and within a week or so it becomes rinse and repeat. Is there something that I can apply to the frame that will preferably stop them nesting here rather than kill them, or as a worst case is there something I can apply that will kill them.

[RoamingBull]

Snap!
We also live in a rural area in a barn conversion.

Cluster flies that’s your problem. It’s been a pretty bad year for them.

Not much you can do at hope the temps drop off sharply. Dry sunny weather and have a look on your exterior walls. They live a sunny side.

They are like Salmon and come back every year. Last year wasn’t too bad.
This year most folk near us have spoken of Cluster woe

[AndyTR]

We used to have the same problem at our farm house. Open the windows and spray the frame with Ardap every couple of months and you should remove the issue completely. Spray it on close up so you have a thin film and then close the windows, one can should last 2-3 years.

[ARH]

After 13 years of living with cluster files the only answer is to vacuum them up. After a few years of vacuuming them up your infestations will become less and less.

In my garage this year I have loads, in the house after 4 years of vacuuming I have not seen any this year.

[jymmm]

I made a diy version of this

https://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/shop/household...

Used it all last year when any sign of flies. This autumn had very little return

[dbdb]

Attic/Cluster flies are annoying but looking on the bright side their life cycle means they're not dirty things like many other kinds of fly.

[blueg33]

Snap again

We also have a barn conversion with Velux roof lights and also get cluster flies each year. We hoover them up, but they are a pain. Will try some of the solutions on this thread.

[Steve Campbell]

We had them mainly in our loft and above kitchen roof space and they found their way in via light fittings.

As they were in the loft, a few cluster fly smoke bombs killed them all off quickly….though not sure that would work from what you described.

[Steve Campbell]

We had them mainly in our loft and above kitchen roof space and they found their way in via light fittings.

As they were in the loft, a few cluster fly smoke bombs killed them all off quickly….though not sure that would work from what you described.

[Freakuk]

Steve Campbell said:

We had them mainly in our loft and above kitchen roof space and they found their way in via light fittings.

As they were in the loft, a few cluster fly smoke bombs killed them all off quickly .though not sure that would work from what you described.

Being a barn we don't have the luxury of a loft unfortunately, there is a space up there but probably 1ft square across the length of the roof and no access hatch to get in.

I think I've figured out how they get into the skylight housing but I opened one this morning and there were none there, I'll monitor the issue now.

[blueg33]

They like our log burner flue and make their way down to the log burner - when you open the door dozens of flies make their way out. I have learnt to have the hoover on standby for the first lighting of the burner.