Cluster flies are commonly found in quiet, undisturbed parts of your home, such as attics and wall voids. Eight species are found in Britain and 31 in Europe. Cluster flies are generally just considered a nuisance when they decide to move into your house in the fall. What they do and what attracts Cluster flies: Cluster flies like to lay their eggs on lawns, areas that have earthworms within the soil. Typically, cluster flies are not noticed outdoors in the summer. Top Answer. Taurus SC is a non-repellent insecticide and can eliminate and exterminate workers and a colony of cluster flies and other annoying flies and pests in only a few weeks after applying. Cluster flies are actually a parasite of earthworms and thrive in areas where there is fertile soil. Cluster Flies Facts, Identification & Control Latin Name. Dark grey–olive thorax clothed with crinkled golden–brown hairs. Cluster Fly Identification. Their number in the house will grow and increase if nothing is done. They get in through cracks, crevices, and other small entry points around your property- especially through window frames, doorways, and wall voids. They lay their eggs on animal feces, garbage, and in rotting organic material. Tan coloured body appears as grey. When crushed, they give off an odor like buckwheat honey. Flies get in our homes pretty much anywhere we live. Flies dwelling in warm homes and laboratories develop faster and live longer than their counterparts in the wild. The only thing that attracts them to homes is their need to hibernate during the winter months. They require warm places to hibernate over winter. These eggs quickly hatch and the larvae are parasitoids on earthworms. Again, the best way to avoid cluster flies is to prevent them from entering your building in the first place. House flies are about ¼-inch long and gray. Sluggish movement. A milder pyrethrum based spray is effective and widely available. You may see a large group of cluster flies around a window, as they are attracted to the light on sunny winter days. Adult cluster flies are dark grey in colour, 8 to 10 mm long, and have numerous golden or yellowish hairs on thorax. The main goal of the species is to find a food source and breed. Fortunately, cluster flies are not harmful to humans as they do not carry disease or damage household items, and are instead considered a nuisance pest. They are about 0.31 - 0.39 inches long, are gray and covered with visible yellow, bristle-like hairs. How long do cluster flies live? I faced this problem myself and tried to understand how to get rid […] The occasional buzzing is only a minor annoyance, but when you have dozens or even hundreds of flies living in your attic space or loft areas, it can be a disturbing feeling. Cluster flies, however, can live for two years or more. Types of Cluster Flies Cluster Fly Identification Commonly described as: large noisy flies. At rest, the wingtips of a cluster fly overlap. See Answer. Houseflies pass through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. A cluster fly is a bit larger than a house fly and has a black/silvery-black checkered body. Cluster flies are a nuisance because they live a long time. How long do Cluster flies live? Indoor bug sprays can help but you want to avoid using them too often within your living space. Dead cluster flies on the loft floor can lead to infestations of undesirable insects such as carpet beetle, which may subsequently invade the house and feed on fabrics. Cluster flies gather together in warm places during daylight hours. Body: Light and dark gray-checkered abdomens. The life expectancy of a housefly is generally 15 to 30 days and depends upon temperature and living conditions. Then, continue reading our 4-part guide for cluster fly control options. Cluster flies are sluggish during cold weather and go dormant in the winter, which means they do not reproduce when the weather is cold. They are a dark, non-metallic gray with light and dark splotches on their abdomens. Cluster flies live outdoors in the warmer months of the year. Cluster flies closely resemble house flies, but they are usually larger and have a yellowish sheen on the thorax. In fact, most other flies live less than three months. Why do I suddenly see a lot of flies? You’ve been attacked by the “common attic or cluster fly“! Adult cluster flies live longer than most flies and may overwinter in homes. Cluster flies develop as parasites inside the bodies of earthworms. Cluster Fly image licensed under CC. Cluster flies are extremely difficult to control, and often cannot be fully controlled. 2mm in length. The typical grass fly Pollenia rudis is about 7 mm long and can be recognised by distinct lines or stripes behind the head, short golden-coloured hairs on the thorax, and irregular light and dark gray areas on the abdomen.Cluster flies are typically slow-moving. Homeowners often encounter large numbers of cluster flies in late summer and autumn. What causes a fly infestation? The larvae then pupate in the soil for about two weeks before emerging as flies. Life Expectancy of House Flies. During spring and summer, they reproduce and lay eggs in the soil. Flies don’t appear above ground until they’re fully developed. Pollenia. Cluster flies are very similar in appearance to house flies. The cluster fly will fly around the home but at a less frantic pace than that of the house fly. At this time, these insects are the most active, as they seek refuge for the winter. How long do cluster flies live? Unlike the common housefly, the cluster flies are not attracted towards your garbage. 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