Cluster Flies Behind The Siding

They mate after emerging in the spring.

Cluster flies behind the siding.

Cluster flies are overwintering meaning they will try to enter a home or building in the fall as temperatures begin to cool in search of a warm place to survive the winter. Fill all the cracks or crevices in walls window or door frames with caulking. Cluster flies especially love decomposing food and sweets. Make sure to seal every possible hole or crack like around windows doors siding behind chimneys utility pipes underneath the fascia etc in the building.

Using a crusader you can puff small amounts up under the exterior siding into any cracks or crevice common to log homes and into all crevices they might choose to use for hibernating. Homeowners are often bothered by sluggish flies in their homes in late winter and early spring. Both face and cluster flies overwinter in structures and are nuisance flies. On the homes siding in the attic and deep in the wall voids where cluster flies like to nest should be dusted with drione dust.

Unlike brick or wood homes the sugar particles which may not be detectable to the human eye stick to the vinyl siding causing flies to gather. Cluster flies are about 8 to 10 mm 31 to 39 inches long. Based on casual observations cluster flies seem to be attracted to light colored buildings. There is a newly patented canadian invention new meaning 2001 called the cluster buster that has the remarkable ability to attract and immobilize up to 1000 cluster flies when placed on the inside of a window pane.

These flies are collectively called clustering flies but may actually be any of the three most common types of flies. On warm days in early winter or when homeowners turn on indoor heat the flies become active and move toward the warmth. Once inside cluster flies will hide and are usually not seen by people. Insects such as flies are naturally drawn to vinyl siding because vinyl siding attracts build up of airborne sugar particles from nearby trees plants and brush.

To prepare for the next season you can spray areas where you suspect these pesky flies will cluster. To get rid of existing cluster flies many people simply vacuum them up and empty the vacuum outdoors. Spray it lightly as needed for contact kill. To prevent cluster fly infestation you could use following tips.