Eggs:
Fly eggs are tiny pale white or yellowish ovals laid in clusters on decomposing material such as rotting food animal waste or carcasses. They hatch within 24 hours into maggots which feed immediately. Their rapid development aids decomposition and nutrient recycling. Preventing egg-laying by maintaining cleanliness and removing breeding sites is key to controlling fly populations.
Larva:
Fly eggs are tiny pale white or yellowish ovals laid in clusters on decomposing material such as rotting food animal waste or carcasses. They hatch within 24 hours into maggots which feed immediately. Their rapid development aids decomposition and nutrient recycling. Preventing egg-laying by maintaining cleanliness and removing breeding sites is key to controlling fly populations.
Larva:
In soil for 6 weeks
Adults:
Fly relatively slowly, lives outdoors but congregates on posts and fences in sun and migrates into roof voids in autumn. This insect only tends to become a pest when it hibernates in late summer and early autumn. This it does in roof voids and attics nearly always in the same general area and normally on the warmer southern side. Cluster flies commence hibernation normally when triggered by a sudden drop in temperature such as an early frost. There are as many as three generations per year in the UK.
If you have a problem with flies in your home, there are ways you can address the problems without spending money on pest control. The best results will be achieved by doing some thorough house cleaning.
Other tips: Control moisture (fix leaky taps and blocked drains where water can gather – flies need moisture to multiply), keep food covered (leftovers should be covered up and any crumbs cleared away), keep your bins, sinks and food areas clean, cover entry points (fit fly screens to windows), keep windows and doors shut at night, keep bird feeders clean and remove bird food at night and, finally minimise areas of clutter.
If problems persist, or the problem is identified as Cluster Flies, then paying for a residual spray alongside a fumigation will be the best short term solution. Long term solutions (most often employed for Cluster Flies, and kitchen areas) usually involve the installation of an electric fly killer.
