How long does it take to work? I have like a bajillion flies in my house. I don't know where they came from; I didn't leave any food or garbage around when we left for vacation, but when I came back, they were everywhere. It's possible that they came in from the place next door (there's a hole under the sink that the bug guy stuffed full of steel wool, but my boyfriend thinks a mouse got in during the week anyway). I got some of those fly catching things that you hang, and I put three of them up this morning, but so far they've only caught one fly. Should I put up more?
-pH
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Back in the day, fly paper used to work great. See, flies are very news-oriented and well, when I was young, there just wasn't many places for them to get their daily fix on what was happening. So...if you printed a fly paper, they'd naturally swarm to it. You'd catch a lot of flies especially with the sports and comics. Sometimes the financial stuff would work, but only when you had great numbers.
Nowadays, of course, fly paper just isn't very effective. They catch the buzz off the internet, just like everyone else. So, papers just sort of sit there, flapping in the breeze.
Also, the recent scandals involving touching up of photos haven't helped. I mean, anyone with even a single omatidium could see that stuff was faked. Sheesh!
Sure, you'll catch a few flies who remember the old days or who don't keep up with the Times. Every once in awhile the power will go out and you'll get a few that way. But for the most part, fly papers are just a thing of the past.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Some brands don't work -- try a different brand!
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
Hmmm... are the flies mostly in one spot? Or seeming to come from one spot? Maybe a mouse DID get in... and due to your superior cleaning up before you left had nothing to munch and died? And now the flies are snacking on that?
Sorry if that's morbid.
Also - it might be fun to get a fly swatter or two and compete with whoever's there with you on how many you can snag with them... Or even just compete with yourself from hour to hour?
Good luck, though, cause flies don't bug me that much (as long as they're not horse or deer flies) but it does sort of gross me out that they barf on the things they land on...
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
They move around...they'll focus by the floor lamp, then over by Elmer's tank, then by the living room window. So I hung the traps there.
I'd think that if a mouse died, I'd smell it. I mean, when a mouse died in my parents' house, you knew.
I think maybe they could be eating on a dead plant. Can they eat dead plants? One of my flowers died. I'd get a flyswatter, but I think that would make me even more insane.
I shooed some of them out the window when I got back, but they're wily creatures.
-pH
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
Kinda like wascilly wabbits?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
They could be coming up through your drains. Try pouring some boiling water down your drains and see if that helps at all.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Flies can come in through the DRAINS? Are you serious?
-pH
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stan the man: Kinda like wascilly wabbits?
Kinda, but much much smaller.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by pH: Flies can come in through the DRAINS? Are you serious?
-pH
They can breed down there, if the conditions are right. I had it happen at a place I worked, years ago. I imagine that it's uncommon--the drain has to be used rarely enough that they have a chance to develop, and there has to be enough gunk in it that they have something to feed on, but yeah, it can happen.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Can I put Drano in all of my drains and poison them to a cruel and painful death?
-pH
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Boiling water will work better.
Also, are these little tiny flies (like fruit flies?) or the big ones? For the little ones you can get fruit fly traps that are more effective than the paper strips. Also less gross-looking.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Plus, draino is hard on both your pipes and the environment in general. Boiling water isn't.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
There's this stuff called VECTOR POISON-FREE. It's basically insecticide made of food-grade mint oil. Works great. They make ant, roach, spider, and wasp/hornet (which also works on flies.) And it's not harmful to humans (unless it gets in your eyes or you breathe too much and are asthmatic; make sure you ventilate properly.)
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
If these are little light colored flys, and not the big black house flys, the paper won't work. But, they may well be coming from your plants, or you might have left some fruit out somewhere. (Perhaps a rind in a garbage can.) If it is the fruit, just moving that will get rid of them. If it is the plants, you may need to look at a soil insecicide. Put the plants outside for now and see your local plant person.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Describe the flies. Perhaps I can help.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jenny Gardener: Describe the flies. Perhaps I can help.
(Does anyone else hear triumphant trumpets blowing when they read this, or is it just me? "Dah-duh-dah-DUNNNNH! Momma Bugga to the rescue!")
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Fruit Flies: Dont move around too fast, and they sorta hover from place to place.
House Flies: Zip around quite fast and seemingly erradically.
Fruit Flies typically do not eat carrion, so I imagine if you took out the garbage they would also go. If there is a dead mouse somewhere you might need more paper. You could always try buying a pound of ground beef and hiding it somewhere next door, then all the flies will migrate to there and leave you and your tiny dead mouse alone Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
I'm so chuckling outloud right now, BlackBlade.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
They're big black flies.
My boyfriend said that boiling water might damage some of the pipes. I guess some are PVC, or something. I don't remember if they are or not I'd have to move my bed to open up the wall panel to take a look, and that would only give me a look at the shower.
I still really, really don't think there's a dead mouse around here. It doesn't smell like dead mouse, and I know what that smells like. The only thing with a strange odor in it is the fridge...another mystery, since there hasn't been any bad food in it. Unless it's a smell left over from the last time the power went out and the food went bad, but that was months ago.
-pH
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Could there be a spill UNDER the fridge? That's happened to me before...
I would be rather disturbed if I lived in a place where the pipes couldn't have boiling water poured down them! Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
So they're houseflies? That's what I was originally assuming when I made my comment about drains, but everybody else's assumptions about fruitflies had me thinking that I'd misread you.
Your boyfriend is an engineer, right? I expect that he knows a lot more about what materials can handle than I do, but I've never heard of boiling water causing problems whether the pipes were PVC or copper or whatever.
Anybody know what kind of effect draino has on PVC?
You might try bleach or ammonia (though not bleach and ammonia) instead of draino if you think that boiling water's a bad idea.
I agree with you that there's no way it could be a dead mouse. There's no missing that stench.
As for your fridge, is it possible that there is water getting funky in a drip pan, or something? That could potentially explain both the scent and the flies. Do you have a box of baking powder in your fridge? If so, how long has it been there?
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I've had a box of baking soda in there for three weeks. I just put a second one in there. I'm about to take everything out of the fridge and Lysol that sucker to next Tuesday. The flies haven't been near the fridge at all, though. And my tortoise wasn't here while we were on vacation, so I'm guessing they're just clustering around there because of the heat lamp and the food.
The fly traps have gotten two flies now.
-pH
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I could see your tortoise's food being a factor especially with it probably going stale with a heat lamp.
Here is some literature from Project Gutenberg: Its got some ideas you might find useful,
While not related this is probably the most useful thing I have read ALL day on Wikipedia:
"Flies have a very highly-evolved evasion reaction which helps to ensure their survival. It is possible to confuse a fly's evasion system by swatting it with two objects simultaneously from different directions. The holes in a fly swatter minimise the air current which warns the fly of being hit, whilst reducing air resistance and increasing speed of the swat. This evasion reaction can also be used against the fly. Clapping your hands several inches above the fly will cause it to try to escape, usually into your just closing hands."
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
A few inches above and just slightly behind the fly works best. They jump backwards when they take off.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Maybe Elmer will eat the flies.
I accidentally ran into one of the fly papers, and one of the flies escaped.
-pH
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
quote: Anybody know what kind of effect draino has on PVC?
Seeing as how they sell it in a plastic bottle, I'm pretty sure it's safe.
However, boiling water is also safe on PVC pipes. It will not melt them. Yes, I speak from experience. Plus have you ever cooked pasta and then drained it over your sink? You speak from experience, too!
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
quote:A few inches above and just slightly behind the fly works best. They jump backwards when they take off.
Yes, and if you clap the cupped hands, increasing the air pressure, you can implode the exoskeleton. If you do it right the fly falls dead into a puddle of itself, totally untouched by your hands. If you do it wrong it's a mess. Practice makes perfect.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Groucho Marx
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Five flies caught so far!
Is there any way to keep them away? I have the Orkin man come in every other month, but I don't think he does anything for flies.
-pH
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Tante, :rimshot:
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
I say buy a .45, a bucket of ammo, and invoke your ninja powers. One fly, one bullet.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Things you can do to prevent new flies from invading:
If you ever open you windows, make sure that there aren't any holes in your screens. Patch or replace any damaged or loose-fitting screens you find.
If your doors don't fit tightly, install weather stripping and possibly a skirt to make them fit tightly.
In addition to dumping your substance of choice down your drains, get drain covers that are finely enough meshed that a fly wouldn't be able to get through them.
Search for possible breeding places within your house and eliminate them.
If I were you I'd advoid using insecticides as much as possible; the link between them and Parkinsons is getting too clear to ignore, I think.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
quote:f your doors don't fit tightly, install weather stripping and possibly a skirt to make them fit tightly.
I don't see how wearing a skirt would keep flies out. In fact, ...
- edited, the management
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Big - how big? And black - where black? Do they bite? Are they fuzzy? Eye color? Wing color and clarity (completely clear or with patterns)?
If houseflies, Noemon's got some great tips. I'd disinvite the Orkin man so that the local spiders and predators can move in and help you out. My spiders helped stop the ant invasion, as evidenced by the carcasses in their webs. Keeping the house completely sanitized of insects is impossible, and inadvisable. There will always be some pests resistant to the chemicals, and breeding more. And the predators that could help you are more delicate when it comes to pesticides. So you may be shooting yourself in the foot some.
Try very hard to discover their entry points and the areas where they are attracted. Most flies don't want to be in your house unless they are finding places to feed and breed. That's why you find them buzzing all around the ceiling and smacking into windows. So, do your best to eliminate fly feeding and breeding places and also cover entry points. The current annoying guests will eventually die and no more will come in to replace them. Also remember, this too will pass. Winter, with its killing frost, is coming.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Without the Orkin man, the spiders and roaches would take over. Plus the possible mice. They come in from the units on either side of mine.
They're pretty big...fat flies with red eyes. All black, except for the eyes, with clear wings. They don't bite, though.
-pH
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Does it look like this, pH?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Lots of great insect and arachnid pictures to be seen on that site, by the way.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Sounds exactly like a house fly pH.
Perhaps the 1lb of ground beef option is not enough.
You might consider additionally sneaking into the unit next door and painting their ceiling with honey.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
That's the fly! I'm looking through the site to see if there's a picture of the spiders.
-pH
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
“Will you walk into my parlor?” said the spider to the fly;
“‘Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there.”
Posted by GeronL (Member # 9674) on :
Those aren't flies. Those are the Vorgons from the 33rd and three quarters dimension!
This reminds me a story. We were going on a trip and I took out a bag of trash to discover a whole... um.. herd lol... of maggots.
When we got back there were no maggots, just lots of flies.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I need to follow this advise. I was thinking of letting this huge spider in to kill all these flies. I have a rabbit and flies are a danger to rabbits plus i am scared of fly larvae... The thought of them makes me itch. I am also getting sick of chasing things things around with old jeans
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I have come to comfort Pearce, not to bury her.
Hi, Geron. I don't think you are helping.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
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I don't think you are helping.