It’s been a bit chilly in New England at night and in the mornings and it won’t be long before the cooler weather sticks around all day. Unfortunately, this means that some homes and businesses in our region may begin to see the arrival of overwintering pests. We’re talking about pests like cluster flies who are looking for a warm place where they can hang out while the cold weather rages, and while they are not necessarily going to cause trouble, they are certainly a nuisance and should be eliminated.
Cluster flies are similar to the size of a house fly, about 3/8 of an inch but are generally more robust in body structure. From about mid August through December, cluster flies are very likely to be found trying to enter structures and will remain inside through the winter. They tend to cluster around warm spots in the home like windows, attic spaces, or in wall voids, where they neither breed nor eat, but will await warmer weather. Most of the time they remain in a sedentary state but on a warmer winter day or a day in the early spring, you may see cluster flies sluggishly buzzing or crawling over windows or walls.
In order to prevent cluster flies from overwintering in your New England home, it’s important to implement pest-proofing strategies now, before they become a problem. Here are a few simple ways to help prevent cluster flies from entering your structure:
- Make sure entry points are sealed off properly.
- Repair holes in window and door screens.
- Seal off cracks or openings on the outside of the home.
- When a cluster fly dies, make sure to vacuum it up to avoid attracting beetles or other insects.
- Call a licensed pest management professional to service the outside of your home or business.
If you own a home or operate a business in Maine, Massachusetts or New Hampshire and are experiencing a cluster fly infestation or any other overwintering pests, please contact us at Modern Pest Services right away. We provide elimination of cluster flies in your home as well as commercial fly control. Before pests really become a problem this fall and winter, give us a call!