It's that time of year - FLY SEASON

[RobertH]

Each year around mid-September, flies come indoors at many places in town.
I've never been able to figure out what provokes 'em to come in at some places,
and other places aren't affected.

If you have any knowledge of why, or even plausible theories I'd like to hear 'em.
Even implausible theories or wildly inaccurate mansplanin' from ChatGPT or folklore would at least be amusing.

Thoughts?

And does anyone know how to get my thread topics to appear in bold?

[Sal DeVincenzo]

Good morning Robert I'll take the bait. To answer your last question first, no haven't been able to figure out how or why some BB subjects are bold and some are not or how to enable it.
My theory with the flies (impressed that you figured out the plural of flies not being flys of course) ... get ready for it........  Screens.
We can have a poll on this but I think that screens mostly trap insects inside the house. Even with the best of intentions and every opening screened, and with your spouse repeatedly yelling at you "shut the door." Flies always get in, are trapped, perhaps then they reproduce and maybe those September flies are actually born inside the house? Other very likely cause might be a dead critter in the wall, ceiling or crawl space etc. My advice is to remove all your screens and open the windows and doors so that they can escape. Fly free! (pun)
Might not be the best advice during bear season but heck, at least we don't live in Boulder. 

   

   

[burtonwc1]

Yellow jackets also peak in late summer--conspiracy?

[Rose H-H]

Does anyone else hear that small voice?  It seems to be screaming "Help me!"

One of my best remedies for flies in the house is to encourage spiders.  I have even imported some from the outdoors or someone else's home when I didn't seem to have any.

[oakchezzar@gmail.com]

YAY to the spiders!  I have an amazing one hanging out in the eaves of my deck's overhang. My new pet/goddess: Anansi!
She's got big fat mushroom-colored body and long long legs. I watched her grab a big-ass wasp and thus commenced a mythic battle and he stung her and she got him good, spun him into a death shroud and ate him all day long. Yesterday she got 2 flies the same way, but without the stinging. I  spiders!

[Drew Allman]

Is anybody else having problems with the super tiny little flies?

[tulkula]

Yes! Drew! I was wondering the same thing ?

[Lynn Wilber]

This article might be helpful.   SvH:  https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef621

[Drew Allman]

Immediately after my post, I realized I didn’t clarify that they weren’t fruit flies. The only time I’ve seen them is in my house plants but that’s the only time.

[Lynn Wilber]

Here are some more possibilities.  I had the same invasion about a week ago,  but after a few days they boogied.  I guess they emigrated over to your house. SvH: https://schoolofbugs.com/what-are-these-...-examples/

[Drew Allman]

Interesting. I appreciate you sharing ?. We’ll be in bed reading and they will cover our books. It can be a little much

[Hollis]

 

I think they're called Cluster Flies.
I've seen them gain access to my home by slipping past window weather stripping, my windows are relatively new and seal well, but the tiniest of gaps they sneak through.
A few years ago  I found them under the sill of some older windows, they were nestled together for warmth.
I sealed up as many openings as possible, very few this year.


Cluster Flies

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-ar...ies-5-618/

[burtonwc1]

Thanks for the ID, Robert. They started coming in through our cabin screens at night about a week ago, swarming around lights. I figured it was a creek hatch.

[Lynn Wilber]

I looked at one of these little pesky flies with my microscope and it looked a lot like this. SvH:   https://americanpest.net/blog/what-are-t...ting-soil/