PEST SOLUTION: CLUSTER FLY Guardian Pest Control Cluster Fly Management
Description
Cluster flies are dark gray about 1/4 to 3/8 inch in length. They have golden yellow hairs on the thorax and irregular light and dark gray areas on the abdomen. The wings overlap when the fly rest.
Importance
Cluster flies are nuisance seasonal pests. When cold weather proceeds, they search for protected areas for over-wintering. They gather on roofs of buildings, wall corners, cracks, crevices, weather stropping on windows, under clothing in closets, under curtains, behind pictures and furniture etc. They also may leave their hiding areas and appear on sunny warm days in winters. Cluster flies do not cause damage or bite. When crushed, they leave a greasy mark on the surface.
Lifecycle
Females lay eggs in cracks, crevices and openings in the soil near the holes of earthworms. Eggs hatch in three days. Newly hatched larvae penetrate earthworm bodies to feed for two to three weeks then pupate for two weeks. The flies emerge from the earthworm cadavers and feed on flowers and repeat their life cycles. There are three to four generations of cluster flies per year. In the late fall, between late August to early September (depending on the temperature and region), the adults seek protected areas usually in the sunny sides of buildings for over-wintering.
Customer's Responsibility
Prevention & Exclusion
In the summer and before late fall or early winter, seal or caulk crack, crevices, voids and all possible entry openings in and around your building. As well as screen windows and doors, ventilator and louvers.
Mount insect light traps close to potential over-wintering sites indoors to help in monitoring and reducing the cluster fly population.
Vacuum cluster flies as they appear in building and do not crush.
Guardian's Services
Guardian Pest Control Specialist will apply EPA registered pesticides for cluster fly management as exterior treatments in late summer or early fall before flies enter to buildings (treatment begins of the last week of August to early September for the northern parts of Minnesota and the first two weeks of September for the southern parts of Minnesota.
Precautionary Measures
During the treatment, no people, food, or pets should be present in the room to be treated. Aquatic tanks should be covered and unplugged.
Do not enter the treated room for four hours after the treatment.
Post Treatment Information
A follow up treatment should be conducted after 20 to 30 days from the initial treatment IF NEEDED. Guardian Pest Control Specialist will coordinate a proper time with customers for doing the follow up.
Re-treatment due to heavy rains after the initial treatment is needed to maintain protection.
A treatment to cracks, crevices and voids along with ULV or general surface application in infested attics or vacant roof spaces is RECOMMENDED in winter and spring when flies become active and are emerging from their hiding areas.
Description