Attic Flies Uk

Cluster fly from wikipedia the free encyclopedia the grass flies or cluster flies or attic flies are the genus pollenia in the family polleniidae are completely harmless to human health.

Attic flies uk.

They are greyish olive in colour and adorned with golden hairs which makes them quite distinctive to the trained eye. Cluster fly larvae develop inside earthworms living in the ground outside of homes. Thus the common name they have of attic flies. They are strictly parasitic on earthworms.

Cluster flies also known as attic flies are household pests. Unlike more familiar blow flies such as the bluebottle genus phormia they do not present a health hazard because they do not lay eggs in human food. By instinct they seek shelter away from the elements such as in the fall when it gets cold. And the easiest entrance is usually through external gaps leading to your attic.

You may see a large group of cluster flies around a window as they are attracted to the light on sunny winter days. Cluster flies are commonly found in quiet undisturbed parts of your home such as attics and wall voids. They require warm places to hibernate over winter. Cluster flies habits mean that they are no real risk to human health like most common flies but they are a nuisance.

The anomaly is that cluster flies may try to get into one house but may stay clear of a neighbouring house even if it is a pair of semi detached properties. Cluster flies belong to a family of flies called pollenia and are medium sized about 10mm in length. Flies that gather in roofs around windows and on walls inside in the autumn and winter are called cluster flies also known as attic flies. Cluster flies aka attic flies get their name from clustering together in large numbers over the winter months.

Light and dark gray checkered abdomens. Cluster flies facts identification control latin name. Naturally your house is warmer. The females lay their eggs near earthworm burrows and the larvae then feed on the worms.

Attic flies which are also known as cluster flies are insects that often migrate into homes in the fall where they hibernate for the cooler fall and winter months. Most commonly they move from the ground to your attic for the winter when it gets cold. Adults measure 8 to 10 millimeters. Cluster flies are often known also as attic flies.

Appearance what do they look like. They are known to give off a sickly odour and they also have a big effect on earthworms around your home. Cluster fly image licensed under cc. Cluster or attic flies are the genus pollenia in the blowfly family calliphoridae.