Declaring War on Corn Flies

mancitychick · 27 July 2006 at 11:41PM

I call them thunder flies don;t look like the link supplied - are tiny miniscule like essexgirl is talking about. Haven't a clue how to get rid of them but they are drving me potty. Minute I walk outside the door in anything light coloured I am covered in them. As for my window cills - as quick as I wipe the dead ones up more appear. Wait till they get behind your picture frames!

scuzz · 28 July 2006 at 6:26AM

SorryI have a confession - I completely misread the title of this thread as "war on corn FLAKES"

I'll go back in my corner now:o

divorcingjack · 28 July 2006 at 10:18AM

Thanks for all your replies people! Glad to see it is not just me that is being plagued!

They have abated quite a bit now - they were the worst after the thunderstorm we had recently. I sprayed the front door with vinegar and water and they didn't seem to like that too much - it may just be my imagination though.

I also have a couple inside my LCD screen! Nightmare. They seem to take a couple of days to die inside the house, then can be hoovered up.

MickKnipfler - no, they don't bite, they just love to crawl into your ears and hair.

Samh - thanks a lot for the lavender tip - that may be why there are fewer flies at the back door - the previous occupant planted a lavender border. Now we know why! I will try and repot some by the front door.

janeawej - we are pretty well surrounded by fields - the flies must be the price for having the view! Ah well. I will try the mint as well.

Thanks for all your help!

PS - LOL Scuzz!!

MickKnipfler · 28 July 2006 at 11:02AM

We're plagued with horse flies here. I know which I'd rather tolerate...

patchwork_cat · 28 July 2006 at 11:55AM

Hi
We have alsorts of flies and I would like to be better at identifying them then at least | know what they are as i wallop them! Anyone know a good site for identyfying flies?

MickKnipfler · 28 July 2006 at 12:26PM

patchwork_cat wrote:

Hi
We have alsorts of flies and I would like to be better at identifying them then at least | know what they are as i wallop them! Anyone know a good site for identyfying flies?

Especially those that bite. I was bitten to death by some really nasty little flies with black and white legs the other day. What were they?

samh_2 · 28 July 2006 at 11:40PM

Lucky you, divorcingjack, having a lavender hedge - I always think it makes a lovely hedge, so much nicer than leylandii etc! It is really easy to take cuttings from lavender - just pull off a woody stem, leaving the heel on it; remove the lower leaves; dip it in some rooting powder and stick it in the ground. If you take lots of cuttings you should have several plants next year.

Hope that helps!
Sam

alex80 · 28 September 2017 at 1:18PM

Fill a ziplock bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in the problem area. In my case it was a particular window in my home. It had a slight but significant passage way for insects. Ever since I have done that, it has kept flies and wasps away. Some say that wasps and flies mistake the bag for some sort of other insect nest and are threatened by this.