Getting rid of flies

Nordictat2

Rummer wrote: »

You could try the Karate Kid method of insect control and practice catching them with chopsticks!

:rotfl: good luck with that one.

tryingtoruletheworld

Waggle_Dancer wrote: »

I have had a lot of very tiny flies and tracked them down to the compost in a pot plant.

They aren't fruit flies, much too small so I wonder if they are actually breeding in the pot, in which case I think the only way to get rid of them will be to re-pot.

I keep thinking I'm seeing spots in front of my eyes when they drift past.

Ooooh, I have noticed more of them around the herbs I am growing on the windowsill, hanging around the pots. Maybe that does have something to do with it!

Tenuse

Fruit flies are a bit fatter and slightly more colourful than the small, plain black, annoying fungus flies which live and breed in plant compost.

We have been learning to live with them and the only way to deal with them seems to be to use the yellow sticky houseplant traps that you can get in B&Q, even then the blighters seem to keep breeding, but you get fewer of them.

Have tried poisoning them but that doesn't work for the larvae/eggs only the adults.

We are just using them as a means of practicing our quick reaction times as we try to smack 'em out of the air!!

Ten x

nicki_2

I've had lots of flies too here. Mine seem to be larger than fruitflies though most of the time. I'm assuming they're coming from the run down house next door, like all the blue/green bottles in the summer :mad::eek::mad: I just spray them now.

uolypool

Hi All , have been inundated with flies since the warm weather has arrived.I am presuming its to do with the temp of my house as i know its not dirty.:eek:,they are really getting me down now, don't want to use fly spray as daughter has asthma , short of keeping all windows and doors shut all of the time has anyone got any ideas of how to keep them at bay? .I certainly didn't have as many last summer could my dog be the problem ??? willing to try practically anything now. please move if i have posted in the wrong place

freakyogre

Can you try the fly strips where they stick to them? I remember we had to use them years ago when I lived at home as we had LOADS of flies...turned out a seagull had got stuck down our chimney and died :eek:

stef240377

In my kitchen i have one of those electric bug zapper things i purchased a couple of weeks ago from Aldi for £5.99. In the lounge i have a solar powered one (meant to be in garden but half inched for house for time being) bought in a clearance sale in B&Q for £5 a while ago and it seems to be controlling them for now - either that or a kitten that loves to chase them round and lie with them under his paw till they suffercate:eek:

meritaten

awww - how awful for you! Try fly screens hun, you can get them for doors and windows. I got one in Aldi for mum for her side door as thats the door she likes open to allow a cooling breeze in hot weather. but I havent seen them in there this year. failing that, fit net curtains and make sure that they completely cover the opening and have a good amount puddled on the floor or windowsill.
also you can get those insect zappers (like the bakeries have).
for both items try online shops or ebay.

I know they are yucky, but the brown sticky paper fly strips are available and are much more eco friendly than sprays!
I know there is an essential oil which flies etc hate but not sure which one! will look it up in a mo for you as a couple of bowls of that should deter them as well as the other measures. bbl

uolypool

many thanks for your speedy replies, do the electric bug zappers(the ones with the blue light) have to be placed at a certain height ? I will look into door and window screens as can't spend all summer with the windows and doors closed. How would these work with dogs and door or kids running through?. Son has just been to our 24hr garage and bought some sticky fly strips ,as disgusting as they sound and indeed look i will use them till something more plesant looking comes along.Anything has got to be better than the dam flies

marmiterulesok

First,starve them-don't leave any food scraps out.Make sure your kitchen bin has a snug lid.Keep bins away from doors and windows,especially if you use one for organic waste.Fit door and window fly screens.
Finally,grow strongly scented flowers,ie marigolds and pelargoniums near doors or on windowsills.
Courtesy of "Ask Aggie" by Aggie MacKenzie.Sorry Aggie.....:o