dirty flies

Our south facting covered patio has flies circling inside it from May thru Sept. Start in AM til sunset. We have tried everything. No pet food in area. Even bleach solution cleaned the entire area, concrete, furniture, etc. Does anyone have a cause/solution for this Pacific Northwesterner? As is I have to spray with yard spray 10-15 min before sitting out there and/or eating. Many thanks. I am busy making a large fan with my ferns to spend all hot summer days fanning he/she who solves this dirty problem. Ok, ok. I will peel ya a few grapes to boot.

Goodness gracious! You make it sound like those flies are gonna haul you away! That sounds terrible!

Maybe some fly traps that people use in barns and such...they attract them, then trap them. Maybe after a period of time there will be no adults to lay eggs, and no eggs, no babies to grow into adults to breed more flies?

Flypaper would be another way to get 'em, too. Other than that maybe a super fan to blow them outta your patio? (Or, should you choose, screen in the patio?) Wonder if you have lots of moisture under and around your patio area that the flies love to breed near...getting rid of that would be of benefit also.

Any one else in your area have this problem? Wonder what they do about it. Would like to hear more about this. Any other DGers have this problem?

By the way, Welcome to DG, Anastatia

Welcome to DG Anastatia. Just a thought but some shrubs attract flies such as Ligustrum lucidum (privet). I don't know how to advise you but I'm sure others will come to your aid. What a nuisance!!

We have flies also. Lots of feral cats roam the hillsides, and their feces breeds the common houseflies like you wouldn't believe. Ugh!!

Flypaper is so unsightly, but you can try it. I have the best luck with regular use -- I started in February, and will continue this through September -- with the Rescue! brand disposable fly traps you buy at your local hardware store (including HDepot).

It's a small (7x8") tough, clear plastic bag with a yellow plastic lid. Cut the seal and tie a string to the lid. Add water to the level indicated, and tie it up outside IN THE SUN.

Despite the instructions, I find it works best when I leave it up for at least a month. The older it gets, the more concentrated the smell (yes, you want it to be not too near your patio seating area, or at least NOT downwind). The distress of the flies caught in it, actually helps attract even more flies!

These don't cost that much, and are a cinch to cut down and replace. I put the old bag in a plastic baggie, tie it tight and throw it in the garbage.

I started doing this at the tail end of last summer and was amazed at the difference. I could never leave the door open before, without half a dozen flies coming inside (we don't have screen doors). Even being extra careful, there were times I would have over a dozen flies inside the house, which just drives me crazy. But using these traps, the numbers have decreased dramatically outside, and I never have flies inside the house any longer. It's wonderful, and I can recommend them highly.

They also make a trap for yellowjackets, which is activated using fruit juice, and also seems to work very well. Those should be put out early, to catch the flying queens before they start a nest.

jkom51, thanks for the suggestions. I forgot about those fly traps. I have used them in the past. Gads they stink so we do keep them away from the "living room" part of our back yard. And they are reasonably priced so going thru several a summer month is not costly.

Try Basil-it deters flies & mosquitoes.
I have read in Spain basil is grown round the doors of houses to keep flies away-don't know if this is true or not never been to Spain-I just know it seems to work for me.
Tansy also will do the same thing.

I propose that we all go to Spain as an R&D team. Bring a lab coat & will have our picture taken for the IRS so we can write it off. Of course we will check out the basil and then hit all the great spanish restuarants, etc. All R&D! In the mean time I will plant some as I have not done so yet and I always try some basil. I have a great recipe for basil on hot days and too hot to cook. Will post on recipe page soon.

On another link I saw where people have found out (and are actively using them) that bags of water hung up will repell flies. (If I can find the link I'll post it.) Basically, fill up gallon-sized freezer bags and hang them by your doors or windows (the link showed a food drive-up window with a bag hung outside it). In your case, anastatia, hang them around your patio.

Apparently why is works is the flies see them as hornets nest. Hornets feed on flies, so the flies stay away.

Found it. http://www.magent.com/flypestcontrol.htm





This message was edited Sunday, Jun 29th 12:45 PM

Horseshoe, I am on my way to the kitchen as I type. If this works it will be almost a good as inventing cars that run on H20. I will report back tomorrow and next few days on the fly response to my faux hornets nests.

HAH...you make me smile! Thank you!

Looking forward to your report!

It has been a couple of days now with a bag of water suspended from the patio ceiling, set in a non conspicuous white twine. I have alum. siding all over so have not tacked the bag to the wall as the picture indicated. Will do that but trying to figure out how you do that w/out the weight of water bag pulling thru the plastic? Anyway, there are less flies then normal. Typical before was 9-11 flies. I have counted 2-3 in the area where they typically circle. Going nowhere, just circle. But the research goes on and will report in with data.

Cool...sounds like your place is a good test for it!

To not have the bag rip from the weight of the water you may need to use large-headed nails, like roofing nails. If you don't want to put holes in the siding maybe you could run a string down from higher up.

I orginally posted this problem of mine with flies in "dirt cheap" out of ignorance. Oh DAH! And one of the suggestions was to make my own fly traps with mayo jars and chicken livers. So I now have homemade fly trap, faux hornets nest, and a fan going.