Pest Control – Flies

Fly Infestations

Across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, fly infestations are a common problem for both homes and businesses. As a professional pest controller, I deal with a wide range of fly species and infestation scenarios — from small domestic issues to large-scale commercial outbreaks.

Here’s a summary of the fly control services I offer:

• UV Electric Fly Killers for Commercial Use

  I supply, install, and maintain UV electric fly killers in commercial settings such as restaurants, takeaways, food production sites, and shops. These units attract flying insects using ultraviolet light and trap or eliminate them quickly and hygienically.

  Regular servicing is available to ensure the units remain clean, compliant, and fully functional. I also offer a postal service for clients further afield who want to order UV fly killing units for self-installation.

• Domestic Fly Control Solutions

  For households dealing with fly problems, I provide thorough inspections to identify the source and type of fly infestation. This could be common house flies, fruit flies, drain flies, or others. Based on the findings, I’ll recommend the most suitable treatment, which may include sprays, traps, or preventative measures.

  Typical causes in homes include bin areas, blocked drains, compost bins, or hidden organic waste. Each case is different and requires a tailored approach.

• Cluster Fly Control in Lofts and Roof Spaces

  Cluster flies are a major nuisance in both domestic and commercial buildings, especially in autumn and winter. They enter roof spaces in large numbers to hibernate, often going unnoticed until they begin emerging around windows, loft hatches, or light fittings.

  I offer safe and effective cluster fly control using professional-grade treatments designed to prevent them from returning year after year.

• Fly Control in Agricultural Settings

  Farms and stables often struggle with flies due to the presence of livestock, manure, and open food sources. I provide fly control solutions for agricultural clients that may include:

  • Residual insecticide treatments

  • Fly baits and traps

  • Advice on waste management and fly breeding prevention

  • Maintenance plans for ongoing control during warmer months

  Agricultural fly infestations can affect both animal welfare and business operations, so early intervention is key.

Cluster Flies

Cluster flies – Genus Pollenia – are also known as attic flies. They can be up to 10mm long and as their name suggests, they will congregate in clusters, often in attics or wall cavities. They are quite distinctive, with grey and olive stripes.

The female lays eggs in damp earth often in areas of leaves and leaf litter. Some cluster flies are parasitic to earth worms. Their larvae bore through the body of the worm. This makes them more common in rural areas and in areas where a suitable habitat exists. After the earthworm has died, the larvae bore out and pupate in the earth and leaf litter, the adults later feeding on nectar.

Cluster flies are not, for the biggest part of the year, of any nuisance value at all. In cases where they do become a nuisance, that is all they are. They are never a threat to human health.

Cluster Fly Update

We have recently been trialing a number of new cluster fly traps.

We have found that as many people convert their loft spaces into extra bedrooms, cluster fly infestations that would once have remained un-noticed are becoming more of a problem. The flies return to houses that they have always visited and begin to cause concerns as they gather in numbers on windows.

This is where the cluster fly traps come into play. They are sited in the window, with the entrance slot at just the right angle to capture the cluster flies as they make their way around the window. As cluster flies leave a pheromone trail to lure in other flies, the traps become self attracting, breaking the yearly cycle of re-infestation.

Seasonal Flies

As the summer comes to an end, cluster flies begin to look for somewhere to hibernate and begin to gather together. This is when they may enter homes and roof spaces, and you may notice them around windows.

Flies that do emerge from the cluster will often be dopey and inactive. Cluster flies tend to use the same areas to gather year after year, even though identical areas are available nearby. There is no known reason for this phenomenon, and it has nothing to do with the cleanliness of the property.

Fly Infestation? Get In Touch

Contact Ian Smith Pest Control for any insect problems, including fly infestations. I offer free, no obligation advice and quotes throughout Greater Manchester, Bolton, Preston and Blackburn.

Give us a call today on 07821 318954 or send us a message for a swift response.