How do I find where flies are coming from and how do I get rid of them

Do you have litter boxes in the house? They might be what was called "blow flies" when I was a kid. Do they make a buzzing sound when they fly near you? Try the old-fashioned fly strips...they do work. Also, take the tops off of your flour, sugar, pasta, etc. and see if you have weavels in the containers.

Go to Home Depot and buy the fly stick. For some reason, a week ago, we were inundated with flies and I'd had enough. Put this in the kitchen where it did no good. Then I moved it next to the trash can in the garage that I use for quick disposal to then put in cans outside later and it worked wonders. Fill the small bottom with honey to attract the flies. They really work.

We had the same issue in one particular area of our finished basement. Concluded a small animal, i.e., lizard/chameleon (anole), mouse or the like found its way into the ceiling and died. They were all the same size. We just kept after them untill they were finally gone. Even one of our hunting dogs was in on the catch. She had a blast!!! By the time the exterminator arrived he had the same conclusion. We saved a few so he could what type of fly they were, but of no significance. Wish you luck.

Oh, Judy, how disgusting to come home to those invaders! I had the same problem with little flour moths in my kitchen a couple of years ago. After throwing out everything with any kind of flour in it, I bought a case of Mason jars and lids and was absolutely insistent that everything was sealed tight in jars. It turned out to be somewhat convenient; a pint of pancake mix and (I can't remember the exact amount) of milk made breakfast a little easier. The spaghetti had to be broken into thirds, but that was a good idea for my little guys to catch the spaghetti on their forks and spoons. Sorry to prattle on...

The answer to your problem is simpler. Black flies take 4-5 to hatch, so one fertile female could be responsible for your invasion. I'd get a couple cans of Raid and fumigate, leaving with any pets for several hours (catch a movie?) and returning to sanitize the kitchen. Or, just keep swatting. It's a good excuse to eat out.

I would check under the house or the attic to see if a critter died. It could be a rat, possum, racoon, squirrel, mouse. Big black flies are blow flies that feed on dead carcases and lay their eyes in them.

Then cluster flies also look for places to winter and lay eggs that can hatch all at once. You will need to seal all cracks and crevices.

Hang some of those fly paper traps from the ceiling in the little round containers. You can also get clear fly paper that goes on the window if the flies hang there and it peels right off when full.

I’d lend you my cat, if you were in my area.....she likes to kill the flies...and then eat them.

Hi Judy,

This happens to us once a year, every year for some unknown reason. Come home to a swarm of flies usually in the bathroom. What i did was go into the bathroom with 2 things & close the door...1 was the vacuum cleaner with the wand end ready for action-just suck them up mid air and the other was a flyswatter. That took care of them, of course there were a few escapees to be taken out later.

The fly stick might work well too, it is a great idea. We have not had much luck with the fly paper pullouts that get hung about, omg, what a hot mess. I end up getting the raw end of the deal by not paying attention to where they are and collide with them, gross.

Hi; What a great idea about the vacuum. I was just swinging away with the fly swatter while I had myself closed in the bathroom. The ones that may have escaped were in the pantry where I have to ceiling fluorescent lights so I was back and forth. I think they may have come up out of the tub drain so I ran water and poured bleach in there and plugged it up. Leaving home for a few days makes me want to rethink a get away when I found these unwanted guests. Yuke! Thank you again.

Kindred spirits! There is always someone that has same type of issue or worse than me. If in fact they are little lizards, they will disintegrate very quickly and, hopefully, your issue will be resolved. Best of luck.

Sounds like "blow flies" to me, and they do bite if they can get to you. I would either:

• call an exterminator
• put up old-fashioned fly strips
• check all of your doors and windows (particularly windows) to make sure the screens are tight and don't have holes
• keep your ceiling fans running because they hate motion
• "blow flies" usually have a bluish tinge to their wings

Good luck and it looks like you have a small child so try to keep them away from him/her because of the biting.

Thank you everyone for responding to my questions and helping me resolve my dilemma with flies.

Or flies could have come into the house when your person was caring for your pets.

Kindred Spirits! There is always someone out there with a similar issue or, God bless them, a worse problem than me. I did all of that. I narrowed it down room by room. Ridding each room of flies, closed the door, on to the next until we pinned down the specific room. HA, they were trapped! My dog and I killed every fly we could, closed the door, went to bed. Next day, no flies buzzing throughout the house. Went to the basement room, opened the door and found many died overnight. Only a few left to swat. The end of that exercise, my dog was quite disappointed. The exterminator agreed it was a very small creature (lizard) that found its way in, died and disintegrated quickly. Not a fly since. Hope by now your pesky guests are gone.

Before leaving the home, clean thoroughly everywhere, especially where food is stored or prepared. Put all items in Dishwasher that has had food on or near that can be washed that way.

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