What is attracting house flies ?

[Marb67]

Around the entrance to my back door and kitchen window there seem to be a lot of house flies around on the foliage of plants, lettuce leaves. I cannot find any reason why they would land on plants as well as hang around this area. I can't find any dead animal carcass etc or smell anything. I want to deter them as I hate them coming in the house, especially as the neighbors have piles of dog c**p in their garden which they could have also landed on.

Any theories ?

[Guest]

Around the entrance to my back door and kitchen window

You have already said it - your kitchen. Smells may not linger to you but they do for a housefly. There is all the usual methods - fly spray (usually not suitable for kitchens), outdoor traps, citronella sprays and candles, fly paper, swatters, zappers etc. etc. then by the time you get on top of the blighters it will be winter

[Marb67]

Never had a problem with them in 17 years living here. Something is attracting them.

[bearded bloke]

Never had a problem with them in 17 years living here. Something is attracting them.

So in that case you need to think about what is different/new in that area this year, different plant food, fresh manure, blocked drain, etc

[Marb67]

Nothing like that. They are landing on the leaves of my plants, Ribes, climbing hydrangea, viburnum. It's a real mystery.

[bearded bloke]

Odd indeed, there must be something attracting them

[Hazel at the Hill]

It might just be that it's a good year for flies, like sometimes it's a good year for ladybirds etc?

They drive me mad coming in the kitchen when I have the back door open (most the time at this time of year) and I have seriously considered one of those ribbon curtain things that I always associate with caravans.

[bearded bloke]

The magnetic ones they advertise on telly are very good Hazel, there are cheap copies available in some garages but the magnets are nowhere near as strong as the JML originals.

[PyreneesPlot]

We have a ribbon one Hazel - pretty rubbish as they land on it and then walk in!
Flies are bad for us this year, too. I put it down to warmer weather and horses rather than cattle in the field over the road.

[Greenleaves]

We have a modified net curtain at the door, split down the middle and magnets sown to it, great for flies, moths etc. Does me a favour when the crane flies appear....scared stiff of them!

[Nicos]

We have something like this on our back door and it works a treat....we even have a compost bin right next to the door!
They come in all sorts of colours

[Bren In Pots]

That's what we have to our doors Nicos it doesn't stop all the flies because some of them seem to hang around then sneak inside with me but it does help.

[scarey55]

The magnetic ones they advertise on telly are very good Hazel, there are cheap copies available in some garages but the magnets are nowhere near as strong as the JML originals.

We have those here too BB, they work really well. I find that if I leave something meaty in the kitchen though, they still manage to get in (not suggesting that you have done that Marb) I think as Hazel and PP have said, it might just be one of those years

[Marb67]

They are all over the leaves my flowering currant bush. The bush has been oozing some white mold like substance from it's stems for some tie. I wonder if there is something in that.

[Knight of Albion]

We had a mass outbreak of flies here one year. As I don't believe in killing things, I caught them all one by one in a plastic cup (the secret is to be slow and gentle) and released them outside unharmed.
The cause turned out to be a couple of potatoes in the sack that had rotted ...

I don't believe it has been a particularly good year for flies, or anything else for that matter. A lot less insects in general I would say.

If it's an issue, dear Marb. A fly curtain would be the most sensible solution,