What type of Fly is this?

[andrew1]

Not the best of pictures, but for something the size of a fruit fly it's the best I could get.

 

This fly has infested our chimney and they are actually coming out through the open brickwork. It's an old place 1860's and we opened up the fireplace in this ex bedroom and installed a log burner a year ago exposing the natural brickwork.

 

My first thought was there must be a dead bird or squirrel in the chimney, but I had the people who installed the log burner back and got them to check the chimney out and there are no bodies there.

 

As this room is on the top floor (2 story) it's under the attic but I have never ventured up there as the previous owners stuffed it to the gills with insualtion, left the old fibre-glass insulation up there and just opening up the door fills me with itchy shards of fine degrading padding. The chimney is way over the far side of the attic too so it's impossible to get to without the fear I have of sending my leg through the plaster ceiling having missed a beam under this padding.

 

So, having called the council Pest Control department and told they 'don't do' flies, I've called 2 Pest Control Companies who assured me someone would call me back and haven't (obviously got too much work to bother! - good ole English service!) I need to try and find out what these are, and how to get rid of them.

 

Thus far I have lit the burner and heated it to as much as I could bear three times now and it does seem to have cleared many of them, but still they come, not so many now, but they head for the windows for the light I guess but they crawl all over the carpet too.

 

I think they are too small to be flying ants and the short antenna make them differ from fruit flies, so I am relying on the combined knowledge of cag to establish exactly what these gremlins actually are.

 

I looked at sprays but most are highly inflammable and not something I want to introduce to a chimney although we don't use the fire a lot and it is summer so I could chance it. Just be nice to know what they are...

 

The photo is a X30 and was taken on my mobile phone through a kiddies 'bug' telescope

gadget, just getting the thing steady to photo was bad enough so sorry for the size.

 

Thoughts please?

 

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[rebel11]

Being a keenanthropologists, I'd say it is some sort of 'fly' that can 'fly'.

[andrew1]

Being a keenanthropologists, I'd say it is some sort of 'fly' that can 'fly'.

 

Actually, this one can't - it's dead!

[citizenB]

google images for "cluster fly" andrew.. see if that is what you have ?

 

http://www.totalpestmanagement.net/flies-cluster-flies/

[rebel11]

O.K. you got me beat on that one, the following might be helpful:-

 

http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/insectid/fly.php

 

Alternatively send in a pic to the Natural History Museum.

 

Actually, this one can't - it's dead!

[andrew1]

Thanks guys and gals, looking at these pictures (and I've looked at so many previously) this looks as though it is either a fruit fly or a fungus knat.

 

There are no food items in the chimney or in the attic other than a dead something or another acting as a host and as I said, the chimney appears clear so it has to be the attic and I can't get to see so the question now is how do so many get into such a place and could this be a nesting place?

 

Once I know how they breed (keep it clean please:wink:) then I can establish whether it's a nest or a dead something, then maybe I can find a solution as to how to get rid of them.

 

A1

[rebel11]

Could it have been blown into the chimney?

[andrew1]

Could it have been blown into the chimney?

Unlikely in such numbers, the chimney has a rain cover cowling and we are not close enough to trees or other nesting sites, it's pretty much open around the chimney pot.

 

The queen may have been blown in, but I have roasted that log burner until it's almost red-hot which should have seen any bar-b-que'd fairly well by now, yet still a few come. I fired it up yesterday and I have 3 or 4 this morning wandering around the window. I had 50 + at a time before and god knows how many over the carpet. The carpet is clear now and I'd spotted a tiny hole in seal of the safety plate insert in the chimney where they were filing out. I blocked that and they found their way into the brickwork and squeezed out between the concrete grouting, through tiny tiny cracks - they must go flat before getting out it was so tight a squeeze.

[citizenB]

If it is in the loft/attic, it could be a dead mouse perhaps ! Or could a bird have somehow got into there ?

[andrew1]

That will remain a mystery CB as I am past my sell-by date for climbing over rafters to get up there and I cannot stand the fibres in my skin from that insulation padding. One day, if it is a rotting animal, the thing will be devoid of anything to be host to and will in time therefore be gone (RIP!) Hopefully it will not attract more!

 

I just need to find a way of ridding ourselves of these little mites sooner rather than later. If they are like bees they'll be gone soon enough once the winter Oct/Nov time arrives.

[maroondevo52]

Are we no taking this a wee bit too far

 

It's a wee beastie

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

That will remain a mystery CB as I am past my sell-by date for climbing over rafters to get up there and I cannot stand the fibres in my skin from that insulation padding. One day, if it is a rotting animal, the thing will be devoid of anything to be host to and will in time therefore be gone (RIP!) Hopefully it will not attract more!

 

I just need to find a way of ridding ourselves of these little mites sooner rather than later. If they are like bees they'll be gone soon enough once the winter Oct/Nov time arrives.

 

 

Raid Flying insect spray or crawling insect sprays are excellent we had a similar infestation in an outhouse all gone in a couple of days never to return.

[maroondevo52]

Raid Flying insect spray or crawling insect sprays are excellent we had a similar infestation in an outhouse all gone in a couple of days never to return.

 

Don't think that'll work Brig, this is a special wee fly

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Don't think that'll work Brig, this is a special wee fly

Perhaps it is the "Wee" they are attracted to or is this taking the ****?

[maroondevo52]

I think andrew1 will need to get up that attick and have a good rummage around, maybe take a big stick for self defence !!

[rebel11]

Apparently flys use fine hairs to sense a change in the air to detect anyone trying to swat them, that's why they are so quick to react.

[andrew1]

I can spray the chimney brest, that's easy, I can poke the tin up the flue and spray up there, that's relatively easy but as I mentioned, these sprays are generally flamable and the last thing I need is a chimney fire right now. To spray in the loft is a slightly different chore as it is a large loft with the chimney way over in the far corner and there's not a hope in hell I am climbing over to see what's there. Flies or no flies.

 

I'll need a few 'fine hairs' myself if I went up there

[andrew1]

Question then:

 

Do these flies need a host (dead body) or do they nest separately?

[labrat]

if the attic is hard to spray get some bug bombs (ebay em)

 

i got 6 for £20, ment to work on fleas flys spiders and all, just put in a room and press the button down, leave the room for a couple of hours, its about 35sqm per tin so 2/3 should easly do an attic

[andrew1]

Now that sounds like a good idea labrat, thank you - I can blow the feckers to kingdom come!

 

tick tock bugs you have 5 minutes to leave!

 

[citizenB]

Now that sounds like a good idea labrat, thank you - I can blow the feckers to kingdom come!

 

tick tock bugs you have 5 minutes to leave!

 

 

Dont give em any warning !!

[labrat]

just had a look on the bay

 

a "jumbo fumer" treats about 4000 cubic metres and is less than £30 however on looking closer is listed as "proffesional use only" however in my opinion thats the sort of warning that no-one listens to

 

a smaller home use one to treat 1000 cubic metres is under £15

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I think this is an infestation of the Bumole Flea celebrated by the great composer Ripya Corsetzof in his piece the Bite of the Bumole Flea.

[unclebulgaria67]

Could be anything. Image not good. Nearest I could see it looks like is a fever fly ( not harmful as they sound).

 

If you can light a fire in the fire place, perhaps smoke them out.

 

Might be worth having an inspection done, just in case there is a building problem you are not aware of. Sometimes insects are attracted by damp.

[caro]

I've found that burning either citrus or lavender scented candles keeps flies away. They hate them but might not be a good idea with all that insulation!!

 

Some other natural repellents here too.

 

http://www.maids.com/blog/5-home-friendly-ways-to-get-rid-of-houseflies/

 

Love the sound of the bug bomb though!!