Have you noticed that the spring weather has brought many animals to life? In fact, I would not be surprised if you are familiar with the awakening of some of these animals more than others! We have become personally accustomed with those who invade our homes and in turn become a nuisance to us. Two insects that have been labeled as common spring pests are the cluster fly and lady beetle.
Cluster flies, also known as attic or window flies, are black sluggish flies that are slightly larger than the common house fly.
Many homes and office buildings suffer from their invasion during the fall, winter and spring.
In the spring, cluster flies tend to flock by the hundreds around house windows in pursuit of an escape route to the outdoors.
Once outdoors, they seek rich soils that support earthworms. This type of soil is attractive to the cluster fly because it will nourish the fly's eggs and larvae.
When weather begins to cool cluster flies seek out dark secluded areas that will provide warmth and shelter through the winter.
If the opportunity to enter a building arises, they will immediately take advantage of it.
Building walls are perfect over wintering sites for cluster flies. They are warm, dark and offer lots of moving space!
Therefore, any open holes or cracks on a building are open invitations for the cluster fly.
The lady beetle, also commonly known as the lady bug or the ladybird beetle, is the familiar, small, and semi-circular beetle that is generally reddish-orange, tan or yellow in color with black spots.
Lady beetles have been a nuisance to home owners because their habit of invading homes in large numbers during the fall and emerging from the walls during the spring.
On warm sunny days you may see them congregating by the hundreds on walls, ceilings, doors, and windows. However, despite their nuisance-like behavior, lady beetles are very beneficial. They play an important role in the biological control of serious insect pests of trees, vegetables and flowers including aphids, scale insects and mealy bugs.
If the cluster fly and/or the lady beetle are a nuisance in your home, please take note that prevention is the best control. Before mid-September, when the flies and lady beetles are looking for winter shelter, begin caulking all cracks in siding, along eaves and overhangs, around doors and window frames.
If the insects are already indoors they will move around inside the walls and into living areas through openings in ceiling fixtures, electrical outlets, and window casings. Seal these openings and use a vacuum to collect visible flies or beetles.
Gently sweeping the flies and beetles up and releasing them outdoors is also effective. Fly traps may also be helpful. Place them in warm sunny areas or in the dark voids of a ceiling.
For more information on indoors pests, please call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 255-1183.
Renee Jensen is a program
educator of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County
Many homes and office buildings suffer from their invasion during the fall, winter and spring.
In the spring, cluster flies tend to flock by the hundreds around house windows in pursuit of an escape route to the outdoors.
Once outdoors, they seek rich soils that support earthworms. This type of soil is attractive to the cluster fly because it will nourish the fly's eggs and larvae.
When weather begins to cool cluster flies seek out dark secluded areas that will provide warmth and shelter through the winter.
If the opportunity to enter a building arises, they will immediately take advantage of it.
Building walls are perfect over wintering sites for cluster flies. They are warm, dark and offer lots of moving space!
Therefore, any open holes or cracks on a building are open invitations for the cluster fly.
The lady beetle, also commonly known as the lady bug or the ladybird beetle, is the familiar, small, and semi-circular beetle that is generally reddish-orange, tan or yellow in color with black spots.
Lady beetles have been a nuisance to home owners because their habit of invading homes in large numbers during the fall and emerging from the walls during the spring.
On warm sunny days you may see them congregating by the hundreds on walls, ceilings, doors, and windows. However, despite their nuisance-like behavior, lady beetles are very beneficial. They play an important role in the biological control of serious insect pests of trees, vegetables and flowers including aphids, scale insects and mealy bugs.
If the cluster fly and/or the lady beetle are a nuisance in your home, please take note that prevention is the best control. Before mid-September, when the flies and lady beetles are looking for winter shelter, begin caulking all cracks in siding, along eaves and overhangs, around doors and window frames.
If the insects are already indoors they will move around inside the walls and into living areas through openings in ceiling fixtures, electrical outlets, and window casings. Seal these openings and use a vacuum to collect visible flies or beetles.
Gently sweeping the flies and beetles up and releasing them outdoors is also effective. Fly traps may also be helpful. Place them in warm sunny areas or in the dark voids of a ceiling.
For more information on indoors pests, please call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 255-1183.
Renee Jensen is a program
educator of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County
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