# Please identify this fly, and potential source of infestation **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-this-fly-and-potential-source-of-infestation/543631 "2010-06-18T01:32:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-this-fly-and-potential-source-of-infestation/543631/1 "2010-06-18T01:32:19Z")
The flies found in theses pictures are in my house. I find them trapped between the screen and the window. On my older, cheap, not-yet-replaced windows, these flies are finding their way through into the house. There must be 50 of them in the house at this point. Where are they coming from? These same flies (well, the same type and quantity) appeared last year too. I _think_ it might be related to the groundhogs that took up residence in our yard. It’s dark now, so I can’t get a picture of the yard, but if you are facing the back of the house, the groundhog burrow is at the far left, under a screened in deck/porch. Following to the right, the porch ends and the breakfast nook with the old shoddy, leaky windows is next. This is where the majority, if not all, the flies have entered the home. Finally, to the right of the kitchen is the dining room. The picture of the fly trapped between the screen and the window was taken in the dining room. Why this week and not last week? When the flies were here last year, I sprayed the windows from the outside. I assumed it was a fluke/freak thing, but now I’m convinced there’s a problem… like maybe it’s the time of year or something. Last year I was looking for a dead animal. I didn’t find one. None so far this year, either. No smells. No lingering garbage. I don’t have a dog and there’s no dog feces in the yard. So the questions are, what type of fly is this? Is it the sort that hangs around with groundhogs? Do I just keep eliminating the groundhogs to eliminate the problem? Is there some sort of other pest lurking in the walls that is host to the fly larvae where the pupae burst from the host and feed on its remains until it forms into a full-grown adult, where it then annoys me until I kill it? [Closeup](http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MrvT5-v6sIHDPxrVuS3bkPQTTEO9U5LZC2ph787hdUQ?feat=directlink) of fly. [Closeup with penny](http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mA8108oRJKlWdvqePuouZPQTTEO9U5LZC2ph787hdUQ?feat=directlink) for scale. Fly [trapped](http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mjoGwzsFt_eQpDj5zrIM6_QTTEO9U5LZC2ph787hdUQ?feat=directlink) between new, good window and screen. Same picture of fly between window and screen, but with [focal point color](http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iINyD81bl8spzwQxpb9wUfQTTEO9U5LZC2ph787hdUQ?feat=directlink) in case you didn’t see where the fly was. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-this-fly-and-potential-source-of-infestation/543631/2 "2010-06-18T02:50:58Z")
> [@JerseyFrank](#): > > … what type of fly is this? … [Green bottle fly](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_bottle_fly). CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-this-fly-and-potential-source-of-infestation/543631/3 "2010-06-18T03:58:53Z")
You’ve got something dead in or around the house and they want to get to it. Have you checked the attic? > [@](#): > > Blow flies breed in damp organic material such as garbage and dead animals, therefore most of these pests found indoors actually originate from an outdoor source. Small numbers of Blow flies in a structure usually point to an outdoor source. If large numbers of these flies are found indoors, it may be a sign of an indoor infestation. Indoors, look for signs of dead rodents or birds that may have been living in walls or crawl spaces, or even living in lower cabinets and under major appliances. Outdoors, inspect the area for dead animals; any nearby dumpsters or other garbage containers should be inspected. > Exclusion and Sanitation, Insecticides, Traps, and Aerosols > > 1. Exclusion and Sanitation: > > Locate and eliminate all possible breeding sources. Blow/Bottle flies feed and breed on dead animals and garbage.Whenever possible, food and materials on which the flies can lay their eggs must be removed, destroyed, as a breeding medium, or isolated from the egg-laying adult. Killing adult flies will reduce infestation, but elimination of breeding areas is necessary for good management > Proper sanitation measures must be taken with dumpsters and rodent control with flesh flies. > > Exclude Blow/Bottle Flies from a structure with proper screening and maintenance of doors and windows ---
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-this-fly-and-potential-source-of-infestation/543631/4 "2010-06-18T11:00:06Z")
> [@astro](#): > > You’ve got something dead in or around the house and they want to get to it. Have you checked the attic? Not yet. I don’t smell anything… ---
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-this-fly-and-potential-source-of-infestation/543631/5 "2010-06-18T17:08:00Z")
Found it. Rotting meat in the garbage can in front of the house. Opened the lid and the maggots were everywhere. Yummy.