# Whence all these f'ing flies?!? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442 "2024-12-10T14:47:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/1 "2024-12-10T14:47:21Z")
In the last few days, we’ve had well over a dozen big house flies buzzing around the house, all of a sudden. The silver lining is that they’re slower and dumber than the usual occasional summer flies, so they’re easier to swat and kill. (We live on the North Shore of Boston.) But where the fuck are they coming from? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/2 "2024-12-10T14:57:55Z")
Coincidentally, just yesterday I had a fresh mosquito bite. On December 9 in Northern Germany, with temperatures of around 0-5° C in the last days. I blame climate change, both for your fly infection and my mosquito bite. ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/3 "2024-12-10T15:27:38Z")
My next door neighbour here in the UK has a plague of flies at the moment with a few making it into my place. Like yours they are really slow and easy to swat. She also had a strange smell coming from one of the walls so she called in ‘Roger the Rat-man’. He found a few dessicated mouse corpses in the loft and one fresh one. That was 10 days ago but the flies are still coming even though the corpse smell has gone. How long do fly eggs take to hatch? Could the current plague be the children of a mommy and daddy fly that met at the mouse corpse 2 weeks ago? ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/4 "2024-12-10T16:03:07Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > How long do fly eggs take to hatch? Could the current plague be the children of a mommy and daddy fly that met at the mouse corpse 2 weeks ago? This is a good and relevant question, if anyone happens to know the answer. We just had the pest guy out to help with our mouse problem in the cellar. He set new traps, which are all empty, and refilled the poison bait station. The latter could have led to a corpse we haven’t detected. 🙁 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/5 "2024-12-10T16:05:55Z")
For fruit flies, a cup of vinegar is a cheap and effective trap, but for other flying bugs, I have a [plug-in Zevo trap](https://zevoinsect.com/pages/traps), with a blue light to attract the bugs and a disposable sticky pad to hold them. I like it because it’s passive and works all day and night. I don’t like the light at night in the bathroom so I would unplug it when I went to bed. And now I’ve moved it to the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/6 "2024-12-10T16:15:02Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > He found a few dessicated mouse corpses in the loft and one fresh one. That was 10 days ago but the flies are still coming even though the corpse smell has gone. We had a rat problem for several years. We could often hear them in the walls and ceiling areas. An eruption on large black (and slow) flies in the house was not uncommon (probably happened two or three times a year). When we finally tore down the walls the builders discovered 18 rat mummies. Extremely gross. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/7 "2024-12-10T16:23:04Z")
Yep. I’ll go with hidden animal corpse inside. A friend has a cabin in the mountains and occasionally has a fly bloom, even in winter. Animal crawls into warm space and dies. It’s the only plausible explanation. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/8 "2024-12-10T18:14:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I have a [plug-in Zevo trap](https://zevoinsect.com/pages/traps), with a blue light to attract the bugs and a disposable sticky pad to hold them. Thanks for reminding me. I have a couple of them that I’ll redeploy. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/9 "2024-12-10T18:16:45Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > The silver lining is that they’re slower and dumber than the usual occasional summer flies, so they’re easier to swat and kill we just used a vacuum cleaner. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/10 "2024-12-10T18:17:03Z")
For me, a sudden influx of flies always means there is a mouse liquifying somewhere in the house. Especially if they are those iridescent green flies. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/11 "2024-12-10T18:31:20Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > For me, a sudden influx of flies always means there is a mouse liquifying somewhere in the house. I’m not looking forward to telling my wife that this may be what is causing it. At least there’s no obvious smell in the cellar (or elsewhere) at the moment. We’ve had that happen, until I was able to find the corpse. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/12 "2024-12-10T20:00:04Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > I have a [plug-in Zevo trap](https://zevoinsect.com/pages/traps), with a blue light to attract the bugs and a disposable sticky pad to hold them. > > Thanks for reminding me. I have a couple of them that I’ll redeploy. I have 2 of those~I am impressed with how well they work and yes, how low maintenance and passive yet effective they are. Well worth the initial start up costs. However, be wary of the imposters-similar but cheaper units aren’t nearly as effective and not worth the few bucks saved. Zevo brand only. I’ve got one in the bathroom (I like it as a nightlight) and one in the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2024, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/13 "2024-12-10T20:02:42Z")
You’re unlike me; I hate the light in the bathroom at night. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/14 "2024-12-11T21:26:11Z")
The only time I had an outbreak of large houseflies, I much later found a dead bird under my bed (thanks a lot, cat!). ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/15 "2024-12-11T21:32:31Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > How long do fly eggs take to hatch? Could the current plague be the children of a mommy and daddy fly that met at the mouse corpse 2 weeks ago? Per Google AI: > [@](#): > > Fly eggs hatch in a time frame that depends on the temperature and humidity: > > - **Warmer temperatures** > > In tropical and subtropical regions, fly eggs can hatch in as little as 12 hours. In the summer, fly eggs can hatch in as little as eight hours. > > - **Colder temperatures** > > In temperate and arctic regions, fly eggs typically hatch in no more than 24 hours. In the winter, fly eggs can take up to three days to hatch. > > - **Controlled temperatures** > > Eggs laid indoors where temperatures are controlled frequently hatch more quickly. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/16 "2024-12-12T05:40:56Z")
You can try hanging some of these fly traps outside around your house: > **[Amazon.com : RESCUE! Outdoor Disposable Hanging Fly Trap : Insect Traps : Patio,...](https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-Disposable-Non-Toxic-Fly-Trap/dp/B00004TBKM)** > > Amazon.com : RESCUE! Outdoor Disposable Hanging Fly Trap : Insect Traps : Patio, Lawn & Garden They work great. They have a smell that’s too strong for indoors. Hang them outside in a few places and they may attract the flies into the trap before they get into your house. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/17 "2024-12-12T07:48:12Z")
Yep. Gonna be a pest like critter that went to his maker. I wonder how people murder someone and just build a wall around them. Our delicate noses can smell a itty bitty mouse all the way down in the cellar. Can you imagine a whole human body decomposing in the walls. Let me tell you about this bullfrog that decided to off himself in my smallish shed…nah, it’s just too gross to describe the aroma. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/18 "2024-12-12T07:59:26Z")
I would get mice once in a while, mostly when winter was getting really cold. It was a very old house, no way to completely keep them out. But I had a cat, and used snap traps, so I didn’t get flies. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-all-these-fing-flies/1011442/19 "2024-12-12T14:49:37Z")
I live in the Raleigh area of NC and we’ve had quite a few stink bugs (technically, brown marmorated stink bugs) show up in the last few months. Like moths, they like to fly around the ceiling light, finally landing somewhere long enough for me to take care of them. The weird part is that they come one at a time. It’s like the Crow warriors in _Jeremiah Johnson_…they must consider it dishonorable to come in force. I’ll dispatch one and then, an hour later, there will be exactly one more flying around. I literally never see two at a time.