Flies everywhere

[crampyi]

Posting for traffic.

theres been dozens of small black flies on my windowsill. Saw a couple on Thursday then bang, dozens on Friday. Still a few today. I feel really gross and itchy now. Just want to get rid.

yesterday I hoovered them and cleaned the windowsill, but obviously there’s still a few left and I’m not sure how to get rid completely.

They are not seemingly interested in food.

I left a glass of fruit juice out overnight on accident and they didn’t touch it, so doubt it’s fruit flies.

I have house plants everywhere - wonder if it’s the cause?

I have also had my window open quite regularly.

Yes, they’re coming from your houseplants. They’re called fungus gnats and are harmless. Putting a layer of grit over the plants will help to stop them.

Other methods here: dragonfli.co.uk/collections/house-plant-care

Are you near fields? They could be thunderbugs?

Put some garlic cloves about the place. The flies will go.

I think this first post nails it.

But also they could just be coming in from outside, it's the time of year.

No, I’m not near fields. I just remembered that I bought a pot of flowers from Waitrose which were reduced in price. When I got home, I noticed these flies were hovering around it and that also the flowers were already wilting so I just threw it away.

I’m guessing that didn’t get rid of the flies though, which probably went for my other plants. Really annoying

they have settled down now but I’m still seeing around 2-3 a day

Just ordered some grit, gnat killer, and sticky traps from Amazon. Everything is arriving later today so here’s to a fly free household!

They are, as advised above coming from your house plants. I had to use fine sand in the end and to be honest it’s never actually completely got rid of them but they are few and far between now.

thanks for the tips.

though I can’t lie - this makes me not want to bother having real plants!

will give the products a go, and if not might just switch out to fake plants

Are they big blue bottle type flies? Could something have died in the room?! A bird in your chimney for example?

No they’re the small ones that look similar to fungus gnats, if not smaller. If it was huge flies I think I would just move out! Lol

I know no one has asked for an update, but update!

I tried the fungus gnat killer, but I think I purchased the wrong one it is for larvae as opposed to adult files. I used it regardless but obviously still need something for the live flies. I added the yellow sticky traps, which has already caught a few of them across the entire house.

Ended up going to Waitrose & just buying a fly killer spray. It’s strong enough to kill wasps so these flies have no chance. Bit of a nuclear option but I’m sick of feeling gross in my own house. Just want some peace and bliss back.