Fly issue any advice would be appreciated

[Macaroni1924]

We live in and end terrace which has a carpark to the side with a large tree in it. Each year the tree causes some flies and it is very annoying. This year it is a whole other level. They are everywhere. Walking to the car you get them on you, they settle on all the cars, they are now in my garden and once the sun goes away from the front garden they are making their way round to settle on the front of my house/fence etc. I have cleaned every inch of my house outdoors and sprayed with lavender. I have left out vinegar and dish soap which has caught a measly 3 flies. I can’t possibly open any windows on a hot day or I’m going to end up with a house full! What can I do about this? The tree isn’t mine so it’s not like I can get rid of it, I assume it’s a council tree. From what I can gather from Google they may be fungal gnats but I’m not sure.

Fungus gnats are tiny.

Can you put fine mesh up screens up at opening windows at least temporarily until the fly problem is resolved. Could be worth asking the council to get the tree looked at in case it has any rotten branches, etc?

Great idea will have a wee look on Amazon tonight. I’m having to dry my clothes indoors despite the nice weather so would be good to be able to open a couple of windows. I looked up the council and for trees it was only for dangerous trees and the environmental part was a paid for service which I wouldn’t mind if my house was the issue. Will maybe just call on Monday and see if they can put me through to the right place. Thanks 😊

Perhaps try your Council for an infestation of flies? Ie treat it as a fly problem not a tree problem. They’ll probably tell you to call a pest control firm but there’s no harm in asking. And if a pest control company were to give you something in writing to say the tree was the source of the problem, that would give you more leverage with the Council.

Your local Councillors are another option

So I finally got a call back from the council who are passing it on to get it looked at. I hope it’s soon because they are terrible again today and all clustered over things in my garden that sit directly under the tree. We just went out in the car and had a few inside. Feel like I’m constantly itching when I’ve been outdoors! The poor binman was covered this morning to the point he took his jacket off to shake it. It’s absolutely disgusting and really getting me down. I just hope they do something. They don’t think spraying it will help so hoping if they cut it back like give it a baldy 😂that might help.

So the council called yesterday and all sounded great very understanding and helpful. They transferred me to the tree department who called today. I was told in no uncertain terms that the council will not cut back or down trees due to them being a natural part of our ecosystem and spouted some stuff about COP26. I explained everything that this is impacting and he couldn’t care less. I said that I have the right to enjoy my home and garden he said I did but not to chop down neighbours trees, I reiterated that this was a council tree on council land and was met with the same statement about ecosystems. At one point he said the tree has been there for 100 and something years as if the tree has more rights than me. He will check the tree to see if it is sick and producing a more potent pollen but that is it. I am not long out of hospital and just returned to work so I am very emotional at the moment and I was honestly struggling not to cry on the phone. This is our first house after living in a flat till our wee one was 3. I spent thousands last year getting the garden landscaped and have been so looking forward to using it to be met with this. What else can I do? I mentioned the neighbours who said they would complain too and he said they can complain if they want but the council will not… I feel at my wits end with it and it’s really getting me down.

So the tree officer hasn't actually been out to take a look? Can you video the fly issue and contact your local councillor about it?

Time to involve Councillors. Pity it’s just after the elections.

Nope nobody had came out to check it. I’ve been collecting photos but I stupidly didn’t think to do a video that would be much better. Will also look into contacting a councillor. I’ve found out via a community post that this issue isn’t limited to this area there seems to be a mass of them in various areas within the town. We have a lot of green areas here. It’s disgusting and give me the heebie Jeebies!

I've never know a tree cause this sort of issue with flies. What kind of tree is it? What do the flies look like - big/small, black, striped, what?

The man from the council did tell me the tree but I can’t remember. He said they are after the nectar on the tree and will go away in time. From the post I saw in the community someone said they are Hawthorn Flies, here is a photo of them that someone else posted.

It’s an oak tree, sorry had a moment there 🙈 I’m not long out of hospital and they seem to have removed my brain 🙈

OP these are fantastic pollinators, absolutely harmless and apparently only spend about a week flying around as the majority of their life is spent underground. Keep your windows shut for a week and they should be gone.

Oh really! Thank u, they have really died down the last 2 days. Was bad for about 2 weeks though we had a couple of days with significantly less but picked back up again. I was so worried they were going to be like this for the summer. With so many being around my property I felt it made us look dirty. Thanks for that info hopefully that’s them starting to go away then 🤞🏻

See @Staynow has produced a really helpful answer for you- why couldn't the council chap do that and put your mind at rest?? 🙄

Honestly, he sounds JUST like the tree man at our council who we had a month long battle with before he finally admitted that no, the council hadn't planted a tree that needed removing, confirming that it had in fact been 'planted by bird'.........

I love trees, the more trees the better, all streets should have trees, etc etc, but honestly, you'd think they were his actual children.

Hope you can get out there and enjoy your garden without feeling like you're in a horror film OP!

We had a tree/ plant that is growing along our cellar wall. Ie it covers it like Ivy. It’s been there forever so I couldn’t tell you what it is

Anyway, we have the same every year, for about 1-2 weeks there’s loads of flies all over that section of wall ( it’s about 2m high and 8m long). And then they just disappear

So as someone mentioned, I expect the remedy is just time, and hopefully in a weeks time they would have gone and you can make full use of your garden

This is exactly what my mum said, why couldn’t the man from the council tell you! I mean had he then I wouldn’t have been so concerned. This year there have been so many unlike what I’ve ever seen before so I assume it must be to do with the weather.
Its crazy how protective they are over them and I wasn’t for cutting it down, I asked for it to be cut back or sprayed/treated if that was a possibility.
When we moved here the draw was the amount of green space and how lovely it is to go out walking amongst the fields and trees. In the short time we have lived here roughly 1/3 of those fields have been given over to developers for new housing. I find it so sad! We are hearing so much about deer and badgers being knocked down because they are being ran out their homes 😢

Thanks to everyone for your help and responses really set my mind at ease. @Caspianberg this is great because I know now if it happens next year etc not to worry!

thanks everyone 😊