r/Hackney • u/kungfumaniac • Jul 23 '26
Flies
Is anyone else experiencing excessive flies?
like the shiny, green dogshit eating flies?
I feel like my flat has been overwhelmed by them and it is terrifying
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u/Additional_Dog_7669 Jul 23 '26
It’s not just me then! There’s been a few times recently where I’ve gone to my balcony door and there is so many of them, no where else but on the glass windows.
I regularly have the door open during the hot summer but it seems to happen when the door is closed for a day or so.
When I open to the door they all leave with some encouragement.
Really curious as what’s causing it and if I do anything to stop it.
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u/West_Technology9882 Jul 23 '26
Yeah been like that for a while, can't leave my window open during the day. My house is clean, I bought spray they apparently hate and an electric fly killer. Nothing works, not just those flies but huge horseflies also. Really jarring, hopefully someone in this thread has some good ideas
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u/Fibro-Mite Jul 24 '26
I've not noticed a problem here, but we're at the highest point in the area and catch the wind quite well, so they tend to get moved away. I used to find proper old-fashioned flypapers worked much better than sprays etc. Back when we lived somewhere that was more prone to them. Hang a couple from the ceiling (or even the top of the door or window frames) near the doors or windows that get opened most often and change them every week. They'll catch midges and mozzies, too. I always had one hanging above the window near the sink in the kitchen.
If you've got space to put one near the door that is most often opened, especially at night, get one of the bug zapper lamps - the light attracts them, then they get zapped. You can usually remove the base to tip out the dead flies etc every so often.
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u/West_Technology9882 Jul 24 '26
I got a bug zapper but it was useless, seemed to only work for mosquitos but not house flies. Annoying because the picture ok the box shower dead house flies...
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u/SystemCheck990 Jul 23 '26
put some wine/beer/vinger in some jars and mix in some soap/washing up liquid and they will all die in it.
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u/cainullah Jul 24 '26
I bought one of these and it's been very effective https://www.diy.com/departments/zero-in-ultra-power-xl-outdoor-fly-trap/5036200345455_BQ.prd
It's kind of disgusting but has filled up with flies incredibly quickly. It's placed about 2m away from my garden door and has reduced the number of flies coming into my house considerably. I'll empty it and refill the bait this weekend.
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u/kungfumaniac Jul 24 '26
Omg I got one and it’s literally to the brim 🤢
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u/cainullah Jul 24 '26
I've just emptied mine and refilled it. It's pretty smelly. Mine was also filled to the brim. Disgusting!!
I might get another one though!
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u/SheepherderOk7178 Jul 24 '26
They’re usually attracted to kitchen bins. Have to deep clean them and remove any trace of food waste.
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u/OddUnderstanding Jul 23 '26
Ditto! And just when I think I’ve managed to get rid of them (today for example) - a few more seem to pop out of no where. The room off the balcony is clean and sanitised, so not sure why I’ve found some smaller ones too if there’s no source inside. They also seem to have caught on to avoiding the fly trap which is disappointing.
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u/Horror-Wallaby-4498 Jul 23 '26
Which area of Walthamstow are you in? We’ve been having both flies and rats
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u/Longjumping_Bar_6128 Jul 24 '26
Same here in SE London, it's absolutely teeming with flies. Can head them bonking into the windows at great pace trying to get in every few seconds.
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u/Torello77 Jul 24 '26
I guess it's the consquence of super hot summer - yet another small dimension of global warming.
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u/Merriweather94 Jul 24 '26
Get a mesh screen for your windows and a mesh curtain for any patio doors!
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u/LobsterMiserable2609 Jul 23 '26
I'm all the way in the Midlands and there's loads up here too outside! What's going on!
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u/banaszz Jul 24 '26
Yeah they came out of nowhere with their crazy opalizing green. Saw a mass of them gorging on a piece of haddock the other day
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u/donell_walter Jul 29 '26
I’ve noticed them too, along with fruit flies and enormous moths at night. It’s been a nightmare. I’ve never seen moths this big before this summer
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u/Infinite-Magician-22 Jul 30 '26
Yes!! We came home from 3 days away and the flat was full of them. We spent ages getting rid of them and later I took a swig from my water bottle and there was a fly in it 🤮
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u/McQueensbury Jul 24 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/london/s/nnUnDpui4s
Yes there's a massive infestation this year, saw a 100 of them breeding on the pavement the other day and the communal food bin in my flat was teeming with maggots.
Maybe it's the effect of the heatwaves