What Is Causing a Sudden Increase in Flies at My Duxford Property?

Sudden flies in the house are not always a sign that something is breeding indoors. In Duxford, where older cottages sit beside newer family houses near the airfield and the fields beyond, one of the most common explanations is cluster flies, which behave very differently from house flies.

What Cluster Flies Are

Cluster flies are slightly larger than a house fly, duller in colour and noticeably slow. They develop outdoors, then look for a sheltered place to spend the winter. Roof spaces, wall cavities and the tops of window frames suit them. On a warm day in autumn or late winter they wake up, find their way into living areas and crawl up the glass.

Signs It Is Cluster Flies

• They are mostly in bedrooms, landings or rooms below the roof
• They gather at the sunniest window and seem unable to leave
• They are sluggish and easy to swat
• There is no smell, and no source in the kitchen or bins
• Numbers rise on a mild or sunny day and fall on a cold one

What Helps at Home

1. Use a vacuum cleaner on the flies at the window, then empty the bag outside.
2. Check the loft for a heap of flies in corners or along the eaves.
3. Seal obvious gaps around window frames, around pipes and at the loft hatch.
4. Do not use an aerosol in the loft; a mass of dead flies there can attract other insects.

What It Cannot Do

Hoovering deals with the flies you see, not the hundreds that may be tucked away above. In older Duxford properties with open eaves, a complete seal may not be realistic. We would rather tell you that than promise it.

What We Do

We confirm the fly type first, because cluster flies need a different approach from drain or house flies. We then treat the roof space and the points where they enter and advise on reducing numbers next season. Our fly control in Duxford service is £180, fixed, with no call-out fee. Every treatment is guaranteed: if flies return within 14 days we re-treat at no charge. Read the fly control cost guide for details.

If you are unsure what you have, a pest inspection and survey costs £120.

Older Cottage or Newer House?

The age of a Duxford property changes the picture a little. Old cottages tend to have more gaps at the eaves, around window frames and where pipes pass through walls, so flies can enter in larger numbers. Newer houses are tighter, but a roof space can still be reached through vents and soffits. In both, the most useful clue is timing. If the flies show up on the first mild days after a cold spell, think cluster flies. If they are there in summer too, think again, and look at the bins and drains.

To discuss what you are seeing, call 01223 902388 or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of one of the flies.