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

Flies that seem to appear overnight in a family house are very often house flies or small bluebottle-type flies that found waste they could breed in. In larger Great Shelford homes with kitchens, utility rooms, garages and a garden, there are simply more places for that to happen, and it can go unnoticed, especially after a holiday.

A Timeline That Explains the Rush

Flies lay eggs on waste. In warm weather the eggs hatch into maggots within a day or so, and the maggots then develop into new flies in around one to two weeks. So a bin left for a week while you are away can mean a crop of adult flies on your return.

The Places to Check

• The kitchen bin and the liner, including underneath it
• The outside wheelie bin, particularly the lid seal and the bottom
• The food waste caddy
• Pet food bowls and the area around a litter tray or dog bed
• Compost bin or heap near the house
• Utility room: a laundry basket with damp or food-soiled items
• Garage: stored bin bags, or a second fridge or freezer that has failed

What You Can Do

1. Empty and wash the bins, including the lid, with hot water and detergent.
2. Dispose of any waste with visible maggots in a sealed bag, in the outside bin.
3. Keep bin lids closed and keep the caddy emptied.
4. Close windows or use fly screens while the numbers fall.
5. Use a hanging fly paper or electric unit for the adults.

What It Does Not Fix

Cleaning stops further breeding but does nothing for flies already in the house, and screens do not help if the source is inside. If flies keep appearing after the bins are clean, something else is producing them, perhaps a drain, a loft or a cavity.

When We Come In

We identify the fly, find the breeding site, and treat that and the adults. The price for fly control in Great Shelford is £180, fixed, with no call-out fee, and the figure is confirmed first. If it returns within 14 days we re-treat free. See the fly control cost guide. If you only want to know what you have, a pest inspection and survey is £120.

Larger Houses Mean More Places to Look

A big Great Shelford family house can have a kitchen bin, a utility bin, a pet corner, a garage and an outside store, and each one is a possible source. Go through them one at a time rather than all at once, noting what you find. If a source turns up, deal with it and give it a few days. If nothing turns up, the flies may be coming from the roof space or a drain, and it is worth moving on to those instead of repeating the same cleaning.

You are welcome to call 01223 902388 or WhatsApp a photo if the flies carry on after the bins and utility room are sorted.