HELP! My house has been invaded by flies and gnats!

[MoodyBlues]

I have absolutely *NO* idea what happened, but for the last 4-5 days my house has been invaded, first by gnats and then flies. They're everywhere! And you'd think with six [lazy, spoiled, napping most of the time] indoor cats, at least SOME of the flies would get caught, right?

Like I said, I don't know what happened. But since the onslaught started I'm not even using the trash and recycling containers in the kitchen--I'm taking everything out as soon as they're used. Other than the dry cat food bowl that always has food in it for the [lazy, spoiled, napping most of the time] cats to graze from, and the coffee in the coffeemaker, there is no other food-related ANYTHING out.

I don't have, and don't want, any insecticides, so I've been swatting flies and gnats like crazy, but there are still more. Any thoughts on, A) WTF brought them in, and, B) what I can do to get rid of them! Note that it was *HOT* here when this started, like 100+.

 

[El Presidente]

My gran would swear that half a jar of water mixed in with some washing up liquid did the job (half and half mix apparently) and worked wonders for attracting and killing flies.

Sounds like baloney to me, but there's no harm in giving it a go.

 

[MoodyBlues]

My gran would swear that half a jar of water mixed in with some washing up liquid did the job (half and half mix apparently) and worked wonders for attracting and killing flies.

Sounds like baloney to me, but there's no harm in giving it a go.

By 'washing up liquid' do you mean dishwashing detergent? I've used a dilute solution of that before on outdoor plants to keep certain bugs from devouring them, so there may be something to this. I've got a spray bottle around here somewhere...I may give this a try.

 

[El Presidente]

Yeah, according to google, washing up liquid and dishwasher detergent look to be the same thing.

 

[Clementine_3]

Did you re-pot any plants? I was babysitting plants for my son and one of the times he came home he re-potted them and shortly after he left again (like a week later) I was overrun with gnats. They came in in the soil, new soil never fully dries so it's perfect for fungus gnats. I felt really bad but ended up throwing all the plants out. I tried a few different things I found on Google and even did get a pesticide powder to mix, nothing worked. I have a tortoise who has coconut coir as bedding and when the gnats moved in with him it was time for drastic measures...out went the plants and no more bugs after like a day.
Good luck if that's what they are. They look like tiny fruit flies. Bastard bugs.

 

[huh]

cloves are a fly repellent..

so is lavender..


also to get rid of house fly's you can make the room(s) as dark as possible..with only one small lighted way out to the outside like one small window or door..they tend to follow the light to get back outside..

good luck

 

[MoodyBlues]

Did you re-pot any plants? I was babysitting plants for my son and one of the times he came home he re-potted them and shortly after he left again (like a week later) I was overrun with gnats. They came in in the soil, new soil never fully dries so it's perfect for fungus gnats. I felt really bad but ended up throwing all the plants out. I tried a few different things I found on Google and even did get a pesticide powder to mix, nothing worked. I have a tortoise who has coconut coir as bedding and when the gnats moved in with him it was time for drastic measures...out went the plants and no more bugs after like a day.
Good luck if that's what they are. They look like tiny fruit flies. Bastard bugs.

Good thought, but no, that's not it. Ironically, although I have an AMAZING green thumb when it comes to growing things OUTSIDE, I can kill houseplants in record time. So I don't have any. Gave up on them years ago. (I do currently have one, a Christmas cactus that's miraculously in its third year now--and still alive--but it's in its original pot and soil, so no re-potting involved.)

 

[MoodyBlues]

cloves are a fly repellent..

so is lavender..

Thanks for the info.

also to get rid of house fly's you can make the room(s) as dark as possible..with only one small lighted way out to the outside like one small window or door..they tend to follow the light to get back outside..

The only problem I see with that is having to leave something OPEN for them to get out. If they can get out...other flies can get IN. So I'm not sure how I could make this work.

 

[LilBit]

Mix this , heavy on the soap, light on the water, in a bowl, set it out.
Let the Massacre begin!! That's how I got rid of the gnats.



Try one of these for the fly's. Works on the gnat's as well.

 

[LilBit]

Dont get the fly strip in your hair though, Awful mess, especially with dead bugs in it!! Ewwww

 

[MoodyBlues]

Mix this , heavy on the soap, light on the water, in a bowl, set it out.
Let the Massacre begin!! That's how I got rid of the gnats.

Will any brand of dishwashing detergent work? I guess we'll find out because I'm going to give this a try with mine.

Try one of these for the fly's. Works on the gnat's as well.

I'll resort to that if the above doesn't work.

Dont get the fly strip in your hair though, Awful mess, especially with dead bugs in it!! Ewwww

No kidding!

 

[LilBit]

I dont know about other dish washing liquids,


i think maybe it is something about the smell of soap though.

 

[huh]

Thanks for the info.


The only problem I see with that is having to leave something OPEN for them to get out. If they can get out...other flies can get IN. So I'm not sure how I could make this work.

they go to the light fast...you can also shoo them towards it...it's not a leave the window open all night thing...
15 -20 min for an average sized room..but it has to be dark and the only way out has to be lighted...

 

[DonB]

You didn't kill anyone lately that we are not aware of

Another thing you can do is turn the A/C as low as it will go, that will make them run for the hills.

 

[zuben el genub]

Flies and gnats get pesty before a storm. Are these regular flies or fruit flies? Sometimes you can bring the larvae home from the store and not know it.

The dishwasher liquid in water should help. We use that for Miller moths. You can also use Apple Cider Vinegar.

If it gets cold enough and the flies are in a semi torpor in the AM, vacuum them up.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Here's an update: The dishwashing liquid in water is working well! I put a bowl of it on the counter, but it only attracted a couple of gnats and one fly. Which are now DEAD gnats and a fly. But, using the soap solution in a spray bottle is GREAT. I'm spraying it on flies and they're dropping like flies. :laugh: Ditto for gnats. The only problem is that I don't want soap on THINGS, like furniture and curtains and lamps, so I have to refrain from spraying when they're on those things.

I'm not going to try the 'light the way to an escape route' thing just yet. I'll see if my current strategy does the trick first.

THANKS everybody for the great ideas.

 

[El Presidente]

I googled about a bit last night, if you get scented detergent, try a fruity one. They're drawn to sweet smells by all accounts so the jar thing might yield better results.

 

[Joelgp83]

I see the source of MoodyBlues' frustration. Since she is an avid *nix user, she has no Windows that the Bugs can use to get in. This entire thread must be her Report about the issue.....

 

[MoodyBlues]

I see the source of MoodyBlues' frustration. Since she is an avid *nix user, she has no Windows that the Bugs can use to get in. This entire thread must be her Report about the issue.....

:rofl: :congrats: :rofl:

 

[Lordvincent 90]

http://science.howstuffworks.com/zoology/insects-arachnids/water-bags-repel-flies.htm

hanging a baggie filled with water (and some say to add a penny or two) will repel flies. Supposedly it has something to do with the refraction of light through the bag.

 

[mikedt]

Another thing you can do is turn the A/C as low as it will go, that will make them run for the hills.

That's what we usually do in China. Bugs hate cold.

 

[funkylogik]

Check this out View attachment 57757
I put that fly paper up on wednesday because the last one was full *puke*
We live quite high up and in a street full of resteraunts and its a heatwave so we need the windows open but the flies are terrible man

 

[MoodyBlues]

You didn't kill anyone lately that we are not aware of

Not that I recall...:hmpf:

Another thing you can do is turn the A/C as low as it will go, that will make them run for the hills.

Oh, I'd love that! It's never cool enough for me. However, with temps blazing here in the 90s and 100s, I'd hate to see my electric bill if I let the A/C run constantly.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Check this out View attachment 57757
I put that fly paper up on wednesday because the last one was full *puke*

Wednesday? As in two days ago?! Oh my goodness.

We live quite high up and in a street full of resteraunts and its a heatwave so we need the windows open but the flies are terrible man

Wait--don't you have air conditioning? I'd be lost without it.

 

[mikedt]

Check this out View attachment 57757
I put that fly paper up on wednesday because the last one was full *puke*

Hmmm...what's for lunch mate?