Those Pesky Flies!

House Flies

During the warmer months we sometimes get calls from guests who are alarmed at flies coming into the house. Unfortunately, this is one of the downsides of living in the country and there is very little we can do about it; it’s a bugbear of ours during hot summers, and of course, if there is a stream or river nearby, or livestock in the surrounding fields this attracts the flies even more.

So what to do about it? Well, there’s fly spray of course, but that’s not nice stuff to be spraying about where there’s food or young children, and not great for the environment. Fly papers look unsightly and insect screens are a pain if there’s a large group of you going in and out of the house.

Obviously, don’t leave anything about that will further attract flies – clear all food away, and pick up your dog’s mess straightaway. There are a number of natural ways to eradicate flies and whilst we‘re not claiming they’ll definitely send the blighters packing, some might be worth a try. It’s all about what flies don’t like, but these are things that don’t involve harsh chemicals, which gets a big thumbs up from us.

So here goes: leave pots of fresh basil about, sprinkle whole or ground bayleaves around areas where flies are hanging out (rubbish bins, drains, etc.), switch fans on, sprinkle catnip, put cloves inside halved lemons and leave around, fill sealable plastic bags with water and hang from doors and windows; all age-old methods which apparently work to deter flies. There are several ‘traps’ you can make – just small bowls or jars with certain mixtures in them; try honey and soap, wine and soap, milk, sugar and black pepper, or apple cider. Leave a sponge out that’s been soaked in water with a few drops of essential oils like lavender, peppermint, citronella or lemongrass added to it. And of course there’s always the option of swatting…

Flies only tend to come out and bother us when it’s particularly hot, and annoying as they are, we shouldn’t let it bother us too much; don’t let the pesky things spoil your holiday, keep smiling.

Cluster Flies

In the autumn cluster flies can be a nuisance because they start to look for somewhere to hibernate this time of year – they are called cluster flies because that’s exactly what they do; they cluster, usually around window frames or in loft space. If you notice them in your Sleeps12 holiday property please don’t be alarmed – it’s a perfectly natural occurrence in rural areas; just let us know and we’ll be on to it. Unfortunately these pesky blighters are very difficult to deal with as they come in through the tiniest of holes. There are however, a range of products that can be used to attempt to eradicate them in domestic situations, so we ask our conscientious property owners to attend to any infestations in the first instance.