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All of a sudden over the weekend I had about 8 flies in a room I keep bird seed. I had just opened the 20lb bag of bird seed as well as a bag of sunflower seeds. I can't find any other source for the flies being there. Is it possible that they were in the bird seed and then hatched? They appear to be just regular house flies.
they are called bird seed moths and your food is old that is why you are getting them take what you have left back to where you bought it . They are selling you old seed and not very nice of them your birds could have become sick from it . take care and hope i helped .
Actually, what I found out was that I had "cluster flies" and I killed a handful and haven't seen any since. They look like house flies but are not. They weren't moths but definitely flies.
Actually, what I found out was that I had "cluster flies" and I killed a handful and haven't seen any since. They look like house flies but are not. They weren't moths but definitely flies.
Does the seed have any smell? I am curios if you found any animal parts in your birdseed? Mice are always getting into birdseed. If you buy grain or seed in bags from a feed store; you will eventually end up with a bag that has been tapped – to cover the mouse/rat hole in the side. There is always a chance you got a little something extra for your money. That would explain why flies would be attracted or hatching from the larvae.
No, the birdseed is the same as always. It is just a 20lb bag of Kaytee. I really think a fly got in the house and laid a pod. They all just came out of the blue over the weekend so I went reading and read about Cluster Flies. I really think that is what happened and what they are.
I don't think they came from the birdseed at all, I was wrong about that and was just grasping for an answer.
The bird seed I bought is absolutely not old. In fact, the store was out (often runs out) so I had to wait for it to be restocked. I have a number of feeders with different seed. The one attracting flies does have nuts and berries but this is a new thing, given I've been feeding birds at this location, with this particular seed, for 5 years. I also use this seed in two different feeders but only one is attracting flies.
Last edited by michiana55; 07-19-2020 at 11:56 AM..
The bird seed I bought is absolutely not old. In fact, the store was out (often runs out) so I had to wait for it to be restocked. I have a number of feeders with different seed. The one attracting flies does have nuts and berries but this is a new thing, given I've been feeding birds at this location, with this particular seed, for 5 years. I also use this seed in two different feeders but only one is attracting flies.
Do you mean that the seed was the origin of these flies or that the seed (once offered in the feeder) is attracting flies from the environment? How different are the feeders? Maybe its due to the type of feeder, not the seed. One feeder could allow the odor of the berries and other ingredients to be detected by free roaming flies more easily than the other. It could be something as subtle as warmth...if that feeder sits in the sun more, the contents warm up. Probably releases more scent, which means more flies find it.
Last edited by Parnassia; 07-19-2020 at 01:26 PM..
The eggs in the seeds hatched. In the summer, you're advised to buy in smaller quantities. I recently had bread spoil. The wild bird store will tell you to buy smaller quantities and keep them in a dry, cool place. Even if you transfer them into an air tight metal storage can, the seeds will hatch if it takes too long. I would also look only to buy new stock in the store.
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