Tons of big flies in my house last night - half dead, half alive (Olmos Park: new house, crawl space)

[lauramdsm]

I live in Beacon Hill, close to Olmos Park. 78212

I came home last night to tons of really big, black, flies inside my house. There were a ton on the window, the walls, some dead on the floor, and furniture. They were slow, stupid, but didn't die very easily without hitting them pretty hard.

I did not have food left out, my house was clean, and I do not smell any odor from anything that may have died in the attic or crawl space (pier and beam).

I'm thinking maybe there were eggs layed in the cracks of my house that hatched, however, it just seems strange that there were SO many and so quickly. There were at least 100. I've only lived in my house for about a month so I am not sure if this is a reoccurring problem. I never noticed any other bugs.

The only other thing I can think of is that about two weeks ago I stirred up an old (small) pile of dirt and compost that the previous owner had... it is placed pretty close to the deck/my back door. I had shoved a few piles of it out, and maybe they have just hatched - though it still seems too long to just appear now.

It took hours to swat, vacuum, and spray them all. It was a fly graveyard in my house. Absolutely disgusting.

I want to completely remove the compost pile, which I may spray some sort of pesticide in first so I don't stir up anything alive. Any suggestions?

I want some opinions - has anyone else had this problem? Would I necessarily smell something if it was dead, and why would the flies come in my house if the dead carcass is underneath my house? Should I wait to see whether they come back before I get pest control to spray like crazy? What else could cause this?

Thanks so much.
-Itchy & grossed out

[scuba steve]

Something seems dead...

[RGJ]

I'd be looking out for either Jeff Goldblum or Vincent Price

[lauramdsm]

I'm just waiting for my new house to turn into the amityville horror. I'm scared!!!! I need to hire a husband.

[RGJ]

All kidding aside, talk to your neighbors and find out if anybody else in your neighborhood has the same problem. When you say "new" house, I'm presuming new to you since I didn't think there were new homes being built in Beacon Hill. Get out the Raid or call a bug man....On the pile of compost, throw some diamatreous earth. Don't use a pesticide!

[lauramdsm]

Yes, new to me, 87 years old to the world.

Thanks!

[lauramdsm]

I can't find any info on what that is. What will happen if I use some sort of outdoor pesticide for lawns? (I am ready to throw out the compost I am not going to keep it/use it... it's a very small pile and gross and my dog keeps getting into it)

[raa1371]

diatomaceous earth

[RGJ]

I never could spell that word

[jksa09]

Originally Posted by lauramdsm

I live in Beacon Hill, close to Olmos Park. 78212

I came home last night to tons of really big, black, flies inside my house. There were a ton on the window, the walls, some dead on the floor, and furniture. They were slow, stupid, but didn't die very easily without hitting them pretty hard.

I did not have food left out, my house was clean, and I do not smell any odor from anything that may have died in the attic or crawl space (pier and beam).

I'm thinking maybe there were eggs layed in the cracks of my house that hatched, however, it just seems strange that there were SO many and so quickly. There were at least 100. I've only lived in my house for about a month so I am not sure if this is a reoccurring problem. I never noticed any other bugs.

The only other thing I can think of is that about two weeks ago I stirred up an old (small) pile of dirt and compost that the previous owner had... it is placed pretty close to the deck/my back door. I had shoved a few piles of it out, and maybe they have just hatched - though it still seems too long to just appear now.

It took hours to swat, vacuum, and spray them all. It was a fly graveyard in my house. Absolutely disgusting.

I want to completely remove the compost pile, which I may spray some sort of pesticide in first so I don't stir up anything alive. Any suggestions?

I want some opinions - has anyone else had this problem? Would I necessarily smell something if it was dead, and why would the flies come in my house if the dead carcass is underneath my house? Should I wait to see whether they come back before I get pest control to spray like crazy? What else could cause this?

Thanks so much.
-Itchy & grossed out

With homes inside Loop 410, Big Black Flies are a sign of something dead in the house. Large or small. The smell will catch up a few days down the road.