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05-22-2013, 06:47 AM
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1,247 posts, read 1,545,015 times
Reputation: 1905
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Strangest thing. I live in an apt building. All of a sudden one day there were crowds of common housefly massed on the inside of the front door (which goes to the outside).
What would bring them there?
I thought maybe some tenant had accidently smeared some yucky thing on the door, but then it was pointed out, that on the 2nd floor, there are equal # of houseflies congregating on the inside of the window that is in the front of the building.
One tenant mopped the floor of the foyer, and for one day they disappeared, but now they are back.
I wonder what could be causing this?
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05-22-2013, 04:23 PM
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Location: Swiftwater, PA
18,711 posts, read 16,521,537 times
Reputation: 14640
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Hopefully you do not have any undiscovered bodies in your apartment! It could be that another tenant went on vacation and did not take out the garbage – or somebody is just a pig? You might be able to track down the flies from where the smell is coming from? It could also be a dead animal (mouse/rat/raccoon/ possum).
Good hunting and good luck!
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05-22-2013, 08:50 PM
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8,407 posts, read 11,228,817 times
Reputation: 16005
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I'm not sure where you're located, but there's a good chance that the houseflies over-wintered in the building and only recently woke up. Hence, the congregation. They'll often gather on a window seeking a way outside.
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05-22-2013, 11:43 PM
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16,489 posts, read 23,636,686 times
Reputation: 16333
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At this time of the year the flies are looking for a warm place. They are attracted to the warmth between the door and the window. We have had this in the spring in windows before, they just come out of nowhere.
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05-23-2013, 05:11 AM
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Location: Canada
6,570 posts, read 5,975,850 times
Reputation: 18299
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Houseflies hybernate in a house/cottage/apartment building in huge clumps together for warmth during the winter. You might never find where those clumps are, but when the weather warms up, they head for a window or door with the most daylight. We have this happening every year in our cottage. (drives me nuts!) In the middle of winter (sub-zero temps) when we go to our cottage on weekends, after our woodstove warms the place up, I kill flies every day on our windows. We have tongue and groove pine ceilings and I'm sure that's where they hole up, so spraying wouldn't help.
We used to also have them in our house until we found the source (in a crawlspace under our eaves) and sealed it up with drywall. The day I found the "nest" of them, it totally freaked me out and I got out the can of Raid. Hence the saying: dropping like flies lol.
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05-23-2013, 10:40 AM
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22,336 posts, read 65,698,293 times
Reputation: 44900
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05-24-2013, 08:54 AM
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1,247 posts, read 1,545,015 times
Reputation: 1905
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thank you for yr replies..
I was thinking of a dead body, or garbage, and it was disgusting. I did not know about this phenomenon which is described. I was ready to call the Health dept, thinking it was a hygiene issue.
I don't understand tho bec now it is hot outside '70's, and not any warmer in the hallway - so maybe if I open the door they will fly out.
Interesting that the link to cluster flies, says they will be sluggish cuz they just woke up, these guys are (mostly) very sluggish- which had me thinking that they must have been eating something poisonous!
thank you. So much information out here on the web. I'm glad I asked.
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05-24-2013, 09:46 AM
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Location: Swiftwater, PA
18,711 posts, read 16,521,537 times
Reputation: 14640
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ellenrr
I was thinking of a dead body, or garbage, and it was disgusting.
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Perhaps we were both watching too much Jodi Arias lately!  Glad there was another explanation!  |
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05-24-2013, 10:12 PM
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16,489 posts, read 23,636,686 times
Reputation: 16333
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We lived in the woods in a house and had this happen every year. It usually lasted a few weeks. As it got warmer the flies seek out a really warm, place. In-between a door and a glass storm door it became real warm and they would gather in there. A few times a day i would open the door a little and then open the glass door and try to get them to all fly out, otherwise they come indoors when someone enters the house.
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05-25-2013, 07:10 AM
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1,247 posts, read 1,545,015 times
Reputation: 1905
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I don't know who Jodie is, but
I definitely watch too many cop and crime shows. 
altho in this case I was thinking of an animal dead body.
Not as bad as a former tenant, who saw some white powder in the hall and called Homeland Security claiming it was anthrax. And she once told me there was blood by the garbage cans so I went to look, and it turned out to be remains of her mother's red hair dye.
definitely she should stop all tv watching except for Lawrence Welk. 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fisheye
Perhaps we were both watching too much Jodi Arias lately! Glad there was another explanation! |
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