For the last week in our California house, I've been battling flies in the kitchen. We're talking a fair amount of flies, up to a dozen a day. Coming from ...? They're on the kitchen windows.
First of all they barely fly, it at all. Second, they don't seem to care about food. Third, they just sit there on the glass. Grab a tissue, come up and behind 'em, capture and crush 'em with no problem.
The first time it happened I thought, "Old, tired fly." Second time I thought, "Old fly's twin." Third time: "Triplets?" Fourth time--hmmmm.
They don't make flies like they used to.
Of course my suspense brain is going into overdrive on this one. I think once again nature's out to get me. When I wrote Web of Lies (4th in Hidden Faces series), spiders were after me for months. I'm well known for my "fly story"--illustrating the concept of Emotion Memory (or--how I can turn anyone into a murderer in ten minutes). I've even been known to act out the story in writing classes. Okay, so a fly dies in the end. And that's when everyone claps. Is that any reason for the fly world to send a troop of zombies into my kitchen? And why don't they fly? You'd think to get back at me, they'd be so fast I could never catch them.
What is going on here?
12 comments:
You've definitely got a book in the making here. I googled "lethargic house flies" and got this:
You have something dead in your house that is attracting them.
And this:
Flies live off rotting organic material. Find that and you will find your source. If you don't find it they will eventually die off as the organic material is eaten and there is no more food for them.
So, in short, BC, you have something dead in your house.
I even found an article on Zombie Flies here:
http://www.examiner.com/biology-in-philadelphia/real-houseflies-update-natural-method-of-eliminating-zombie-flies
Do I get a cut on your royalties when the book comes out? ; )
I've seen flies do that several times before, but unlike Deborah's suggestion, there was nothing dead in that building. I think it probably has something to do with temperature changes or something. Is suppose it could be something that mimics the smell of decay, making it easy for the flies to find a way in the building. Once inside, they can't find a way out. Without food, water and a place to lay their eggs, they become "old flies" very quickly.
I agree with Deb. We've had the plague of the flies when critters croak under the house. Crafty buggers to get up through vents and into the main house. Yup, the plague of the flies is a death knell. Creepy.
Gee, ol' pal Deb Raney, thanks for making me feel ever so much better.
Hey, I figure you had it coming what with all the spider, red fingernail, coyote, snake and hot tub scares you've given me!! This is GREAT! ; )
And yes, I've seen your kill the fly routine. VERY effective!
BTW, isn't the life of a housefly, like, 24 hours? Shoot, by the time you get this, they'll probably already be dead. And then, if you didn't already, you'll have something dead in your house to attract more zombie flies. Where will it ever end? Bwah-haha!
Just in case anyone doesn't know, Brandilyn and I are dear friend. Even roomed together once at a conference...until that incident with the snake...
; )
Deb~
We're dear friends, Deb Raney?
HAH!!
I wish I had a "lethargic fly" problem.
One hitched a ride in my car three days ago, and I still can't get rid of him!
We've had multitudes of giant, dive-bombing flies several times at Christmas after the tree has been in the house about ten days. Apparently they hatch after being in the warm house. Now, there's your book!
Brandilyn, I love your Emotion Memory fly story. I've told people that it's worth buying Getting Into Character just to read that story, even if they're not writers. Of course, writers get a lot of other benefit from the book....
Good luck with the zombie flies.
Ha ha. Funny post and comments.
Brandilyn, I love your Emotion Memory fly story. I've told people that it's worth buying Getting Into Character just to read that story, even if they're not writers. Of course, writers get a lot of other benefit from the book....
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