I don't know where the flies in my apartment are coming from recently (no exposed food/garbage or opened windows, etc), but I know they're there. It's not a huge infestation, but it is an annoyance. Regular-sized flies, not fruit flies.

It seems there are two main alternatives for killing flies, outside of using a swatter (which I tried, with an electric swatter, but the ones in my apartment are too restless and quick) and poison spray (toxic, gets over stuff, needs cleanup, etc). Those two alternatives are scented traps and zapping lights.

The scented traps seem recommended for outdoors due to the strong smell, so I'm wondering about the issue of the smell being in my apartment, including with regards to how hospitable my place would be while the trap is there, whether the smell lingers after the trap is removed (and if so, whether something like an ozone generator would take care of that), and crucially, whether the smell would be strong enough to attract flies from outdoors through the tiny pathways connecting the outdoors to my apartment, which is obviously unwanted.

So, normally I'd select zapping lights. However, I read that unattended zapping lights are a potential fire hazard, and in my case, they would be almost entirely unattended at the moment. I've been staying at my girlfriend's, awaiting cleanup of the apartment opposite mine that suffered a fire a month ago (that's why I bought an ozone generator, but it's not enough to stop continued transfer of the smoke smell from the opposite apartment); I now only visit my apartment periodically, generally once every few days or less, for up to several hours at a time, not staying overnight.

Regarding another alternative, fly paper, I read that it's unreliable, especially for bigger flies. But I'd like to be proven wrong.

So I welcome advice, preferably based on experience. And if I didn't mention a trap style that you think would be more suitable for my situation, please note. Thanks in advance.

 

There are numerous traps and baits to choose from and I can't name any one in particular. But, I'm wondering about the source. Given that you live in an apartment, it may be best to contact management as there may be a dead animal in a nearby wall.

 

IIWY, I'd just put a bug-zapper combo light into a ceiling fixture.

I've been a licensed Realtor since 1994, and every so-often, we get a house where somebody left trash, or somebody didn't close a screen on the cool/north side of the house and you get flies in.

My experience has been to just screw in a bug-zapper light into a ceiling fan light socket, lay out a piece of newspaper below to make cleanup easy, and then set out a few cut pieces of fruit.

 

Old-school fly strips have always worked for me. It's a sticky trap for flying insects.

 

Insect Light Traps, ILT's, do work and are made for indoors, including food handling establishments. Make sure you look at models for interior use only. Usually they are a blue light with glue traps in them. The "zappers" I believe are for outdoor use as they electrocute the fly, meaning fly body parts may scatter.

Any bait trap meant for outdoor use usually does have a serious, if not repulsive, odor. There are fly baits designed for indoor use. Not all flies will eat the bait if their mouth parts and method of eating do not work with that particular bait. In other words, just because it flies, doesn't mean it will eat fly bait. The smaller species don't eat any fly bait. Some larger species do, some don't. With flies, it is important to get a proper ID.

Old-fashioned fly paper wouldn't hurt to hang, especially since you aren't there much. Will help to get specimens for proper ID. Multiple control methods may be a good idea, especially when we get a better ID on the flies.

You mentioned a fire recently and ensuing repairs. Possibly "cluster flies" invaded during the repair process and are breeding, so this may be a one time event. Otherwise, the suggestion of a dead animal in the walls, etc. is a real possibility.

Do the flies have a blue/green metallic shine to them? If so, that would lead me to believe an animal/bird carcass is nearby and is the source.

Can you get close up pics that show the wing shape and coloration pattern on the body? Top and bottom pics, but especially top with wings in good focus.

 

Cue 1990s gross out comedies
Food Critic - "we moved things for the photo shoot, BUT we were SO impressed that you've sprinkled toasted artisanal herbs over your salsa"
Host - "no, you twits put my salsa bowl under the bug-zapper"

 

I'm guessing they were from open windows. I put up flypaper but they'd already gone.

Another issue is what look like merchant or sawtooth grain beetles. They regularly appear in the sink, toilet and bathtub. Found many in certain containers in the kitchen. Some were in opened food including cereal. Even saw a few in the microwave and fridge.

Threw out all unrefrigerated/unfrozen food and sprayed a few more heavily infested areas. Kept up the termination and it's seemingly more or less back to normal for the time being.