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Cotoneaster horizontalis - attracting flies

Reb_SeaReb_Sea Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Good evening, 

We've recently moved into a new property and have what we believe to be a Cotoneaster horizontalis directly outside the front window. There are currently berries on this shrub. 
We've noticed a lot of flies (30+ blue bottles?) on the shrub at any one time. Despite keeping the windows shut, they're getting into the house (we counted 18 flies at one point!)  and they have become a real unhygienic nuisance. 

Has anyone come across this before? Is there something wrong with the shrub? We don't want to dig it out if it's easily treatable, but we can't carry on with so many flies in the house. 

Thanks 
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Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Is there a bird's nest in the shrub?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    Not much help but the one under our window has never attracted flies. Could you try sticky fly paper in the short term?
    Southampton 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I agree with @pansyface Something is attracting them. I also grow cotoneaster and I have nevver had a problem.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    No problems with my Cotoneaster horizontalis.  It grows under an Itea ilicifolia, which has honey-scented tassles that attract the bees, and a wee bit later lots of fies.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Mine doesn’t get flies ,just loads of bees when it flowers .I agree with others on this thread ,it’s not the plant that’s attracting the flies .Some investigation is needed on your part .
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Agree with others, highly unlikely to be the plant itself, either something in it, or under it.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    Whenever that happens in my garden, it means the foxes have done a dribbly poo through the plant so you can't see it easily but the flies can.

    Sorry if tmi.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    Are you quite sure they are bluebottles @Reb_Sea?

    I ask because this is the time of year when cluster flies start to be a nuisance, coming in through windows (open and closed! They are adept at getting through any gaps...)
    They tend to appear in large numbers but the good news is that they don't spread disease like houseflies or bluebottles, ie. they are not interested in food.
    They look a bit like houseflies. I get them in the bedrooms and loft and the appearance of so many, often clustered together on a beam, is disconcerting.

    Apologies if this is useless info and you are in fact troubled by bluebottles.
  • Reb_SeaReb_Sea Posts: 2
    Thanks for all the suggestions. Today has been wet and so no flies. I can't see anything obvious under the bush but will do a bit more of an investigation if the flies come back when the sun returns.

    There are lots of berries deeper underneath the shrub (when I lifted the top branches and berries out of the way). Could these be attracting flies if they're going bad and they're underneath? Or does that not tend to happen? 

    They are attracted to food (and our kitchen bin!) so I think they are blue bottles.

    Fly paper is dotted around the house but they seem to avoid it. Think it's time to invest in a different brand! 

    Glad to hear it's probably not the shrub itself!

    Thanks again! 
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I was wondering if some of the berries were starting to ferment and create sugars and that might be the reason for the flies Reb-Sea?
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
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