Batzner Solves Cluster Fly Problems Six Stories High

It’s a unique time of year at Batzner, as we are currently under way with our annual Cluster Fly Week. While no two weeks of work in the pest control industry are the same, this week is exceptional as it is the only time we offer our specialty cluster fly treatment. This service involves equipment and treatment methods different from any other service we perform; specifically, it involves a lift truck and sending a Service Specialist up to six stories off the ground!

Cluster Flies- a nuisance on many levels!

Cluster flies merit this extra effort due to their ability to enter the upper floors of multi-level buildings. Similar to boxelder bugs and Asian lady beetles, cluster flies gather in large numbers around the sun-exposed sides of structures in the fall, and seek entry to spend the winter indoors. Once inside, they are a major nuisance pest, emerging from void spaces inside of walls and buzzing around windows on sunny winter days. They can also be problematic as dead flies will attract other pests.

Our Solution Goes Right Up to the Source
To combat them, Batzner applies a preventative treatment around a building’s windows, which are the cluster flies’ main entry point. For larger scale clients with buildings too large for treatment from the ground (most commonly hospitals and office complexes), the lift truck is necessary to reach the upper floors. Service Specialists performing treatment with the lift truck work in pairs, with one operating the basket from the ground and the other doing the actual application. The Service Specialist on the ground is also in charge of several safety precautions, like warning the applicator if anyone is walking underneath the basket or if he or she is approaching power lines.

A Service Specialist’s Perspective from High Up

Some Service Specialists love the thrill of being sixty-plus feet in the air on a small platform. Service Specialist and Cluster Fly Treatment expert Brandon Myer says that, “I’ve never had a problem with heights, so I thought I’d give it a try, and found that I really enjoy it. Our work always varies from week to week, but no other treatment gives me the opportunity to go eighty feet high.” For others, the experience is not as exciting. Quality Assurance and Safety Manager Karl Rowell was one such individual, and said, “I made sure to show the Service Specialists how to operate the machinery and do the job safely and effectively, but after being up in the basket for five minutes I realized that I’m very glad we have other professionals to take care of this job.”

Odd Hours/Hectic Schedule
To make the treatment as convenient as possible for our clients, the Service Specialists work around normal business hours, with Cluster Fly Treatment shifts going from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., or immediately after the business closes for the day. These odd hours and hectic schedule are well worth it, as Training and Development Manager Steve Counsell explains that, “Cluster Fly Week is a great way to maintain integrity with our large scale clients, and proves that we are willing to go above and beyond to solve their pest control needs.”

If you are experiencing any pest issues at your home or business, please do not hesitate to call us at 866-591-3519 or contact us online. We can’t wait to prove to you as well that we will go to great lengths, and heights, to keep you living pest free!