So instead I had a different idea: What if I got a net of some sort and just caught a bunch of them like they were butterflies? Then I could release them into the wild, and solve the problem without any death or destruction.

I didn’t have a net, but I thought a plastic grocery bag might do in a pinch, so I grabbed one and set about my little project. And it worked shockingly well! I think it definitely qualifies as proof that these are no ordinary flies, that I was able to just sort of swing a plastic bag around in the room and catch a whole bunch of them.

So, that done, I sealed up the bag and carried it outside and around the house to the back, where you can see out over all those rolling fields. They wouldn’t bother anyone there. So I released them. Fly, little beasties! Grasp your freedom in all six hands!

But I guess the suckers were not so interested in a life of open-air liberty, because as I stood there, I watched them buzz around for a few moments, and then one of them made a loopdiloop and headed back toward the house, with the others following close behind. Six or seven flies all flew around the house, back to the front door, and hung out there, buzzing impatiently, until I opened it and they could go back in.

I may have to revise my theory that they are stupid. Evil is looking more likely right now.

Anyway, that failed experiment gave me an idea for another, so I traded in my plastic bag for a glass jar, caught a few more, and brought them up to my room. That, at least, should help me figure out if the flies are changing their behavior.

It just occurred to me that I better feed these guys. Guess I have some pet flies now.

(Sorry I quit updating about the spiders, but other than seeing more and more of them, there isn’t much to report. I will let you know if that changes.)