Houseflies plague Simi Valley, Moorpark neighborhoods

By Michele Willer-Allred
Oct. 13, 2013 – Ventura County Star
A large number of flies are infesting communities in
Moorpark and Simi Valley, but the cause has baffled city
and county officials.
Many residents in the Moorpark College area and Big Sky
neighborhood in Simi Valley have complained to officials
about the flies.
Mark Borsuk, who has lived at his home behind Moorpark
College for the past 26 years, said the fly problem has
been “extreme” in the past two years.
“I’ve been talking to my neighbors, and they have noticed
a huge increase in the fly population here. We can’t even
go outside in our own backyards until it gets dark,” Borsuk
said. “My neighbors have canceled parties and barbecues.
Kids bring fly swatters when they go to the pool. This year
it’s just reached an all-time high for some reason.”
Lisa Hardy, another resident near Moorpark College, also
has noticed the fly problem, saying doing even simple

tasks like going to the car is a nuisance.
“They come out of nowhere. It is awful,” she said.
Though there have been many complaints about the flies,
city and county officials are only speculating about the
flies’ origin.
“We’re just following leads right now. I’m hopeful we’ll
know more in the upcoming weeks,” said Mark Westerline,
vector and animal control specialist for Moorpark, who
identified the flies as houseflies.
Meanwhile, Moorpark College student Stacy Williams said
the flies have become so bad she was unable to sit
outside one of her favorite restaurants at a shopping
center near the college, where business owners have tried
various measures to keep the insects away.
“I got so fed up I had to take my food to go. Especially
when it is warm outside, it can become unbearable,” she
said.
Residents in the Big Sky neighborhood said they can’t sit
in their backyards or open their doors because of
excessive flies.
Resident Conrad Ylpindo said that since he’s lived in his
home, the nuisance has never been this bad.
“This year is the worst year that we’ve had flies,” he said.
On Wednesday, the Simi Valley Public Works Department
and county health officials met with Big Sky residents to
discuss the fly issue.
“We have received complaints (about the flies), especially
in the last week,” said Charles Genkel, a specialist with
the Ventura County Environmental Health Department.
According to the National Pest Management Association,
houseflies stay in a 1- to 2-mile radius of where they were
born but can migrate up to 20 miles to find food. The fly is
commonly associated with animal feces but can also feed
on garbage or green waste, and they often are found at
stables and ranches. Houseflies can carry many kinds of
disease-causing germs.
Moorpark officials investigated a ranch behind the college
in June, and the ranch owner cleared any violations found.
“We thought we had it under control, but we realized the
flies are coming from a bigger source than what we
thought,” Westerline said.
John Brand, a senior analyst with the city of Moorpark,
said America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College also
was investigated and cleared as a source.
“They are exemplary in cleanliness and fly mitigation,”
Brand said.
The Simi Valley Landfill, which sits between Moorpark and
Simi Valley communities, has also been examined as a
culprit.
However, Genkel said his department regulates the landfill
and has inspectors there once a month, usually
unannounced.
“They have not noted any evidence of excessive fly
breeding around the landfill. (The landfill’s management) is
doing what it is supposed to be doing from what we’re
observing,” Genkel said.
He added that his department looked at an agricultural
operation and ranch on landfill property.
“We have not noted anything related to solid waste or
standards that would indicate that there is excessive fly
breeding associated with the operation,” Genkel said.
Scott Tignac, manager of the landfill, said there are about
60 cattle on the 3,000-acre ranch operated by the landfill.
The ranch recently hosted an event with about 500 people
and many food trucks.
“We didn’t have any issues with flies, and it was over 80
degrees that day,” he said.
Tignac said the landfill has consulted with an
entomologist, a specialist in insects, who found nothing
conclusive but said irrigation and fertilization practices in
Big Sky could be reasons.
Ron Fuchiwaki, Simi Valley public works director, said the
city will contact Ventura County’s agricultural
commissioner to see whether they can get more
information about the type of fly, fly populations and
general causes and sources.
County officials said they also would see whether other
areas in the county had made complaints to other
agencies.
Members of the Big Sky Ranch Homeowners Association
said they might consider funding an investigation.
Westerline said Moorpark is continuing its investigation as
well.
In the meantime, Westerline recommends that residents
consider fly control measures including fly traps.
The pest management association’s website,
http://www.pestworld.org, recommends regular removal of
trash, use of well-sealed garbage receptacles, immediate
cleanup of pet waste immediately and use of fine mesh
screens on doors and windows.
Borsuk said he was relieved that something was being
done toward solving the fly problem.
“It’s pretty frightening because it can be a health issue.
Also, it could definitely affect people trying to sell their
homes. We like living here and don’t want to leave, but
something needs to be done soon to solve this,” he said.