What are these black flies?

[A. Penman]

Over the past 3 days there have been masses of tiny black flies (3-4mm long and very thin). When you touch the back end it curls upwards and they seem to be attracted to light surfaces.They are coming into the house and get into all the nooks and crannies, even behind the glass of picture frames. Does anyone know what they are called, where they come from and how to get rid of them.
Thanks,
A.P.

[tiger~torah]

i always call them thunder/storm flies....but im not sure thats their real name

[PinkFizz]

I call them corn flies as we live near corn fields and seem to have thousands of them but they are the same things as
tiger torah is describing

[Thunderbird+]

I have always known them as 'storm flies', After a good thunder storm has broken they normally diminish.

[A. Penman]

Thanks, I've now looked thunder flies on the internet and you are right. Proper name is thrips. Can't see I can do much about them???!!! Anyway - you're obviously very clever!

[marsh66]

beware those owners of expensive LCD televisions as I
have had to strip one apart to get these corn flies out of the screen.

They managed to squeeze into the filters layers that are behind the glass. This was no easy task even for this 15"
LCD TV . I wouldnt like to try and open up a 26"+ screen.

Plasma's are ok as they are sealed .

these blighters are here in ELY every year at this time and get thrown up in the air when the corn harvest is in swing .

Its ironic that when the good weather is apon us , we cant sit in the back garden as these blighters are unbearable .

help

[RTFishall]

They don't tell you about those corn flies when people say how nice it is to live in the country! I live in rural Lincolnshire and as soon as we get a nice day in summer the little blighter's come out and ruin it. Give me the good old polluted air of the city, at least I could enjoy my garden there.