Several types of fly traps are available in retail stores, some of which are effective at catching flies within homes, while others are almost completely worthless. At best, fly traps will reduce the number of flies within an infested home, but no type of fly trap will eliminate infestations, or even provide satisfactory control. Some infestations see fly pests maintain a temporary presence within homes, but most infestations that require professional intervention see flies rapidly reproduce within decaying organic matter found in well-concealed and/or inaccessible indoor areas. Pest control professionals may use fly traps, but never without combining fly traps with other pest control methods.
Several food-based fly traps are available to purchase in retail stores, many of which look like a jar topped with a cone. In order to select an effective food-based fly trap, the species of fly pest within a home must first be identified, as food preferences vary among fly species. For example, sugar or yeast-based lures are effective for catching house flies, while blow flies are only attracted to high protein or ammonium carbonate lures. Many flies are attracted to light, including moth flies, humpbacked flies and house flies. Many traps use lights of certain wavelengths to lure flies onto sticky paper or to electrocute them. Light traps that electrocute flies are commonly referred to as “bug zappers,” and unfortunately, these traps often cause flies and other insects to break apart upon electrocution. When this occurs, insect body parts scatter around the vicinity of the light trap, which contaminate nearby surfaces with disease-causing microorganisms. This is why bug zappers should never be used in kitchens or other areas where food is located or frequently consumed. Sticky traps, or “fly paper,” are the oldest and most commonly used fly traps within homes, and they are effective at reducing the number of house flies within a home due to this species’ habit of resting on vertical surfaces. However, sticky traps are ineffective at catching all other fly pest species within homes.
Have you ever constructed a simple homemade fly trap with foods found in your home?
