Flies can be a problem, whether roaming around your house, patio or garden. While there are many choices of fly traps and sprays that you can buy in stores, they often contain chemicals that have a strong smell and are harmful to your health. A fly swatter can be used to kill flies that fly alone, but getting rid of entire swarms of flies with this tool is certainly difficult. A powerful natural solution to dealing with fly nuisance is to make your own fly trap. In just a few short steps, you can solve the problem and get rid of any flying flies.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Making a Bottle Trap
Step 1. Prepare a bottle of coke
You can use an old bottle after it's empty, or you can pour it from the bottle. Make sure all the soda in the bottle has been removed, then wash the bottle with warm water.
Step 2. Cut the neck of the bottle
Use scissors to do this. Make a hole through the bottle using one of the blades of the scissors. Make it at the bottom end of the neck of the bottle, right where the bottle begins to widen (close to the center of the bottle).
- After punching holes in the bottle, cut around the bottle. Cut the entire neck of the bottle so that the bottle splits into two separate parts, namely the neck of the bottle (top) and the stem of the bottle (bottom).
- Try to cut the bottle as close as possible to the end of the neck of the bottle, otherwise the neck of the bottle that you turn over will easily change its position.
- You can also cut the neck of the bottle with a sharp knife, but be careful not to injure yourself. If you're making fly traps with children, it's best to use scissors, which are safer.
Step 3. Turn the bottle neck piece over
Insert it into the bottom of the bottle. If you cut as close to the end of the neck of the bottle as possible, it should fit into the bottom of the bottle when you squeeze it.
Step 4. Connect the two halves of the bottle that you cut
The easiest and most effective way is to connect with a stapler. You just need to fit three or four fixing staples around the bottle equidistant from each other.
- If the trap is made by a child, the staples used to connect the two halves of the bottle must be attached by an adult. If you don't have a stapler, use the other two options below.
- Tape is also a great adhesive option, just be sure to choose one that's waterproof. Place three or four pieces of tape around the neck of the bottle.
- If you want to use super glue or regular glue, choose a glue that's waterproof. Before inserting the neck of the bottle, apply a thin layer of glue to the top end of the bottle base. Next, insert the bottle neck in an inverted position. Use your fingers to press the neck of the bottle into the bottom. Hold them together until the glue dries.
Step 5. Make the melted sugar mixture
Pour five tablespoons of sugar into the saucepan. Place the pot on the stove. Smooth the surface of the sugar at the bottom of the pan.
- Add a little water to cover the top of the sugar. Slowly heat the sugar mixture over medium-high heat until it boils.
- Stir the sugar mixture until smooth. Dissolving sugar in hot/warm tap water will form a sweet solution, but boiling it will turn it into a syrup. Allow this liquid to warm enough.
Step 6. Spoon the liquid sugar into the neck of the bottle
Try to drip it through the rim of the neck of the bottle so that when you approach it, the fly will cling to it.
Step 7. Use another bait
You can cut up the apple and slide it through the bottom of the neck of the bottle. You can also use a little raw meat, as well as a few tablespoons of old wine. You can also pour water with sugar or honey.
Step 8. Add vinegar
If the bait you're using is liquid, add a few tablespoons of vinegar, preferably white vinegar. The vinegar will prevent bees and other insects from approaching your trap..
Step 9. Put the bottle in the sun
That way the meat / fruit will rot faster and more attractive to flies to smell it. Sunlight will also accelerate the evaporation of the liquid, thus becoming a pheromone that attracts flies to approach the trap. Get ready to see the power of this tool to catch flies.
Step 10. Blow repeatedly into the bottle
This will increase the fly trapping ability, as insects are attracted to heat and carbon dioxide. You can also rub the bottle between your palms to make it hotter.
Step 11. Discard the trap bottle
Once you see flies start to gather inside, throw away your trap bottle and make a new one. Eventually the effect of the bait in your trap will wear off, so you'll have to make a new one. Trying to empty the bottle can be difficult because the flies and bait inside will clog the neck of the bottle. You should also not hold dead flies with your hands.
Method 2 of 4: Making Can Traps
Step 1. Find a can you can use
A regular sized can of dog food or a can of soup is a perfect choice. Remove the label and lid of the can, then wash it with warm water. Dry the can before moving on to the next step.
Step 2. Cut the duct tape
It should be long enough to fit around the can. Try not to touch the sticky side or get it dirty, or your trap won't do much good.
Step 3. Attach the piece of duct tape around the can
Press the duct tape firmly against the surface of the can with your hands. Rub the surface of the duct tape slightly to transfer its adhesiveness to the surface of the can.
Step 4. Remove the duct tape from the can
The surface of the can will now feel sticky. Try to touch a little to feel the stickiness. If it's not too strong, repeat the above steps again using a new piece of duct tape.
Step 5. Glue a small flashlight at the bottom of the can lid
Glue the lid of the can to the base of the flashlight, so that it becomes the bottom part of your trap. It is best to use a UV lamp if you have one, as flies are most easily attracted to UV light.
Step 6. Place the can outside the house
Place the can in an upright position so that the sticky part is exposed to catch flies. Turn on the flashlight and put it in the can. Make sure it is in an upright position and has been charged with a new battery.
Step 7. Wait for the flies to arrive
The flies are attracted to the light emitted by the flashlight, but are trapped on the sticky side of the can.
Step 8. Replace your trap cans
If you catch a fly using a can trap, it's best to throw it away immediately. Be sure to wear protective gloves when handling the can, so you don't have to touch the attached fly. Better yet, prepare an old plastic bag to hold the can before you throw it in the trash.
Method 3 of 4: Making Plastic/Glass Traps
Step 1. Prepare a small container
You can use glass jars (used with jam) or plastic containers used for peanuts or peanut butter. Open the lid of the container or jar if you have one.
Step 2. Pour the vinegar into the container
Buy a bottle of apple cider vinegar and pour it until it fills about 2.5 cm at the bottom of the container. The apple cider vinegar will attract flies to the container.
Step 3. Add dish soap to the vinegar
Pour a few drops of laundry soap into the vinegar to lower its surface tension. Otherwise, flies can stand floating on the vinegar and drink it.
Step 4. Add raw fruit/meat
Instead of using a vinegar/soap mixture in a bowl, you can also use raw fruit and meat. Chop whatever you want to use, then put it in a container. The bad smell of food will attract flies into the container.
Step 5. Cover the container with plastic wrap
Tear off a piece of plastic measuring at least 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm. Secure the plastic wrap around the rim of the container by pressing it with your hands. If the plastic wrap won't stick, put some duct tape or rubber bands around it.
Step 6. Punch a hole in the plastic wrap
Use a toothpick, scissors, knife, etc., to make at least four small holes in the plastic wrap. These holes will be entry points for flies into the trap.
Step 7. Place the trap outside the house
The fly will enter the trap through the hole. But the fly will have trouble getting out, because it can't find the hole again. Flies will be tempted to taste whatever is in the container.
Step 8. Kill the fly
Some flies may die in the trap after a while. However, some other flies may continue to finish the bait you put in the container. Bring the fly trap into the house and place it near the sink. Pour hot water into the sink. Be sure to close the drains first, so the hot water will pool in the sink. Once fully charged, place the fly trap in the sink for 10 minutes. The water in it will drown the flies.
Step 9. Remove dead flies
Remove the plastic wrap and throw it away. Place the container in the trash can and tap the container against the inner wall. Tap until all the flies and the bait you are using come out of the container.
Step 10. Clean the container
You can clean the container with soap and warm water. You can also use safe chemicals to make sure the container is clean and can be reused as a trap.
Method 4 of 4: Making Your Own Paper Fly Trap
Step 1. Prepare a paper bag
This bag should be high enough, as you will need to make the trap paper in long sheets. Do not use plastic bags, because the glue you are using will not stick to the plastic surface.
Step 2. Cut the paper bag into long sheets
Use scissors and cut the paper into long sheets measuring about 2.5 cm x 15 cm. You will need between four and five sheets of paper. After cutting it, lay the sheet of paper flat on the table.
Step 3. Make a hole in the sheet of paper
Make a hole about 2.5 cm from the end of each sheet using scissors or a knife. Make a hole in each sheet of paper. You can also use a hole punch if you have one.
Step 4. Thread the thread through the hole in the paper
Cut a piece of thread or wire about 15 cm. You will need this thread for each sheet of paper. Thread the thread/wire through the hole and tie a knot.
Step 5. Make the sugar mixture
Put one part sugar, one part honey and one part water in a saucepan. Place the pot on the stove, then heat it over medium-high heat until all the ingredients are evenly mixed. After all the ingredients are well mixed, let it cool until it reaches room temperature.
Step 6. Dip the paper in the sugar mixture
Load each sheet of paper to coat it with sugar syrup. Place the sheet of paper on the baking sheet, and let it dry.
Step 7. Hang the sheet of paper
Find a nail, or thumbtack, and hang the paper there. You can put them next to each other, or in different parts of the house. Hanging these paper traps close together will make them even more effective at catching flies.
Step 8. Discard the trap paper
Once your paper trap has flies on it, remove it from the hanger and throw it away. If for some reason your trap paper doesn't catch the fly, it's possible that there's not enough syrup on the surface. You can make a new sugar syrup and dip the old paper one more time in it, or you can recreate everything from scratch and prepare a new sheet of paper.
Tips
- In addition to using the neck of the bottle as a funnel as in step one, you can also make a funnel out of paper. You just need to roll a piece of paper into a cone and insert it into the bottom of the bottle.
- Make sure to replace the flashlight battery with a new one so that the flashlight is fully charged.
- You can also use insect repellent to kill the flies in step three if you don't want to drown them in the sink.
Warning
- Be sure to clean the can with safe chemicals.
- If you see a flytrap attracting harmful insects such as wasps, buy insect repellent and kill the wasps before they approach your trap.
- This trap acts as a fly attractant, so you need to place it quite far from where you are feeding.
