Make Your Own Fly Trap
Sure, you can buy fly traps from most home stores, but theyre usually pretty unsightly.
Nothing spoils an appetite more than a hanging sticky trap filled with dead flies out in the open. UV light traps arent much better nobody wants to smell cooked insects rather than the smell of cooking BBQ foods.
But dont worry, you can easily make your own fly traps to keep flies away from food at an outdoor party with a few things you can normally find in your kitchen cupboard.
You dont even need a mason jar for this quick hack. Just take a used soda bottle and youll have your own fly jail in no time. Check out this handy YouTube video I found that shows you how to make your own fly trap:
How Do I Get Rid Of Flies In My Yard With Dogs
9 Great Ways to Keep Flies Away From Dog Poop
How do I get rid of black flies in my yard? Amdro Quick Kill Outdoor Insect Killer Ready to Spray and Amdro Quick Kill Outdoor Insect Killer Concentrate kill black flies by contact. Then they keep protecting against new black flies for up to three months. Treat lawns, trees, shrubs and flower gardens to reach adult black flies in their hiding places.
Understanding The Lifecycle Of Flies
At some times of the year, itâs be nearly impossible to eradicate flies from outdoor environments. From spring to fall in North America, the common housefly is actively breeding, reaching a peak of activity during mid-summer. The species requires only moisture and some decaying organic matter in order to breed and thrive. During the warmth of summer, even just a pile of dead leaves moistened by rainfall can quickly become a breeding ground for flies. Unless you live in the middle of an enormous asphalt parking lot, it will be nearly impossible to avoid flies entirely during the summer months.
A mature female housefly can lay up to 500 eggs in its short lifespan. The eggs hatch into larvae within a day, and in as little as a week those maggots will proceed through the pupal state and hatch into flies. A day later they will be breeding adults. Eradicating flies entirely is not a battle you can win in the warmth of summer. The best you can hope for is to repel the bugs from the areas where you want to enjoy outdoor recreation and to reduce the overall number of outdoor flies by controlling the feeding and breeding opportunities.
By Joan Clark
Its summertime and my family loves to grill out. But we have a problem with flies. They bother us a lot. It happens at both my sisters house and mine. Do you know how to get rid of flies in backyard patios?
Judy McQueen, Schaumburg, IL
These home remedies also deter flies, making it hard for them to land on your food or on you.
Joan
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What Are Filth Flies
Filth flies carry disease-causing organisms and can be a threat to public health. These flies breed in bacteria-laden environments, such as feces, carrion, and human food waste, often in close proximity to humans or domesticated animals. Filth flies include some of our most common fly pests house flies, fruit flies, green bottle flies, stable flies, and several others.
A single house fly can carry over one million bacteria. No less than 60 different diseases can be transmitted by filth flies, from salmonella to dysentery. Most filth flies can reproduce quickly in warm weather. To keep fly populations under control, you must limit the places where they can breed and feed.
Call In The Professionals
According to Danny, proper identification of the flies and appropriate treatment is crucial to ensure that one or two flies buzzing around does not turn into a more serious problem.
While preventative measures, fly sprays and natural remedies can be effective methods to get rid of flies, if all else fails its time to call in the professionals. Pest removal professionals will use specific treatments to remove flies at every stage of their lifecycle and make the home undesirable for new flies to move in.
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Cover Food And Throw Out Waste
During any outdoor party, youre bound to accumulate waste. Empty plates, used cutlery, spent food packaging, and all sorts of other bits and pieces that you might be tempted to deal with once the guests have gone home.
But flies are attracted to food scraps and youll only increase the chances of having a swarm descend on you and your party.
Keep food covered once it comes off the BBQ and you should see fewer unwanted visitors.
Clean Garbage Cans Thoroughly And Frequently
This is by far the biggest attractor of flies. This is where flies will lay their eggs to hatch out into those nasty maggots that make all of us gag just a little. The most important thing you can do is keep your garbage cans clean. Hard Money Property says that cities with high humidity and populations such as Miami, Florida struggled with this. Outside garbage cans that have even a little bit of decaying matter in them will be enough to attract flies. Clean all garbage cans thoroughly and frequently.
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What Smell Do Outdoor Flies Hate
Weve already mentioned pine, but if youre not keen on smelling pine, try lavender or citronella. This writer has tried lavender and can confirm that it works: get a good-quality essential oil diffuser and use it outside with lavender essential oil. Flies wont go anywhere near you.
And, as Croteau helpfully reminds us, In addition to being a great way to naturally repel flies, lavender has several other benefits as well. It has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety when used as an essential oil or incense. Now, here is the definition of a win-win.
Cloves In Citrus Fruits
Pests and insects hate citrus fruits and their smell. Do this easy trick by simply inserting 10-15 cloves into orange or any other citrus fruit, such as lemons or lime, and place it where you find the flies most. You can also hang them with rope or thread near windows or doors.
Note: There is no scientific evidence behind this claim.
Discover the best citrus trees you can grow in containers here
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Commercial Traps Pros And Cons
When you purchase fly traps, make sure you distinguish if the ones you buy are for indoors or outdoors. Some outdoor products contain toxic chemicals that should never be used indoors, and some indoor products may not help with your outdoor fly problem.
Sticky traps are usually strips of coated material that you can hang in various locations outdoors. They attract flies, and once they land on them, they cant get free. These traps are inexpensive and generally safe for humans to handle. They may also help trap other types of pests, like gnats, mosquitoes and moths.
However, these types of traps are often considered cruel by organizations like the United States Humane Society. They can also be unsightly if you hang them in places where you plan to eat a meal or entertain guests.
Electronic zappers are more efficient for fly and pest control, but they do cost more. Instead of using chemicals, they attract flies with light and kill them instantly when they land.
But keep in mind that electronic traps must be cleaned regularly. They can also be expensive, and they will not kill eggs or larvae.
Ready to start your pest control project?
Vinegar And Dish Soap
A mixture of vinegar and dish soap can help you trap flies. To use this method, mix about an inch of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a tall glass. Cover the glass with plastic wrap. Secure the plastic wrap with a rubber band and poke small holes in the top.
Flies will be attracted to the vinegar in the glass and will fly through the holes. However, the dish soap causes the flies to sink instead of being able to land on the vinegar.
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How To Keep Flies Away Outside
Your house is clean on the inside, but you can still see a swirling cloud of flies in your garden or around your patio? Yep. Itâs a common issue and hereâs why: flies love laying their eggs in moist surfaces. Though you canât see them during the rainy season, itâs only because the larvae are just babies and are not yet ready to fly.
To get tackle the problem, follow this guide:
The larvae feed on organic matter so itâs very important to keep your outdoor bins in a dry area and your garden waste dry.
Disinfect your bins with a good disinfectant such as Domex.
Cleanse the outdoor area with camphor fumes or light up citronella candles which deter flies. Never leave a lit candle unattended for safety.
Get yourself a selection of plants that keep flies away – place them inside and outside your home, focusing on doors and windows.
Now that you have the flies under control, youâll want to make sure your home is also mosquito-proof! For tips on mosquito control, keep on reading Cleanipedia.
Warning
Read the instructions on your cleaning product before use. Wear gloves at all times and ensure that the area is well ventilated. Test all solutions on a small area first.
Do you want to learn which household cleaning tasks cause the most stress? Then read our Heated Household data analysis.
Use A Solution Of Apple Cider Vinegar And Liquid Soap
When you mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and liquid soap, it can help attract and kill flies. You can also add sugar to the mixture and the apple cider vinegar it will create a sweet fruity smell that will attract the flies. At the same time, the dish soap will harm their digestive tract, which will result in their death.
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The Story Behind The Penny Fly Trick
I wish I hadnt promised that Id never mention bugs on my blog again, because last weekend a friend gave me a tip that just BLEW MY MIND. And it had to do with repelling flies with three things you have on hand RIGHT NOW. So if you dont want to know, Ill understand simply cover your ears and say lalalala until the post is over. But for the rest of you, read on to learn my friends trick for how to keep your next outdoor party fly-free!
One of my college BFFs came for a visit recently and after sitting down for a nice dinner on the deck we started to get bombarded with that pesky summer staple FLIES.
Dont you know the fly trick? college BFF
What fly trick? me
The pennies in the cup fly trick. college BFF
Id heard rumors of people using plastic baggies filled with water and pennies to repel flies in their home but hadnt thought to take the action outdoors. So I followed her directions and filled up three glasses with water and a few pennies , placed them around the food, and watched. We watched the flies come to land, see the water, and turn around and ZOOM AWAY.
Thats how I heard about it, and now I am thrilled to share this hack with you!
Clean Your Patio And Deck
If you have a patio or deck, make sure to keep it clean.
Hoverflies are attracted to areas where there is food, so they will be attracted to any crumbs or spills that are on the patio or deck.
To keep your patio or deck clean, you can:
- Sweep it regularly with a broom.
- Wash it down with soapy water.
- Use a power washer to clean it.
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What Causes The Black Fly Infestation
These flies have an excellent sense of smell and are attracted to bad odors. Especially when tiny creatures, such as birds, die in your backyard and begin to decay. Their eggs are laid on the carcass.
Houseflies may not bite, but they spread diseases and are a nuisance, so keeping them out of your yard using these simple, non-toxic methods is critical.
As a result of learning how to get rid of flies in the backyard, you will be able to have a wonderful picnic or grilling party without having to worry about these bothersome insects.
Most importantly, figure out what attracts flies to your yard and get rid of it.
How To Keep Flies Out Of Your House
The best methods for fly control involve traps that passively trap and kill flies or techniques that repel flies from getting inside your house. Continue reading for the best ways to keep flies out of your home, including natural fly control options.
Across various species of flies, the adult stage of these insects typically exists solely to mate and lay the next generation of eggs. Aside from dealing with adult flies, youll need to deal with any eggs you find outside to stop them from hatching and adding to the fly population around your home to keep flies out of your house.
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What Are Natural Fly Repellents
While focusing on how to get rid of house flies, you can also take measures to repel them from your home. Electronic or flame torches can help keep flies and other insects away from outdoor spaces, and there are plenty of natural fly repellents that you can use simultaneously for the best protection.
One common treatment uses cayenne pepper steeped in water as a spray treatment. Spritz in doorways and around windowsills and the sharp odor will keep the flies away. Pepper spray is non-toxic, but the smell may be unpleasant to some people.
Consider using common garden plants to repel flies. Strong herbs such as lavender, mint and bay leaf can be planted in window boxes to discourage flies from entering windows. You can also plant these herbs in pots and place them in the kitchen and elsewhere around the home. Flies also avoid marigolds and nasturtium, so incorporate these flowers into your garden beds or outdoor pots close to the home and its doorways to keep flies outside.
While it can be helpful to find natural products to aid in fly prevention, a large-scale infestation will likely require the use of more stringent fly killers.
How To Get Rid Of Flies Safely And Naturally8 Min Read
Figuring out how to get rid of house flies can be challenging. These pesky insects can carry viruses and bacteria, lay eggs, and defecate on surfaces and thats just the beginning. Flies can also spread food poisoning, E. coli, dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and a host of other allergens by contaminating your water and food.
You could use a pesticide spray or other chemical formula to get rid of flies. But typical pesticide ingredients can be harmful to your home and family, just like the pathogens flies spread. Fortunately, there are many non-toxic alternatives, so you can learn how to repel flies without using harsh commercial products. With good sanitation habits and some non-toxic fly repellants, learning how to get rid of flies is easy.
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How To Get Rid Of Flies Inside Your Home
Troyano says you want to prevent flies from entering your home in the first place, so its important to keep doors and windows closed when possible, cover food, clear away food debris, and keep trash in tightly sealed lids.
A swatter can be helpful for snagging random flies but there are a few home remedies you can try to catch several of them at once, Pereira says.
What Is The Best Way To Remove Flies From A Car
When it comes to understanding the best way to remove flies from a car, there are two top tips we can share with you. First, as long as you do the cleaning as soon as possible, most regular bug removers or glass cleaners will do the trick. Always follow the manufacturerâs instructions and youâll have a bug-free car in no time. Secondly, for more stubborn bug residue, we recommend using baking soda. This is not just great for cooking â it is also the perfect product to bring the bug-free shine back to your car. Simply add a little water to some baking soda and apply it to the bug residue, rubbing it with a damp cloth to remove it. With one final rinse you should see all the grime wash away.
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