DIY Fly Trap - 5 Tips Against Flies

Flies can be a nuisance in any environment, from rural settings to urban homes. While various commercial solutions exist, many opt for humane, natural methods to manage fly populations without harming them. This guide focuses on building simple traps that collect flies for later release, along with other effective repellent strategies.

Table of Contents

1. Catching Flies in a Screw Jar
2. Catching Flies in a Bottle
3. Living Fly Traps – Carnivorous Plants
4. Repelling Flies with Scents
5. Other Tips Against Flies

Catching Flies in a Screw Jar

Making a fly trap with a screw jar is quick and easy.

What You Need

• Screw jar with lid
• Hammer
• Screwdriver
• Paper towel with bait

How to Build a Screw Jar Fly Trap

1. Place the jar on a newspaper to prevent slipping.
2. Use a hammer to tap the screwdriver through the lid, creating holes. Four holes per jar are sufficient.
3. Place a paper towel soaked with bait, such as vinegar, at the bottom of the jar.
4. Screw the lid on – it’s ready!

Tips:

• The holes in the lid should be large enough for flies to squeeze in but prevent them from crawling back out.
• The screwdriver creates sharp edges on the inside of the lid, which deter flies from climbing back up. Exercise caution when handling the lid yourself.
• As an alternative to the lid, you can stretch plastic wrap over the jar and poke holes with a needle. This method might be less effective for house flies but can work for fruit flies. For fruit flies, use smaller needle-poked holes to prevent their escape.
• Instead of paper towels, other effective baits include overripe fruit, gnawed bones, juice remnants, wine, sparkling wine, or sugar water. Avoid honey to protect bees.

Catching Flies in a Bottle

This alternative trap requires the following materials:

Required Material

• Plastic bottle
• Utility knife
• Masking tape
• Paper towel with bait

How to Build a Bottle Fly Trap

1. Remove the bottle cap.
2. Wrap masking tape around the upper third of the bottle.
3. Cut the bottle straight along one edge of the tape.
4. Place the bait in the lower section of the bottle.
5. Remove the tape and invert the upper part of the bottle, inserting it into the lower part to create a funnel.
6. Secure the two parts with tape.

Tips:

• Having someone hold the bottle for you can make cutting easier.
• Tape the two bottle parts together in a way that allows for easy separation. This facilitates releasing the trapped flies outdoors and preparing the trap for reuse.
• Rubbing the inner part of the funnel with a mixture of dish soap and vinegar creates a slippery surface, making it harder for flies to escape.

Living Fly Traps – Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous plants are not only useful but also decorative living fly catchers. However, it’s important to note that these plants do not allow flies or other small insects to escape alive. They are natural predators and consume insects as part of their diet.

Well-known types include sticky traps like the Sundew, which ensnares its prey upon touch, and snap traps like the Venus Flytrap, which closes its leaves around insects. Pitfall traps, such as the Pitcher Plant, are also popular. They lure flies into their deep pitchers, with downward-pointing hairs preventing escape, leading to the digestion of the insects.

Repelling Flies with Scents

Ideally, flies should be deterred from entering your space altogether. They are attracted to strong scents from meat, waste, sweets, and ripe fruit.

Fortunately, some scents have the opposite effect: lavender and lemon, for example, are pleasant for humans but strongly disliked by flies. Lavender plants on balconies or patios can also help keep wasps away from outdoor dining areas if used in sufficient quantity.

Similarly, apples and lemons studded with cloves can repel flies. Marigolds, basil, peppermint, and scented candles with essential oils are also effective deterrents.

Another strategy is to place overripe fruit far away from your dining area. This will attract flies to a distant “feast” rather than to your indoor spaces.

Other Tips Against Flies

Flies are drawn to warmth. Therefore, ventilate your rooms, especially during cooler twilight hours and on the shaded side of your home, to prevent flies from entering. House flies and similar insects dislike drafts. Opening opposing windows creates a cross-breeze that encourages these bothersome flies to leave. Lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus, whether used in diffusers or as decorative potted plants, can create a fly-free zone both outdoors and indoors.