More than 60 different varieties of flies call North America their home. What’s worse, some of them may decide to call the inside of your house home as well.
What are you to do if you notice that fruit flies or other winged pests have moved in? The best course of action is to make some DIY fly traps to hide around your home. They’re discreet, effective, and easy to make—not to mention, they’re far less expensive than calling an exterminator.
Ready to get rid of these buzzing menaces once and for all? Read on for all the info you need to make an indoor fly trap of your own.
Fruit Fly Trap DIY
The tiny size of fruit flies makes them some of the hardest to swat. Thankfully, their love for sweet foods also makes them some of the easiest to trap.
All you need to make an effective fruit fly trap is a plastic container with a lid, some pieces of fruit (old bananas and apple cores work great), any type of vinegar, sugar (honey or syrup works as well), water, and dish soap.
First, poke a few holes in the container’s lid that are large enough for the flies to crawl through, but no wider than a couple of millimeters. If your container doesn’t have a lid, cover it in foil and seal the edge with a rubber band.
Then, mix equal parts of water and vinegar, using enough liquid to fill the container halfway. Mix in two spoonfuls of sugar and one spoonful of dish soap. Drop in the fruit, close up the top, and place your trap somewhere out of sight that the flies will still find it, like on top of your kitchen cabinets.
The dish soap disrupts the mixture’s surface tension, meaning the flies that enter your trap will drown before they find their way out.
Fly Trap Bag
If you have a problem with larger blackflies or the flies aren’t attracted to your DIY trap, consider buying a fly trap bag. All you have to do is add water to the bag and hang it in an inconspicuous location. The water activates a fly attractant, causing the bugs to enter through holes in the cap and get trapped.
You can find inexpensive fly trap bags online or at your local home and garden center.
What If the DIY Fly Traps Don’t Cut It?
In some cases, your DIY solutions won’t be enough to get rid of the insect problem. Some species of flies make their home in your walls, drains, or the soil outside your house, and finding their breeding spot could take an expert’s help. If that happens, call a residential pest control expert in your area to take care of the issue once and for all.
Try These Homemade Fly Trap Ideas
The next time you hear that annoying buzzing around your ears, don’t just reach for the flyswatter. Give these DIY fly traps a chance and you’ll be well on your way toward getting rid of those pesky flies.
Looking for more ways to improve your home environment? Make sure to read through the other articles on our site.
