The Bottom Line
The DynaTrap Flylight Indoor Insect Trap is the best fly trap overall. This trap uses a light lure to quickly and efficiently catch flies on its sticky glue trap. The trap is quiet, odorless, and perfect for indoor use around children and pets. Plus, the trap’s design disguises its true purpose and allows it to blend into your home. If you’re looking for a powerful outdoor option, consider the Rescue! Outdoor Disposable Fly Trap. Remember to choose the best trap for your personal needs, keeping in mind the fly species, location, and safety concerns.
What to Know About Fly Traps Before Shopping
Type
There’s several types of fly traps: sticky traps, light traps, container traps, and zappers.
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Sticky Traps
Sticky traps like the Raid Fly Ribbons use glue and adhesives to trap insects. These traps are typically used with bait but can also rely on insects’ natural pathways to lead them into the trap. For this reason, it’s especially important to consider placement when using sticky traps. Sticky traps are often less expensive than other kinds of traps. However, Dr. Thomas warns that some types of sticky traps “can damage walls, harm animals, and drip onto floors,” so you’ll want to be cautious about where you place them in your home.
Light Traps
Light traps such as the DynaTrap Flylight Indoor Insect Trap are a more modern fly trap that use UV light to attract insects. These traps are typically used indoors and use a glue card or container to trap the flies. Light traps have the advantage of being pet and kid safe, odorless, and mess-free, though they require electricity to work.
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Container Traps
Container traps like the Rescue! Disposable Fly Trap always use some form of attractant, such as light or bait, to lure insects into the container. These containers are designed to keep insects securely sealed inside once they enter. Some container traps go a step further and kill trapped insects with water or insecticide once inside the container.
Zapper Traps
Zapper traps, including the Livin’ Well Bug Zapper, use electrical shocks to kill insects on contact. Many zappers use light as a lure, and insects are typically collected on a tray beneath the electrical components. Some zapper traps are designed to hang, while others are placed on the floor. There are indoor and outdoor zappers, so be sure to read the instructions to check if yours can be used outside. According to Dr. Thomas, “zappers can be an electrical hazard, but the voltage is usually very low.” Zapper traps typically include safety features like auto-off and protective grilles to prevent accidental shocks, but extra caution should be taken around these devices, especially if there are small children or pets in the home.
Placement
Fly traps will work best if placed near insect hot spots, such as near doors, garbage cans, kitchen sinks, windows, and compost. Some traps, like outdoor traps that use smelly bait, will need to be placed far from living spaces due to their odor. Keep in mind that some traps may only have an effective radius big enough to cover one room and will not protect the entire home.
Ease of Use
The best fly traps are easy to use and require minimal setup. However, some traps, especially outdoor traps with bait like the Victor Fly Magnet, have more detailed setup instructions. Remember to check your traps every few days to see if they need to be replaced. Most traps make it easy to dispose of killed insects with trays or by simply disposing of the entire trap.
Safety
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It’s important to check if your trap uses bait or insecticides, as these could affect inquisitive children or pets. The use of these materials is most common in container traps and sticky traps. While zappers don’t use chemicals, electric shock might be a concern. However, zappers are low voltage and have safety features and protective grilles to prevent accidental shock. Light traps, like the Safer Home Indoor Fly Trap, tend to be the safest fly trap option, as only light is used as a lure and the insects are typically caught on concealed glue cards. Always read warning labels on your fly traps to be certain that they will be safe to use in your situation.
Your Questions, Answered
Do fly traps attract more flies?
Fly traps can attract more flies, depending on the type of trap you are using. Traps that use bait will attract more flies due to the strong-smelling bait drawing all the insects in the area to the trap. Traps that use light as a lure will attract all the flies within the trap’s radius but will attract fewer than a baited trap. If you are using traps that don’t use any kind of lure, the trap will not attract more flies.
How long does it take for fly traps to work?
Fly traps will start working immediately, though some may work slightly more quickly than others. You’re more likely to see a large volume of caught flies quickly with baited traps. However, all traps will begin working as soon as an unlucky fly goes within the trap’s radius.
To remain effective, fly traps need to be replaced anywhere from every few days to months, depending on your trap’s design and the number of insects in your home. A large container trap placed outside might not need to be emptied for a month or more, while a sticky trap in an insect hotspot might need to be replaced in a few days. Traps should be replaced or emptied as soon as they are full.
How do you know which type of fly trap you need?
The type of trap you need will vary depending on your situation. The kind of species you want to target is one of the most important questions to ask, as not all traps will work for every kind of insect. Though most traps on this list are suitable for all flying insects, for infestations of fruit flies you’ll likely want a trap specifically designed for this species, like the Terro Fruit Fly Trap.
Other factors, such as the size of the infestation, safety, and location, also play a role in what trap will be best for your needs. If you’re dealing with a large infestation, you’ll want a trap that can quickly kill a large volume of flies, like the Victor Fly Magnet. For those who prioritize safety, a light trap like DynaTrap Flylight Indoor Insect Trap will be the best fit. Location matters as well; you’ll want an outdoor trap such as Rescue! Disposable Fly Trap for an infestation that is outside.
Who We Are
This article was written by Better Homes and Gardens contributor Rachel Ahrnsen. She spent hours researching the best fly traps for different species and locations. She also consulted Dr. Sonja Thomas, an entomologist and pest control expert with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor