Did you know that you could make your own fly trap using some simple ingredients? Well, you could! In this article I will be going over how to make a fly trap using milk, black pepper and a paper bag.
In addition, I will also cover other ingredients that you can add to increase your chances of making your fly trap work even better!
Flies and many other insects are attracted to both well-lit areas and dark corners so placing the traps in these locations should allow for effective results. The idea behind the fly trap is pretty simple: it lures flies onto a sticky fly paper and then they get stuck and can’t get away!
Using the right kind of bait is key in entrapping flies so think about what might attract them before choosing where to place the traps.
Fly Paper Recipe
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons black pepper
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Brown paper bags, cut into strips
Bring all ingredients except paper bag strips to a boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat, Simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer, until thickened, and then cool.
Carefully Wind the brown paper strips into a tight roll and drop them into the mixture until saturated. Carefully rewind the strips and allow them air dry on a cookie sheet until they are just tacky to the touch.
To use, suspend the strips with a thumbtack wherever flies are a problem.
Caution: Keep this away from pets and children.
What about adding other ingredients to the milk mixture? -There are a number of other items you can add to make your fly trap even more effective:
– Apple cider vinegar – Red wine – Garlic oil – Petroleum jelly – Almond extract
In addition, these traps will only work as well as you keep them clean. Make sure that you check your traps on a regular basis and dispose of any dead insects inside. Instead of discarding the water, leave it until it has evaporated – this will give off an even stronger scent which will attract the next line of flies. If your fly trap is looking a bit worse for wear, you can always make another one to replace it.
What Attracts Flies to FlyPaper
One of the most common reasons that flies are attracted to fly paper is because it is made with acidic components. The natural pH of flies’ feet is between four and six, which is also the pH range of fly paper.
Flies are obviously drawn to other flies, so if one lands on a trap, its acidic feet will leave behind trace amounts of formic acid (a known attractant) which encourages the other flies to do the same.
A fly paper recipe can also contain sugars like maltose or fructose in order to offer another way for the insects to be lured in. However, this does make it more difficult for non-insects (e.g., spiders) to be able to prey upon them because these sugars provide uncomfortable footing.
On average, each night an adult housefly can lay up to 500 eggs that hatch into maggots within 48 hours; therefore, they quickly become an one popular recipe for homemade flypaper , you will need 2 teaspoons each of brown sugar and molasses mixed with 1 overwhelming nuisance when they start multiplying.
Since it is impossible to stop a fly from laying eggs without killing it, the best way to control their population is by using pesticide sprays and traps. Unfortunately, pesticides can be toxic to other insects as well as humans and pets, which is why many people prefer a natural approach that uses homemade fly paper .
