Killings flies

[kiloran]

It's a wee bit warm, so with the windows open, flies are invading the house. I hate them with a vengeance.

A fly swat is effective and provides a satisfying thwack when a fly is dispatched, but it can be a long process, especially for those pesky ones that buzz around for ever without landing (where do they get all their energy from?)

My wife dug out a couple of UV fly killers from some dark corner. They've never been used before and won't be used again..... totally useless. Cheap things she almost certainly got from Aldi, which glow blue but probably have zero science behind them.

I bought some flypaper to hang around...... about 3ft long and not a single fly caught in 3 days

The only vaguely successful thing I've tried are tacky strips which go on a window. Caught a few flies but it's amazing how many flies walk on to them and extricate themselves without too much trouble. If they land on the strip with a bit more force, they work reasonably well.

I'm not keen on smelly sprays, especially in the kitchen

Any recommendations, apart from wait for winter?

--kiloran

[kempiejon]

Henry vacuum cleaner using just the pipe bit no end fitting. Catches them out the sky lovely, also works on wasps moths and midges.

[Mike4]

Henry vacuum cleaner using just the pipe bit no end fitting. Catches them out the sky lovely, also works on wasps moths and midges.

When I used to be a plumber, waving a lit blowlamp around had a similarly instant and terminal effect on flies.

[kiloran]

Henry vacuum cleaner using just the pipe bit no end fitting. Catches them out the sky lovely, also works on wasps moths and midges.

When I used to be a plumber, waving a lit blowlamp around had a similarly instant and terminal effect on flies.

That sounds like fun, but I'll need to check on my house insurance policy first

The Henry sounds like hard work lugging it around. I'm looking for a less energetic solution

--kiloran

[richlist]

I'm told that what you need to get yourself is a chameleon. Great little fly catchers. Stick it in the middle of your kitchen and watch it catch them with its long tongue.

[Mike4]

Henry vacuum cleaner using just the pipe bit no end fitting. Catches them out the sky lovely, also works on wasps moths and midges.

When I used to be a plumber, waving a lit blowlamp around had a similarly instant and terminal effect on flies.

That sounds like fun, but I'll need to check on my house insurance policy first

That's a good point, it didn't bother me as it was usually someone else's house I did it in

[AsleepInYorkshire]

It's a wee bit warm, so with the windows open, flies are invading the house. I hate them with a vengeance.

A fly swat is effective and provides a satisfying thwack when a fly is dispatched, but it can be a long process, especially for those pesky ones that buzz around for ever without landing (where do they get all their energy from?)

My wife dug out a couple of UV fly killers from some dark corner. They've never been used before and won't be used again..... totally useless. Cheap things she almost certainly got from Aldi, which glow blue but probably have zero science behind them.

I bought some flypaper to hang around...... about 3ft long and not a single fly caught in 3 days

The only vaguely successful thing I've tried are tacky strips which go on a window. Caught a few flies but it's amazing how many flies walk on to them and extricate themselves without too much trouble. If they land on the strip with a bit more force, they work reasonably well.

I'm not keen on smelly sprays, especially in the kitchen

Any recommendations, apart from wait for winter?

--kiloran

No cost option

1. Close windows
2. Remove skirt kilt
3. Put kilt in fridge
4. Open freezer door
5. Place buttocks firmly into freezer
6. Wait
7. Wait a little longer
8. When buttocks are hard to the touch remove from freezer. Gently does it
9. Put kilt back on

AiY

[Dod101]

I do not have that many flies, even with the windows open all day but my grandparents swore (figuratively you understand) by flypaper. It is the only time that I can recall it being used successfully but of course I do not know for how long it had been hanging there. My father in law used to love his spray can and killed a lot of flies that way. I stand at the open window and kill them by straightforward mechanics. Either a newspaper in hand or a kitchen towel. Either way I get them!

Dod

[Stompa]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sourcing4U-Exe ... 000MU2MJA/

A little more satisfying than the average fly swat.

[kiloran]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sourcing4U-Executioner-Mosquito-Swatter-Zapper/dp/B000MU2MJA/

A little more satisfying than the average fly swat.

Hmmm... I've been reading that this, like the UV zappers, tend to cause the flies to explode when they are zapped by the high voltage. Can't say I'm overkeen on bits of dead fly all over the place

--kiloran

[staffordian]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sourcing4U-Executioner-Mosquito-Swatter-Zapper/dp/B000MU2MJA/

A little more satisfying than the average fly swat.

Hmmm... I've been reading that this, like the UV zappers, tend to cause the flies to explode when they are zapped by the high voltage. Can't say I'm overkeen on bits of dead fly all over the place

--kiloran

Surely a small price to pay for the satisfaction gained by a successful zap

[Midsmartin]

I'm quite pleased you report lots of flies.

In common with the huge decline in most other insects, there seem to be hardly any here, which I find deeply disturbing.

[9873210]

Much of the rest of the world uses window screens to keep creepy crawlers out so they don't have to kill them.* You may have to import them, and they will make you look eccentric. However you'll look prescient once global warming kicks in and Aedes aegypti is on the march.

* You may also need to pay attention to weatherproofing, since they can get in through cracks and other holes.

[torata]

I don't know what kind of flies you have, but a liquid trap may be effective and works 24 hours.

For example, I live outside the UK, and fungal gnats are quite common. A jar with perforated lid filled with water including some rice vinegar or similar to attract them and washing up liquid to reduce surface tension works better than shop bought chemical fly traps.

torata

[UncleEbenezer]

What's your attitude to natural fly traps like cobwebs? Or carnivorous insects?

Or if you want to get more unusual, think about attracting small vertebrate flycatchers like bats or frogs!

[absolutezero]

I don't know what kind of flies you have, but a liquid trap may be effective and works 24 hours.

For example, I live outside the UK, and fungal gnats are quite common. A jar with perforated lid filled with water including some rice vinegar or similar to attract them and washing up liquid to reduce surface tension works better than shop bought chemical fly traps.

torata

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Red-Top-Trap-Single/dp/B079GW4LCC
The pictures in the reviews are very satisfying. If icky.

[scrumpyjack]

My Dyson portable with the thin tube attachment is brilliant. V powerful suction gets them easily and no mess, no squashed flies, no killer vapour

[monabri]

Why not try deterrents instead ( Google "fly deterrent ").

#F.L.M.

[Gerry557]

Henry vacuum cleaner using just the pipe bit no end fitting. Catches them out the sky lovely, also works on wasps moths and midges.

Father in law did that with a dyson. A wasp was heard and seen still buzzing in the collector so he decided to give it a squirt of fly spay too.

This ignited, blew up the hover and spread muck all over the room. The tale includes a father in law clean shape on the wall behind.

Apparently the wasp, dizzy and suffering from the effects of the event, lay on the floor for a few seconds before making a dash for freedom!

So if you cant kill em at least you can scare em away!

[pje16]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sourcing4U-Executioner-Mosquito-Swatter-Zapper/dp/B000MU2MJA/
A little more satisfying than the average fly swat.

Looks like a great bit of kit
It's on my shopping list for someone I know who hates them
He will love this
Thanks