Ways to Get Rid of Flies, Naturally

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DRAWING: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF
You can get rid of flies naturally in the home or barn with a simple, homemade trap.

It’s fly time again! And all over the country people are swatting, spraying, and hanging out sticky paper to catch the little buzzers. There’s a whole range of other methods for bringing about winged wipeout as well. I’ve heard southern folk say that they have the best luck by pinning a fresh-picked cotton ball on the screen door at neck height . . . north westerners swear that a sprig of cedar used in the same fashion repels the marauders . . . and free-spending types all over testify to the effectiveness of expensive electronic zappers.

Well, here are two old-time flytraps that can do the job for little or no cost. I can confirm that both contraptions work exceedingly well. And, as you can see from the following instructions, they’re both very easy to construct.

Ways to Get Rid of Flies in the House

 All you need for this is a wide-mouthed jar, some sugar water, and a stiff paper cone. Pour some syrup into the container as bait. Next, fashion a medium-length paper cone, making the wide end larger than the jar’s opening and cutting a hole an inch in diameter at the apex (see Drawing No. 1). Set the cone upside down in the mouth of the container, perhaps taping it in place. Now, put the jar in some unobtrusive spot, and let it be. The flies will be attracted to the syrup and will go down through the cone into the glass trap. Once inside, they won’t be able to fly up through the 1″ hole to get out again. All you have to do is check, and occasionally clean, the jar.

A Homemade Fly Trap for the Barn

  • Published on Jul 1, 1983
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