The Probem with a DIY Fly Trap [SOLVED]
Introduction to DIY fly traps
If you’re like me, you’ve probably tried every indoor DIY fly trap, homemade fruit fly catcher, and DIY fruit fly trap you could find on the internet. While some of these homemade solutions offered mediocre results, they never truly solved the problem.
I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent scrolling through Pinterest, YouTube, and even TikTok, gathering supplies and following step-by-step guides to try DIY fly and gnat traps. I was convinced that THIS homemade solution would be the one that finally works. But despite my best efforts, I caught only a handful of flies, while the rest seemed to multiply– left alone the ugly and discusting view left open on the counter. It became a never-ending cycle of setting up, refreshing, and ultimately, disappointment.
At Rooted in Research, we’re committed to digging deep into garden secrets and scientific research to bring you the top products for a thriving indoor and outdoor garden. We understand the challenges gardeners face, and we’re here to provide you with well-researched, effective solutions for DIY fly traps, including fruit fly traps, gnat traps, fly traps, and mosquito traps. Today, we’re excited to delve into a problem that many indoor gardeners encounter: pesky indoor insects. After extensive research and first-hand trials, we’ve found a product that stands out from the rest.
The Struggle with DIY Fly Trap Solutions
You might say that we tested them all, and we felt like we did! Here are our research-based results from the home kitchen trials:
- Apple Cider Vinegar Trap: This Apple Cider Vinegar DIY indoor fly trap involves filling a jar with apple cider vinegar and adding a drop of dish soap. While it caught a few flies, it needed frequent refreshing, making it a constant chore. Research shows that while vinegar traps can catch some flies, they often don’t eliminate the problem entirely. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Banana Peel Jar: This Banana Peel DIY indoor fruit fly trap involves placing a banana peel in a jar and covering it with plastic wrap. The trap started to smell bad quickly, and I had to deal with disposing of rotting banana peels. Research indicates that fruit-based traps can attract more flies than they catch, exacerbating the problem. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Wine Bottle Trap: This Wine Bottle DIY indoor fly trap involves leaving a little wine in the bottom of a bottle and placing a one-way entrance on the top. It was unsightly to have old wine bottles sitting around, and it only trapped a fraction of the flies. Research suggests that alcohol-based traps can be ineffective for larger infestations. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Soda Bottle Trap: This Soda Bottle DIY indoor fly trap involves cutting the top off a soda bottle and inverting it into the base. While it caught some flies, it was an eyesore and not something I wanted guests to see. Research shows that such traps often catch only male flies, leaving the females to continue breeding. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Milk-Sugar-Pepper Trap: This Milk-Sugar-Pepper DIY indoor fly trap involves boiling milk, sugar, and ground pepper, then pouring it into a shallow dish. The mixture started to spoil and smell terrible, requiring frequent cleaning and replacement. Research indicates that milk-based traps can become a breeding ground for bacteria, making them unsanitary. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Lemongrass Spray: This Lemongrass Spray DIY fly trap involves mixing lemongrass essential oil with water in a spray bottle. While it smelled nice, it didn’t actually trap or kill the flies, just repelled them temporarily out of the kitchen and into the living room! Research shows that repellents often just move the problem to another area. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Honey Trap: They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar… so we put it to the test. This Honey DIY indoor fly trap involves spreading honey on a piece of sticky paper or plastic. While it did catch fruit flies successfully, it was messy to set up and not very pleasant to look at, creating another problem to deal with. Research suggests that sticky traps can also trap beneficial insects and are not a long-term solution. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Paper Cone Trap: This Paper Cone DIY indoor fruit fly trap involves placing some fruit in a jar and creating a paper cone with a small hole at the bottom. The flies can find their way out before entering the bottom of the funnel, rendering it less ineffective compared to sticky traps or suction traps. Research shows that cone traps often lack the efficacy needed for larger infestations. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Dish Soap and Water: This Dish Soap and Water DIY indoor fly trap involves filling a shallow dish with water and adding a few drops of dish soap. This trap was not only ineffective but also left soapy water around. Research indicates that soap-based traps often fail to attract flies effectively. So, I needed to try a new option. Next, I tried…
- Sticky Tape: This Sticky Tape DIY indoor fly trap involves placing commercial sticky fly tape near problem areas. While it did catch some gnats and fruit flies, it was unsightly and needed frequent replacement unless you wanted to look at dead bugs all the time. So, I needed to try a new option that could capture the flies on a sticky surface, but hid their bodies.
- Cantelope in a mason jar: Ripe melons give off yeast, which gnats and fruit flies are attracted to. This fruit worked the best out of all that I tried, and by poking a few tiny nail holes in the mason jar lid, the pests got in, and couldn’t get out. While this worked the best out of most that I tried, it required me to have fresh melon around, and competed with the uncut cantelope on the counter fresh from the garden. Also, I wasn’t exciting about reusing the mason jar for canning— even after a thorough wash. After trying so many of these DIY projects, I knew I needed a solution that included a sticky trap, a fan to suck in the indecisive flies, and a way to hide the captured bugs. If I could find a set-it-and-forget-it method– even better!
The Best Option for DIY Fly Traps:
After trying so many options with limited success, I decided to give a non-traditional solution a try- an electric indoor insect trap that uses light. With over 106,000 positive reviews on Amazon, I figured it was worth a shot. And let me tell you, I wish I had started with it from the get-go. If I added up the value of all the time, energy, resources, and frustrations, it is cheaper to bite the bullet and go with an electric indoor fly trap. I tried the new Duo 2-in-1 model, but they make an older, cheaper model as well. What I liked about the Duo model was a smaller, more compact design that includes a bigger UV light and an additional bait trap for extra trapping power– and it looks sleek on the counte! Much better than empty wine bottles or wrotting banana peels.
Pro Tip for Capsule Setup
To open the capsule, the top needs to be rotated about 3/8ths of an inch counter-clockwise. To put the cap back on, line up the tiny protrusions on the side of the top and the base of the capsule, then rotate the top clockwise 3/8ths of an inch. I marked these protrusions with a silver permanent marker to make them easy to find and use.
How It Works
The device attracts flies with apple cider vinegar or other yeast-producing bait and, once they get close, sucks them in and traps them on a very sticky board at the bottom. I use the highest setting for both the light and the fan. For best results, the bait liquid should be refilled every three days. In my personal trials, I found that red wine is often a better attractant than vinegar, but both work well.
Operating Mode
One nice feature of the is an automatic mode that turns on when the lights go out, and off when the lights are on. Using the light when the room is dark is the most effective time to attract and capture pests. The device is not designed to run 24/7; doing so would significantly reduce its lifespan.
Best Value Fruit Fly Trap
Similiarly, a close second-place in our electric indoor fruit fly trap research was the plug-in variety. With over 100K monthly sales on Amazon, it is very popular at solving gnat and fruit fly problems. The trade-off for the lower cost, you give up the fan that sucks bugs into the machine instead of letting them hover around the light. Overall, a solid back-up solution!
Common Flies and What Attracts Them
Knowing what will attract your specific fly will yield the best results. There is a lot of academic research focused on the best ways to attract these pests to baited traps. We put together a few recommendations that you can utilize in your DIY indoor fly trap to have the best luck.
Controlling House Fly (Musca domestica)
Description: House flies are gray flies with dark stripes on their thorax. They are commonly found in areas where humans are present.
Attraction: They are attracted to garbage, animal waste, and discarded fruits and vegetables.
Best Way to Attract: Leaving out garbage or spoiled food will attract these flies.
Controlling Small Fruit Flies/Vinegar Flies
Description: These are tiny, light brown flies with bright red eyes, measuring between 2.0-2.5 mm.
Attraction: They are drawn to overripe fruits and fermenting materials like residues in unwashed beverage containers.
Best Way to Attract: Leaving out overripe fruits or open bottles of wine and vinegar will attract these flies.
Controlling Moth Flies
Description: Moth flies are very small, grayish flies that resemble tiny moths.
Attraction: They are most often found in and around drains of sinks and bathtubs.
Best Way to Attract: A continuously wet environment in plumbing or broken drain pipes will attract these flies.
Controlling Fungus Gnats
Description: Fungus gnats are small, dark flies that are commonly found around windows during fall and winter.
Attraction: They are attracted to potting mixes used for houseplants and high organic matter plant mixtures.
Best Way to Attract: Overwatering plants, especially during fall and winter, will attract these flies.
For a complete list, visit the Colorado State University Extension.
Conclusion
In summary, if you’re tired of mediocre results from your homemade fruit fly catcher or makeshift fly trap, it’s time to try a lighted electric sticky trap. You have two choices-one with a fan to suck in the indecisives, and one without. With the Keter dual model’s outstanding performance and over 106,000 positive reviews on Amazon, it’s the effective, safe, and stylish solution we recommend. Trust me, once you experience the outstanding results of the Katchy Indoor Insect Trap, you’ll wish you had made the switch sooner!
