Using Fly paper is one of the most ancient techniques for eliminating flies. Fly papers are also known as fly ribbons.
Fundamentally a fly paper is a simple sheet of paper coated with a substance that has a sweet fragrance along with strong adhesive properties. Fly papers provide an inexpensive and environment friendly way to get rid of flies.
How does a Fly Paper works?
A fly paper works on the fact that flies have a strong scene of smell. As I have foretold, a fly paper is coated with an attractant that has adhesive properties. The attractants used in the fly papers can emit food based or pheromone fragrances.
The scent of a fly paper is very faint and often undetectable for humans. But, as flies have a strong scene of smell they get lured to it and when they land on the paper they get stuck to it. The more they struggle, the more strongly they get stuck to the adhesive.
Recommended Reading: Disposable Fly Traps
Toxic Fly Papers:
While most of the fly papers available in market these days are non-toxic, however in olden days fly papers also had a coating of poison to kill the flies more quickly. The poison used in those fly papers was Metallic Arsenic, which is a well-known toxin for humans as well.
But the good thing is that, such toxic fly papers are no more manufactured now.
Where to use a Fly Paper?
Fly papers can be used both indoors and outdoors. Generally, flypaper works the best when you hang it in an area where flies come / hang-out frequently. You can use them near window panes, trash cans, near entrances etc.
Also, if you are using a fly paper outdoors then make sure to change it after a few days, as it may lose its efficiency when it becomes dusty.
Recommended Reading: Using Cloves to Repel Flies
Bonus Tip: How to make your own Homemade Fly Paper:
As a bonus tip, here I’ll be sharing the method to make your own home made fly paper. Making a fly paper at home is very easy.
List of items that you need:
- A brown paper bag
- Scissors
- Heating Pan
- A large sized spoon for stirring
- Corn Syrup
- Water
- String for hanging the fly papers
Step by Step instructions:
1. Take the brown paper bag and cut it into 2 inch strips. At one end of these strips make a hole and put a string though that hole.
2. Next, combine equal parts of corn syrup and water into a pan and heat the mixture while stirring with a spoon till it starts boiling.
3. After this, remove the pan from heat and soak the strips into the mixture for at least 4-5 hours. While soaking the strips, make sure that the strings attached to them are not submerged in the pan.
5. Take out the strips and allow them to dry for 2-3 hours.
6. When the strips get dry, hang them in the fly infested area and your homemade Fly Paper is ready to catch flies.
