As soon as the sun comes out, flying insects make their comeback. And to get rid of flies, we tend to rush to chemical-based insecticides. However, it’s always nice to be able to turn to a non-toxic alternative for our beloved pets and for ourselves.
To the homemade natural insecticide, we can associate a few plants of basil, peppermint, geranium, lavender or lemon grass or a few lemons pricked with repulsive cloves. And when the invasion is declared, nothing beats the classic and very effective fly trap to attract as many flies as possible in a minimum of time. But how to make it? Here are natural solutions.
1) Homemade flypaper
You can’t get much more aesthetic than a sticky flycatcher, but it’s hard to get much more effective! It attracts flies and never lets them go. To trap them in the same way at home, you will have to replace the glue. To do this, head to the kitchen in search of liquid honey (50ml), water (50ml) and sugar (50g). You will also need cardboard paper as well as scissors and string.
To create your fly trap, heat your food over low heat while stirring regularly. After a few minutes, your mixture will ideally be creamy and smooth, but not too liquid. While it’s heating, cut strips of paper 5 cm wide and 30 cm long. Punch a hole in them and thread the string through to hang them. Now all you have to do is dip your strips in your sticky mixture and let them dry hanging over a newspaper before hanging your fly strips in strategic places! Change them when they are covered with flies.
2) The fly trap with bait
Here, you’ll need a container that the flies can easily get into, but not easily get out of. And of course, you’ll have to put some bait at the bottom of the bottle or jar that will attract them.
Which container for a fly trap?
-You can opt for a glass bottle if you prefer zero waste.
-Otherwise, you can use a plastic bottle. Simply cut off the top part to place the neck down (like a funnel).
-Finally, there is the glass jar solution. Pour your bait into the jar and cover with plastic wrap that is securely attached with a rubber band or tape. Punch a few holes in the plastic wrap to let the fly through.
What bait to use?
-Red wine (flies like it as much as humans!)
-If you don’t want to waste wine, try red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
-A mixture of sugar or dishwashing liquid and heated cider vinegar
-Add 50 g of brown sugar to 200 ml of warm water, mixing well. Then let it cool down and pour 1 g of baker’s yeast on the surface without mixing. After 3 or 4 days of fermentation, carbon dioxide will be released and attract flies for the next two weeks.
-Or finally, the very strange but effective mixture of 50 cl of milk, 100 g of brown sugar and 50 g of ground pepper to be left to simmer for 10 minutes before pouring it into the chosen container.
The baits we recommend here are liquid. Thus, the flies will drown in it. However, if you don’t want to kill the flies, you can always replace the liquid bait with a solid bait: overripe fruit, etc. All you have to do is chase the flies attracted by this process away from your home.
