Red top fly traps

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Discussion

Turn7

Original Poster:

24,731 posts

236 months

Saturday 5th July
quotequote all
Been having a glut of flies in the house this summwr so thought I’d try one of these .

There is no doubt they work, but given the sheer number of dead flies in mine over a short rime makes me question if I’m actually attracting MORE flies into the garden than without one of these ?

Since setting it up, have also added some string curtain beads to the man French windows we have open . And the number of sky raisins in the living area is substantially reduced.

Bill

55,776 posts

270 months

Saturday 5th July
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Just ordered some as it's insane this year. I get what you're saying about attracting them but if they die it's all good imo.

shtu

3,898 posts

161 months

Saturday 5th July
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As long as you're sensible with placement of the trap (the instructions are pretty good on this) then you shouldn't have a problem, as you'll be drawing the flies away from the house.

I use these and they really are effective.

Don't waste money on any of the copies, they just don't work as well / at all.

Snow and Rocks

2,873 posts

42 months

Sunday 6th July
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We live in the middle of an Aberdeenshire forest and used to get absolutely plagued with flies on warm humid days to the point where you didn't want to even venture outside.

For several years now I've places 3 or 4 of these about the place and now I very rarely even notice the flies at all unless I venture away from the garden. Makes a huge difference.

ewanjp

453 posts

52 months

Monday 7th July
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I love these - you get a whole eco system if you wait long enough - the flies get trapped, but lay their eggs on the layer of dead flies. Magots then eat the dead flies, emerge as flies, repeat.

JoshSm

1,241 posts

52 months

Monday 7th July
quotequote all
ewanjp said:
I love these - you get a whole eco system if you wait long enough - the flies get trapped, but lay their eggs on the layer of dead flies. Magots then eat the dead flies, emerge as flies, repeat.
It sounds like there is a story / potential future true crime documentary behind this.

GasEngineer

1,447 posts

77 months

Monday 7th July
quotequote all
ewanjp said:
I love these - you get a whole eco system if you wait long enough - the flies get trapped, but lay their eggs on the layer of dead flies. Magots then eat the dead flies, emerge as flies, repeat.
You also get the carrion beetles attracted to the rotting fly smell, feasting on the dead flies.

E63eeeeee...

5,100 posts

64 months

Monday 7th July
quotequote all
GasEngineer said:
ewanjp said:
I love these - you get a whole eco system if you wait long enough - the flies get trapped, but lay their eggs on the layer of dead flies. Magots then eat the dead flies, emerge as flies, repeat.
You also get the carrion beetles attracted to the rotting fly smell, feasting on the dead flies.
If I'm remembering the poem right, this is the point you introduce the spider.

LunarOne

6,382 posts

152 months

Monday 7th July
quotequote all
I've been using these for a few years with great results. But this year for some reason there don't seem to be any flies in or around the house. Not sure what the reason is!


Snow and Rocks

2,873 posts

42 months

Monday 7th July
quotequote all
After several years of using them they do seem to have a semi permanent effect on the local fly population. I definitely catch much less now than I did in the first few years.

Bill

55,776 posts

270 months

Monday 7th July
quotequote all
LunarOne said:
I've been using these for a few years with great results. But this year for some reason there don't seem to be any flies in or around the house. Not sure what the reason is!
They're all at my place!

Turn7

Original Poster:

24,731 posts

236 months

Friday 11th July
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Have had to sack my one off tonight, the horrific stench coming from it into the house was disgusting.

And this was about 8m from the open French doors…..

Doubt I will ever try them again, as they have lived up to my expectations of being incredibly vile whilst killing a LOT of flies.

If we have further issues, I suspect a lot of citronella will be in place .

Snow and Rocks

2,873 posts

42 months

Saturday 12th July
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8m is far too close - put it further away.

smifffymoto

5,064 posts

220 months

Saturday 12th July
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Snow and Rocks said:
After several years of using them they do seem to have a semi permanent effect on the local fly population. I definitely catch much less now than I did in the first few years.
Make sure you are buying original Red tops,they are widely copied and fakes look identical.
Only buy them from a proper equestrian supplier or similar.

Blib

46,050 posts

212 months

Saturday 12th July
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The red tops are very effective.

However, the game chamger for us was the fitting of bespoke fly blinds on all outside doors and often used windows.

Our village can be plauged by flies at times The blinds have almost entirely solved the problem. With the added bonus of having the doors and windows wide open in hot weather.

Fly blinds were one of the best investments that we've made.


GasEngineer

1,447 posts

77 months

Saturday 12th July
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Blib said:
Fly blinds were one of the best investments that we've made.
They sound good - have you a link to where you got them from?

55palfers

6,112 posts

179 months

Saturday 12th July
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Do these things solely catch flies?

Wouldn't want bees to become trapped as well

Turn7

Original Poster:

24,731 posts

236 months

Saturday 12th July
quotequote all
55palfers said:
Do these things solely catch flies?

Wouldn't want bees to become trapped as well
In my experience , yes.

I think the pheromone is based on rotting stuff rather than nice pollen and nectar .

Turn7

Original Poster:

24,731 posts

236 months

Saturday 12th July
quotequote all
Snow and Rocks said:
8m is far too close - put it further away.
Sadly , that’s as far as away as it can get in our humble abode….

It’s gone now anyway.

Blib

46,050 posts

212 months

Saturday 12th July
quotequote all
GasEngineer said:
Blib said:
Fly blinds were one of the best investments that we've made.
They sound good - have you a link to where you got them from?
We found a small, family run company local to us. Based in Framlingham, Suffolk. Unless you live in the Suffolk/Norfolk borders I dont think they can help as they measured each door and window.

We simply googled 'bespoke fly blinds' or somesuch and up they popped.