Facts

• Flies are an essential part of the natural order and serve an important role. However, because flies feed on dead animals as well as garbage and excrement, they also carry filth and can spread disease. Contemporary measures to control fly problems frequently use poison to kill the offending insects. Poisons are hard to control and may kill beneficial as well as harmful insects. Many people are also concerned with the effects insect poisons may have on humans and pets. Traditional, natural and modern flytraps are gaining increased popularity as consumers move farther away from chemical solutions.
  
  

Function

• Most conventional flytraps function on the same basic design. Bait is placed inside an enclosed container, along with some method to keep the fly inside until it expires. The bait may be anything from a piece of raw hamburger to sugar water. The container could be anything from an old coffee can to a plastic soda bottle. The method of keeping the fly inside the container and away from humans could be as simple as a strip of sticky duct tape or as complex as an electric zapper mechanism.
  
  

Types

• There are three basic types of flytraps: non-powered, electric and natural. Non-powered flytraps rely on some type of containment system to keep the flies inside until they can be disposed of. Electric flytraps include ultraviolet capture devices, which are popular in the commercial food industry, and electronic bug zappers that rely on an electric current to kill the flies when they come in contact with the sensors. Natural flytraps include carnivorous plants such as the Venus Flytrap, which actually feeds on insects.
  
  

Features

• Electric flytraps utilize ultraviolet rays to attract flies and other pest insects. Some types of flies are not attracted to UV light. In these cases, it is recommended to use flytraps that incorporate pheromones as bait. Major infestations may require the use of heavy-duty insect zappers to reduce the fly population. Residential areas may opt for light-duty zappers or non-powered traps. Food service establishments, which don't wish to have insect parts floating around, should rely on heavy-duty ultraviolet traps that contain the insects.
  
  

Benefits

• Flytraps, whether non-powered, electric or natural, are efficient methods of controlling the fly population. Controlling the fly population is essential for maintaining a clean and healthful living space. Which type of fly trap is best is determined by the environment in which it is to be used. An added benefit of flytraps is that they do not require the use of chemical insecticides or pesticides, which can damage the beneficial insect population and may cause illness in humans or pets.