How To Make Your Own DIY Black Fly Traps - Complete Homestead Guide
Understanding Black Flies and Why Trapping Them is Necessary
Black flies, commonly known as "buffalo gnats", are tiny blood-sucking insects that can be hugely annoying and detrimental to livestock and crops. These small black bugs emerge in swarms during spring and summer, especially near streams and boggy areas.
Female black flies feed on blood while males feed on nectar. When the females bite animals or humans to extract blood, this can cause pain, itching, reddening of skin, and loss of blood which makes animals lethargic. For livestock like cattle, loss of blood from numerous fly bites can even cause anemia or death if infestations are intense.
Problems Caused by Black Flies
Aside from the direct impacts of biting, black flies can spread livestock diseases like anthrax or anaplasmosis from one animal to another. They also contaminate feeding areas and equipment with their waste. For farms and homesteads, black flies bother chickens, turkeys, dogs, and other animals in addition to humans.
These small flies can also transmit parasites that cause "black fly fever" in humans which comes with symptoms like headache, nausea, fever and abdominal pain about one week after being bitten by an infected fly.
Benefits of Trapping Pest Flies
Since black flies breed prolifically in running water, insecticide sprays are not very effective at controlling them. The best way to reduce nuisance fly attacks is by implementing traps around areas frequented by livestock or people.
Trapping flies helps:
- Lower direct bites and annoyance
- Reduce breeding rates by capturing females before they lay eggs
- Allow outdoor farm work and recreation without distraction
- Minimize risks of diseases transmitted by flies
Creating Effective DIY Black Fly Traps
Commercial fly traps are available to buy but homemade traps can work just as well for a fraction of the cost. Some key principles for making your own black fly catcher are:
Use Baits That Attract Flies
The bait you put in the trap lures the flies inside. Good options include:
- Decays meat scraps like raw liver or fish
- Fruits releasing fermentation odors
- Manure which replicates breeding site smells
For the highest capture rates, use baits that replicate the decomposition odors female flies seek out to lay their eggs in.
Allow Entry But Not Exit
The flies need to be able to easily fly or walk into the trap lured by the bait but then be unable to find their way out again. This can be achieved by:
- Funnel or cone shaped traps
- Internal flypaper coils
- Suspending baits away from exit points
- Rough internal surfaces that prevent flies gripping
The exact method depends on trap design but restrict the flies exiting once they investigate the bait.
Site Traps Near Fly Hotspots
While fly traps will capture some insects passively, they work best when positioned right in the prime breeding areas. Try siting traps:
- Under trees/shelter near livestock
- Closely adjacent to moist boggy areas
- Near compost heaps or manure piles
- Around the moist edges of ponds/streams
This allows the baits to compete directly with natural fly attractions so more end up entering the traps.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Making DIY Black Fly Traps
Many everyday household items can be adapted into simple but functional black fly traps with minimal effort and cost.
Water Bottle Method
This produces an inexpensive hanging trap ideal for positioning around small livestock pens:
- Take a clear empty plastic soda/water bottle and remove any remaining liquid
- Cut the bottle around 2/3rds down from the spout end
- Turn the spout portion upside down & push it tightly into the base section
- Bait the inner chamber by adding 2-3 inches of liver, fish, fruit scraps etc.
- Optional: Smear the inner surfaces of the trap lightly with cooking oil to make less grippy
- Punch a hole near the neck and insert string to be able to hang the trap
- Position over known fly congregation spots outside & clear trapped flies periodically
Yogurt Container Method
Larger plastic yogurt/cream cheese tubs can also easily be made into fly catchers:
- Clean and dry a 30oz plastic container thoroughly and remove the lid
- Poke 10-12 small holes all over the upper side walls with a thick needle for fly entry points
- Add 2-3 inches of bait material – spoiled meat/fish works best
- Optional: Add some soil or manure to mimic breeding substrate smells
- Place the lid back on loosely allowing gaps for flies to enter
- Put outdoors near livestock areas or compost piles and replace bait weekly
Funnel Trap
For maximum captures, a funnel-based trap intercepts flies well:
- Obtain a large plastic soda/water bottle with tapered bottom and cut off the narrow end
- Invert the cut-off funnel section and insert it into the main bottle base
- Wrap flypaper loosely around the inner chamber walls with bait material in the middle
- Drill/cut entry holes around the periphery of the tapered funnel mouth section
- Position upright outside with the wide mouth opening facing known fly approach routes
Caring for Homemade Traps
With basic traps made to the above designs, just a few maintenance steps will keep them working efficiently:
Check Weekly
Inspect your traps every week and top off decaying bait if levels get low. Check for trapped fly numbers and clear out excess carcasses.
Monthly Trap Refresh
Swap out bait remnants, flypaper and other consumable internal parts for new materials monthly. This removes buildups and keeps the trap smelling strongly to flies.
Replace Deteriorated Elements
If any sections like funnels or bottle chambers get broken from weathering or chewed by wildlife, switch these components out right away to avoid losing trap integrity.
Try Bait Variations
Experiment with different bait recipes if your trap seems less effective over time. Rotting liver, fish heads or manures often regain fly attracting potency.
With periodic refreshing plus trying alternate long-lasting baits, homemade traps should continue capturing plenty of menacing black flies all season long!
FAQs
What are some good bait options to use in black fly traps?
Some effective bait choices include decaying meat scraps like raw liver or fish, fermenting fruits that give off odor, and manure which smells similar to breeding sites that attract flies.Where should I position black fly traps on my property for best effect?
The ideal locations are near known fly congregation areas like moist banks of streams or ponds, around livestock pens, on the edges of woods or buildings where animals take shelter, and close to compost piles or manure storage areas that produce smells that appeal to flies.How often should fly traps be maintained for continuous control?
Plan to check traps weekly to refresh decaying bait, clear out dead flies which accumulate, and ensure the internal trap workings remain in good condition. Also replace consumable parts monthly and any broken elements immediately to keep trap potency high.Why make homemade traps instead of buying commercial versions?
While pre-made fly traps are available, homemade versions can work just as effectively for much lower cost using basic household containers and materials most property owners already possess. The key principles of effective baiting, one-way entry design and strategic placement can be replicated in DIY traps readily.Can black fly traps eliminate a fly problem completely or do other control methods need integrating?
Traps alone seldom completely resolve heavy black fly infestations arising from ideal breeding habitats nearby. Best effect comes from using traps to reduce fly numbers supplemented by methods like insecticide application, eliminating breeding sites where feasible and managing land/waterways to make conditions less suitable for flies. An integrated approach optimizes fly control results.Advertisement 1

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