Search results
Oct 31, 2024 · The best way to prevent flies outside your home is to remove the food and moisture sources they need for reproduction. Use additional methods like traps, natural predators, and repellents to keep populations under control.
- Fruit Flies Drosophila Melanogaster )
While many sites will claim essential oils and herbs will...
- Drain Flies
Tiny drain flies are often mistaken for fruit flies, which...
- Citronella Candles
McHugh prefers natural candles that use essential oils to...
- An Empty Soda Bottle Trap
Yes, fly traps do attract more flies. They use various...
- How to Get Rid of Closet Moths Naturally
Take them outside into the fresh air, hang them over a...
- Fly Paper
The best bait for flies depends on the type of fly in your...
- How to Get Rid of Flies Indoors/Outdoors
There are different types of fans you can use to keep flies...
- Bat Houses
Bats also pollinate plants when the bees are tucked in for...
- Fruit Flies Drosophila Melanogaster )
Oct 18, 2023 · Essential oils? Traps? Plastic bags filled with cheap vodka? We asked experts which fly elimination techniques work and which ones don’t. Here’s what they told us about keeping flies away.
- Ann Hinga Klein
- 35 sec
- Overview
- Killing and Repelling Flies
- Preventing Flies
- How Do You Get Rid Of Flies Outside?
How Do You Get Rid Of Flies Outside?
Enjoying a lovely summer day outside sounds nice, but it’s not so fun when there are dozens of flies buzzing in your ear. If you’re fed up with the flies outside, you’re not alone: lots of people wish they could banish flies from their garden or patio space. That’s why we’ve gathered all the methods you can use to repel flies and keep them away for good.
Use fly traps outside to attract and kill flies.
Plant basil, elderberry, or mint to deter flies using landscaping.
Mix molasses and cornmeal and place it in a shallow dish or saucer. Put the saucer far away from your patio or garden—the flies can congregate there while you enjoy your meal in peace.
If you’re dealing with fruit flies, bait the traps with bananas.
To catch fungus gnats, try raw potatoes.
A fly light trap is an electrically charged light that attracts flies and zaps them.
Try hanging them around your backyard, making sure they’re above head-height.
Be careful setting these up. Light traps could never seriously injure anyone, but it's still quite painful to be zapped by them.
Keep your yard clean and get rid of trash or food.
Flies are attracted to any strong smell, which often comes from trash or food left outside.
Flies have very short lifespans (only about 2 weeks), so if you eliminate anything that causes odors outside your house, the flies will leave or die within that period.
Pick up dog poop, too. Make sure you put it in sealable bags before you put it in the trash can.
Keep garbage can lids tightly closed. If you are having a party, make sure the trash can be used for paper goods disposable has a tight-fitting lid, and ask the guests to replace the lid after they dispose of their trash.
Flies are strongly attracted to the smell of meat and will swarm your grill the minute you bring meat outside to cook it. Keep all meat covered tightly when it is not on the grill, and keep the barbecue lid closed while the meat is cooking.
What smell do flies hate the most?
Generally, flies are pretty much attracted to anything that we consider a horrible smell, and find practically no scent repelling.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
Insecticides usually aren’t an effective way to control fly populations. Flies can develop a resistance to pesticides, so it’s best to use other methods.
Some people swear that hanging shiny objects around their yard deters flies. There is no concrete evidence to support this, but you can try hanging strips of aluminum foil or anything else that has a reflective surface near your patio or in your garden.
- Citronella. Citronella is the OG insect-repellant product. You can buy it as candles, oil lamps, or simply bottles of essential oil. It works by masking the smells that flies find appealing, giving them no reason to visit.
- DIY fly trap. A DIY trap is one of the easiest options for how to keep flies away. You’ll need a jug, some sugar and water, baking parchment, and some tape.
- Netting. Mosquito netting is good for keeping flies away. It works best on balconies, as there’s less space for you to cover. While you could set up netting around a patio, it’ll take a lot of work.
- Soap in a bag. For the same reason that citronella works, smelly soap hung in a bag could work. Make sure it’s particularly pungent soap and is ideally a natural smell.
- Keep food covered. Flies, like any pests, are attracted to food, so the first step to keeping them away is to remove any food sources that are present – especially when getting rid of fruit flies, suggests Gene Caballero, pest control expert at GreenPal.
- Keep trash covered up. Flies are just as attracted to rotting food as the fresh food you cook, so it is vital to keep your outdoor waste bins covered and to empty them regularly, says Jim Tarman, pest control expert and branch manager at Fox Pest Control.
- Keep your yard well maintained and remove waste. Just as household waste can attract flies, yard waste, pet waste, and overgrown grasses can all provide refuge and food sources for flies.
- Use fly-repellent plants. Several fly-repellent plants can help to keep your yard free from pests, such as lavender, peppermint, and marigolds, explains Gene Caballero, pest control expert.
Feb 27, 2024 · If you prefer not to use traps or lights, you can always create your own remedies for keeping flies away from your outdoor areas. Here are some of the most commonly used DIY methods for getting rid of flies effectively and safely.
Apr 15, 2024 · Strategies for outdoor fly control involve either killing, trapping, or repelling the critters. The approach you choose will depend on the severity of the infestation and your tolerance...
