Comparing Best Fly Traps: Tips, Tricks and More!

By: Tanya Latty

We are getting into the time of year when flies and mosquitoes become a serious nuisance. If you don’t want to use dangerous chemicals (check Hazard Communication Standard on Occupational Safety and Health Administration website), it’s important to know which fly traps work best.

As an entomologist with over 20 years of experience, I have observed fly populations worldwide and have tested countless fly traps. After extensive research, I have compiled a list of the seven best fly traps for outside and inside, based on their proven effectiveness. I have excluded elaborate designs and unreliable traps, so you can trust that these traps have been thoroughly tested and will help you manage your fly problem with the best fly catcher.

What to Consider Before Choosing a Fly Trap

The amount of information can seem overwhelming. To choose your ideal fly trap, you’ll need to understand what criteria and features you’re looking for. Answer the following questions to narrow it down.

Indoor or outdoor?

Do you want to tackle a problem in your home or are you trying to ward off pests in your outdoor spaces? Some fly traps offer protection for both indoor and outdoor, but many were designed only for one.

How long do you need the trap for?

Fly season can last for different lengths of time. There are traps that you can use at the beginning of spring, but they might not be good for the whole summer. Other traps will need to be refilled when you want to use them for a longer period. But electric traps never need to be refilled and will work all season long.

What type of flies do you want to kill?

The kind of thing you buy will depend on what type of flies you are trying to kill. Some traps for fruit flies work well in the kitchen, but they won’t work for other types of flies. Lights attract moths as well as some different types of flies. Not all types of baits will attract all types of different kinds of flies. You need to buy the right kind for the right fly type that you are trying to get rid off.

Do you have any safety considerations?

If you have kids or pets, you will not want to use electric traps that are on the ground. If a trap is near food, it should not be anything with toxic bait.

Comparison Table

[amazon table=”218″ tracking_id=”trap04e-20″] Fortunately, there’s an easy way to find the best fly traps to suit your unique living environment. These are the best fly traps on the market with their features, pros, and cons simply categorized.

fly traps

1. RESCUE! – Best Non-Toxic Disposable Fly Trap

[amazon box=”B000BQRQ8C” tracking_id=”trap04e-20″]

Ingredients (Safety Datasheet)

  • Sucrose: 42.1%
  • Putrescent Whole Egg Solids: 18.0%
  • Yeast: 5.5%
  • Trimethylamine: 2.8%
  • Indole: 0.2%
  • Other Ingredients: 31.4%

What Does It Catch?

The RESCUE! Disposable Fly Trap catches common flies. It gets rid of hundreds of the most prevalent species including house flies, false stable flies, blowflies, blue and green bottle flies, flesh flies, face flies, and many others.

Review

RESCUE! produces high-quality insect catching and killing traps. This particular fly trap comes in a two-pack and is sanitary and easy to use. You’ll never have to touch the flies or the bait.

Clean and sanitary fly traps that are 100% disposable! RESCUE! Non-Toxic Big Bag Fly Trap is perfect for farms, restaurants, breweries, zoos and more. And with 40,000 flies killed per bag there’s no need to rebait or touch the pests. The trap is pesticide and poison free, and the use is simple and sanitary.

how to use RESCUE! fly trap

Pros
  • Two-pack doubles the number of flies caught and places the trap can be used
  • Poison and pesticide free
  • Disposable when filled with dead insects
  • Able to catch thousands of flies between disposals
Cons
  • Strictly for outdoor use; indoor use will cause the bait smell to permeate your living space and clothing

Video Review

2. Victor M380 – Best Reusable Outdoor Fly Trap

[amazon box=”B00004RBDW” tracking_id=”trap04e-20″] This fly trap is designed to attract flies using both its bait and its visual design, making it the best outdoor fly trap available. It’s safe to be used around pets and children, providing peace of mind while effectively trapping flies. You can easily dispose of the flies and reuse the trap when it’s filled, ensuring continuous fly control. The baited system is meant to be used for a long time, and its effectiveness will not diminish over time, making it a reliable solution for outdoor fly control.

The trap features non-poisonous and effective bait that attracts many different species of fly. The diamond-shaped lid and white coloring help to attract larger numbers of flies. This trap is a three-pack three times the effectiveness and has one quart of space for maximum usage between disposals.
Pros
  • Pesticide-free, non-poisonous bait
  • Three-pack for use in three different areas
  • Visual elements attract greater numbers of flies
Cons
  • Outdoor use only due to the odor
  • Requires a plant hanger or hook to hang if there are no trees in the area

3. Flies Be Gone – Best ECO-friendly Fly Trap

[amazon box=”B004YD9YTW” tracking_id=”trap04e-20″] This trap is pesticide and poison free and functions through the use of bait and water. It attracts many species of fly, even flies resistant to pesticides. The bait is natural fly food.

Each trap will catch up to 20,000 flies. The trap reacts with heat; when the trap gets hotter, the smell of the bait dissipates and expands the overall area of protection. The warmer the temperature is, the more flies the trap will catch.
Pros
  • Pesticide and poison free
  • Food-based, handmade bait
  • Unique trap doors
Cons
  • Intended for outdoor use only
  • One-use only, cannot be reused after disposal

4. Gardner Fly Web Fly Trap – Safe for Pets & Children

[amazon box=”B0006OIZN4″ tracking_id=”trap04e-20″] This fly trap by Gardner is an indoor trap that utilizes light bulbs to work, rather than bait. The trap is electric and designed to be silent; all you need to use it is an electrical outlet. No complex setup or baiting is required.

The light trap works as both a fly trap and a nightlight. It will trap house flies, fruit flies, gnats, moths, mosquitoes, and other pests that are attracted to light. Unlike bait traps, it has no odor. The glue board that traps the flies is non-toxic and pesticide-free.
Pros
  • Pesticide free and non-toxic; safe for pets, children, and the overall environment
  • Uses an energy-efficient UV lightbult
  • Compact and able to be used in any indoor space
  • Traps flies on a glue board that’s easily disposed of
Cons
  • Designed for indoor use only
  • Uses light as the lure, so you cannot use the trap in a room with other light sources

5. Aunt Fannie’s – FlyPunch – Best Indoor Fly Trap

[amazon box=”B00WMZMHPW” tracking_id=”trap04e-20″] This pesticide-free, non-toxic fly trap is safe to use around food, pets, and children. It’s designed to attract fruit flies and will last for months.

The trap features a bait formula made of water, vinegar, citrus pulp, and ethyl lactate. While eliminating fruit flies, all these ingredients are perfectly safe to use in the kitchen. The trap stands on its own and can be placed on the counter or in problem areas like windowsills and cupboards. To keep the bait effective for as long as possible, the trap is designed to be stored in dark, cool places.
Pros
  • Non-toxic and pesticide free formula which is safe to use in all kitchens
  • Optimized to attract, target, and kill fruit flies
  • Stands on its own; can be placed in cupboards or on counters
  • Attracts several fly species besides fruit flies
Cons
  • You need several Traps for maximum effect

6. ASPECTEK Upgraded 20W Electronic Bug Zapper – Most Powerful Trap

[amazon box=”B01LWLFB5U” tracking_id=”trap04e-20″] This fly trap is designed for both residential and commercial use. No pesticides or poisons are used to trap the flies. It can be used both indoors and outdoors, you can use it even in wet and washdown areas.

The trap is maintenance-free and covers an area of up to 6,000 square feet, so it can be utilized for an entire home or business. Because it’s so clean and safe, even hospitals use this trap for their pest issues. Four UV bulbs attract flies and other pests, and then the system electrocutes them. The trap can be wall-mounted to keep it out of reach of pets and children, but it can also stand on its own.
Pros
  • Good for both indoor and dry outdoor use
  • Designed for wet areas
  • Wall mounted or suspended location
  • Kills limitless insects and never requires replacement traps
  • Uses light for insect attraction, so bait never needs replacing
Cons
  • Not found

7. ZAP iT! Electric Fly Swatter Racket & Mosquito Zapper

– Best Racket

[amazon box=”B076CL94FF” tracking_id=”trap04e-20″]

The ZAP iT! Electric Fly Swatter Racket & Mosquito Zapper is a type of eco zap flytrap. It works by using a 4,000-volt grid to create a high voltage electric field around the racket. When a flying insect such as a mosquito, fly, fruit fly, or gnat comes into contact with the racket, it completes a circuit between the two parts of the grid, and an electrical current flows through the insect’s body. This electrical current is strong enough to kill the insect almost instantly.

The ultraviolet LED light on the racket attracts the insects to the grid by emitting a wavelength of light that is attractive to flies. When an insect touches the electrified mesh, it is immediately killed and falls to the ground.

The racket is powered by a rechargeable Lithium battery that provides enough energy to deliver up to 10,000 zaps on a single charge. The racket is designed to be lightweight and ergonomic, making it comfortable to hold and easy to use. The triple-layer safety mesh provides extra protection for the user when the racket is electrified.

Pros
  • Instantly eliminates a range of pests, including mosquitos, flies, fruit flies, gnats, and more
  • Lightweight and ergonomic design for comfortable us
  • Can be used both indoors and outdoors, making it a versatile tool for bug control
Cons
  • Manual swinging may be less effective
  • Not ideal for larger insects

Fly Trap Buyer’s Guide

Spring and summer are a fly’s paradise. Everywhere you look, they seem to be buzzing around the food on your table or trying to get in through the open windows of an evening. Protect yourself from these pesky insects with one of our many types of flies traps!

Types of Fly Traps

Flytraps can be differentiated in two ways: the way they attract flies, and the way they kill flies. The following attraction methods are most common:

  • Fly bait-based traps
  • Non-odorous bait-based traps
  • Light traps

These methods of killing are the most common:

  • Pesticides/poison
  • Water
  • Glue boards
  • Electricity

Fly Bait-Based Traps

These are traps that use rotten fruit and meat to attract flies. The downside is that the bait can smell really bad when you use these traps inside your home. Flies like rotten fruit and meat, so they will get attracted to the same thing in this trap. These types of traps work well outside at getting rid of flies.
Some traps are temperature sensitive so that as the day gets warmer, the smell dissipates over a larger area. This is useful since more bugs tend to be out on hotter days.

Non-Odorous Bait-Based Traps

These traps also use bait to attract flies. The bait is either odorless or has a nice smell to us, so that we don’t notice it. We usually use these traps inside and outside because they are good for the outdoors too. Vinegar or citrus extracts attract the flies to the trap.

The upside of these traps is that they can be used anywhere. Most of the time, the ingredients are organic. The downside is that these traps don’t catch as many species of pests as an odorous bait-based trap will. Fruit flies are attracted to these traps, but other types of flies will also come because they like fresh fruit. But fly species that only eat garbage and rotten things won’t be attracted to these kinds of traps.

Light Traps

There are traps that use electricity and attract insects with UV lights. They’re used mostly in indoor places, but some can be used outdoors as long as there is electricity.

These traps that use light as their bait work best in dark areas. They do not work in places with a lot of bright sunlight because there is no darkness. The traps also produce their own light, so they cannot be used in any room you want to keep completely dark.

Light traps will attract more pest species than bait traps alone, though. Moths and other insects are attracted to light in addition to the usual houseflies, fruit flies, and biting pests.

Pesticide and Poison Traps

You will notice that none of the traps we have on our list use pesticides or poison as a way to kill. These methods can be effective if you have a big problem with pests already, but they can cause problems in your home. Pesticides may harm the environment and could also hurt pets or children if they eat it or breathe it in. Other methods may be safer and more environmentally friendly ways to kill flies.

Pesticides are best utilized in cases where you have a large concentration of insects in one area; for example, with bees nests or a fly hatching site. They’re not the best for trapping individual insects.

Water Traps

The most common way to kill the bugs trapped in a trap is to put water in it. Bugs will fly into the trap and then they’ll be in the water, and they’ll drown. It’s good because you don’t need electricity so some traps can use this method, and you can refill it for free if you have access to a sink or other water supply.

The only downside of water traps is that sometimes disposal can be messy, as can cleaning the trap (if the trap is reusable).

Glue Boards

Glue boards and flypaper are other common methods of execution. With these boards, the fly becomes trapped when it lands and slowly dies. Every time a glue board becomes filled with flies, it will need to be disposed of. For this reason, glue boards work best in disposable traps.

Reusable traps sometimes use glue boards. If a board is full, you just throw it out. You do not have to clean anything up or worry about the trap getting clogged like with water.

Electricity

Electric traps kill flies by electrocuting them. This is a faster and more assured kill method than water traps or glue boards, but it does pose some inherent dangers. Electricity doesn’t discriminate, so pets or children who touch the sensors may be hurt. Because these traps use power sources, they’re also only good for use indoors or in outdoor spaces with access to an electrical outlet.

Many people prefer electric traps because of their ease of maintenance; oftentimes, fly removal is as easy as tossing the contents of a compartment in the trash. They don’t require refillings like water and flypaper traps. To use an electric trap, all you need to do is plug it in and turn it on. No complex setup is required.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fly Traps

Flytraps are an effective way to keep the fly population in your home at bay. They are inexpensive and easy to maintain. Many people, however, tend to question how effective these traps are. I will go over the most commonly asked questions about this form of pest control.

Do flytraps attract more flies?

Flytraps do not attract more flies. They capture flies already in your home, but there are no harsh aromas or vibrant colorings that would cause flies to frequent the area any more than normal.

What is the most effective flytrap?

The most effective fly traps are reusable traps that can hold many flies at once while being easy to install and replace. These container-like traps use non-toxic bait to draw many flies in at once and keep them from escaping with a uniquely designed lid. The efficiency of this trap has placed it above less desirable traps that use potent odors, lights, or noise to attract and snuff out bugs. This variety is also more humane than traps that use adhesive to detain and slowly kill insects.
A reusable fly trap is also fairly easy to maintain as it is a set-and-forget method of fly trapping. The large container size allows for ample time to catch many flies over the course of a few weeks without having to check it too often. By the time you remember to check it, it will already have caught a sufficient amount of flies to curb the flow of pests in your home. Then, all you have to do is empty out the trap and repeat! This reduces waste commonly found with disposable traps, and it’s easier on your wallet!

How do you get rid of house flies quickly?

The quickest and simplest way to get rid of house flies is to find a trap that draws the bugs in and holds a large number of flies at once. If you get a trap large enough to hold a multitude of flies, it will help stem the population in your home faster than using multiple, smaller traps over time. It s also important to find a trap that contains a bait that attracts flies while being subtle enough to not emit an odor that overpowers your home and increases the overall fly population. Finding balance is key to efficiently lowering the number of flies in your home.

Conclusion

Flytraps are a safe and effective means of eradicating pests in your day-to-day life. Different traps utilize different types of baits and means of killing the flies. You’ll want to base your purchase around the area you intend to use the trap, the types of flies you intend to kill, and any safety considerations. You’ll also want to invest in a trap that has a maintenance level you can tolerate.