what is the sticky stuff on flypaper

Flies are a nuisance, congregating in areas where the air is still, gravitating to kitchens and bathrooms, and relishing gross things like garbage, scum, and rotten food. You dont want flies hanging around your home, especially near your food. Pest control can get expensive, but fly control is a puzzle that can be solved with simple DIY fly paper.

If youre dealing with houseflies and want to make fly paper, this guide is for you. Making fly paper means you can change your fly paper out more frequently for a lower cost.

This fly paper will work best when dealing with large flies, such as lesser houseflies or blue and green bottle flies. It will not work well for small flies like fruit flies, drain flies, or fungus gnats. Youll want to choose different control methods if youre dealing with some small flies in your home.

The glue on fly paper, also known as fly tape or sticky fly paper, is typically made of a mixture of syrup, sugar, and other sweet-smelling ingredients that attract flies, combined with a strong adhesive that traps the flies once they land on the paper.

Alternate DIY Fly Paper Method

Duct tape is an alternate method thats super sticky and just as trap-worthy. Heres how:

• Use 12-inch strips of duct tape, cut a strip, and place it with the sticky side exposed.
• Attract more flies to your duct tape trap by spraying the adhesive side lightly with sugar water.

How to Make Homemade Fly Paper

• Cut a Paper Bag Into Strips

  Cut a brown paper bag into strips about 12″ long and 2″ wide.

  Tip

  If your grocery store doesnt offer paper bags, save restaurant takeout bags or use paper lunch sacks. A roll of craft paper from the dollar store will also do the trick. The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

• Mix and Heat Ingredients

  Warning

  Heating sugar syrup can be dangerous if it gets too hot. Be careful when heating your sugar mixture; dont heat it too long. If hot syrup comes in contact with your skin, be sure to follow proper burn first aid.

  • Combine equal parts corn syrup, sugar, and water in a saucepan.
  • Heat the pan, constantly stirring the ingredients until the sugar dissolves.

  The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

• Submerge Strips in Mixture

  • Remove the pan from the heat and carefully submerge the paper strips in the sugar-water mixture.
  • Allow them to sit long enough to become saturated. Leave the strips soaking in the sugar mixture for several hours or overnight for maximum stickiness. Be aware that removing them from the cold mixture could get messy.

  The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

• Let Strips Dry

  • Place a drying rack on top of a cookie sheet. It might be helpful to first line the cookie sheet with parchment or wax paper to make for easy cleanup.
  • Remove the paper strips from the sugar mixture with tongs. Let the strips cool down. The sugar syrup can cause burns if youre not careful.
  • Place the strips on the drying rack and allow them to sit out until completely dry to the touch.
  • The fly strips will be super sticky. Hang your fly paper wherever flies are a problem, but make sure it wont come in contact with people or pets. Otherwise, you might have to deal with a sticky (possibly furry) mess.

  Tip

  If the paper dries out over time, you can re-wet it with a misting bottle or replace it with a fresh piece of homemade fly paper. The Spruce / Jorge Gamboa

One-fourth cup of corn syrup, 1/4 cup of sugar, and 1/4 cup of water make a lot of fly paper. It is not recommended to multiply the batch unless you plan to hang your fly paper in a larger area dense with flies, such as in a barn or horse stall.

Terro Fly Magnet Sticky Fly Paper Fly Trap Showcase

FAQ

Is the sticky stuff on fly traps toxic?

What makes fly traps sticky?

How do you get the sticky stuff from fly traps off your skin?

What attracts flies to sticky fly paper?

How does sticky fly paper work?

Sticky fly paper operates on a simple yet effective principle to capture and eliminate flying insects. The key to its success lies in the adhesive coating applied to the paper, creating a surface that traps and immobilizes airborne pests upon contact. The process begins with the attractive features of the sticky trap to attract flies to fly paper.

Does sticky fly paper trap flies?

The adhesive is strategically placed on the paper to maximize its ability to trap a variety of flying pests, including flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and other airborne nuisances. Sticky fly paper is renowned for its simplicity and efficiency, providing a non-toxic and eco-friendly alternative to traditional insecticides.

How does fly paper work?

ly strips, also known as fly ribbons or fly paper, are adhesive traps designed to capture flying insects, primarily flies and other small pests. These strips are typically made of a narrow piece of paper or plastic coated with a sticky adhesive substance.

Does sticky fly paper kill flying insects?

Sticky fly paper has become a staple in households, restaurants, and various commercial spaces, offering an unobtrusive yet potent solution to the age-old problem of flying insect infestations. How