Are Flies Attracted to Bug Zappers?

Here, we’ll be providing all the answers in regards to the attraction of bug zappers to flies.

Bug zappers are a perfect response to pesky insect pests that disturb your peace.

Also known as an electrocution trap or electrical discharge insect control systems, bug zappers come in varying designs but pretty much serve the same purpose; elimination of bugs.

Now, the question here is; are flies attracted to bug zappers?

Being among the most disliked home pests, flies create all sorts of discomfort including the spread of diseases.

Flies Are Attracted to Bug Zappers

Bug zappers have proven to be effective on flies. These insects get attracted to the UV lights emitted by bug zappers. As such, when they get too close, it fries them on contact.

Bug zappers are mostly designed to be hung around the most affected areas.

Instead of flies causing a nuisance to people, they find bug zappers irresistible, thus flying to their death, but there’s a problem! Bug zappers don’t kill flies alone.

It has the same effect on other beneficial insects as well.

Bug Zappers Aren’t So Ideal

If your goal is to have flies exterminated from your surroundings, a bug zapper will do a pretty decent job.

Now, there’s a problem; flies aren’t the only insects flying around. There are beneficial insects that prey on flies and other pests. These two get attracted and killed by bug zappers.

Beneficial moths, ants, midges, beetles, and wasps serve an important role in controlling other insect pests. These are also attracted to bug zappers which kill them.

So, while trying to solve a problem, bug zappers also end up creating more. This is a counterproductive and not-so-efficient way of managing fly problems.

Also, consider the fact that flies are only a small part of the population of insects flying around. These other insects shouldn’t be sacrificed or put in harm’s way simply because a particular insect species are being targeted.

• Bacteria and Bug Particles Scatter within the Immediate Area

By its design, a bug zapper zaps any insect that touches it. Now, this creates a problem in the sense that bacteria and bug particles that carry viruses spread within the immediate vicinity.

Bugs, including flies, pick up all sorts of bacteria on their body surface.

A cleaner way of exterminating such flies will be better. If you have a bug zapper installed, you’ll need to pay closer attention to the immediate area during cleaning. Disinfection will be necessary.

For some people, this wouldn’t be good enough hence the need for more effective alternative methods.

Common Fly Problems

To better appreciate the need for fly control, you’ll have to consider the problems caused by them. Certain fly species such as horse and dear flies are known to bite.

These add to the level of discomfort caused but that isn’t all. Flies are known to spread diseases and pathogens.

Contamination of food, work surfaces, and drinks is another fly problem to contend with. These issues are in addition to the general nuisance posed by these insects. The most logical step to take is to find solutions.

Bug zappers are among several responses to fly issues.

You Cannot Use Fly Zappers Outdoors

We stated earlier that other insects, asides from flies get attracted to fly zappers.

This ends up killing harmless or beneficial insects. As a way to prevent such from happening or to limit the chances of such happening, you’ll need to install your bug zapper indoors.

Flies only make up a tiny fraction of flying insects.

Your aim should be to target these flies which get into spaces and cause all sorts of problems. So, keeping your bug zapper indoors should help in a significant way to only target flies and other harmful pests such as mosquitoes.

Even at that, some beneficial insects will still end up getting killed as they’re also found in human dwellings.

Nevertheless, that’s on a much smaller scale compared to having fly zappers installed outdoors.

Alternative Ways to Prevent Flies

If a bug zapper doesn’t seem like a good option for fly control, you’ll need to find alternative ways of dealing with the problem. Luckily there are many of such. Our focus is more on preventive strategies.

Prevention tends to be a more comprehensive way to deal with a fly problem than any other.

With prevention, you’re looking at the causal factors leading to fly presence. One of the perfect responses will be to improve general housekeeping. This can also be termed a restriction.

The other involves exclusion. Let’s take a look at each of these.

• Improvement of General Housekeeping

Here, you’re looking at reducing your home’s general “fly appeal.” Flies will readily target areas with ample supply of garbage, rotting material, decaying matter, wood waste, and animal feces.

Also, food spills and dishes left unwashed would easily create fly problems.

You’ll need to eliminate these fly attractions by improving general housekeeping. Here, you might want to get a garbage can be fitted with a tight lid. Also, the garbage bag needs to be taken out when it’s full.

The garbage can lid must be closed at all times whenever it’s not in use.

How you store your food matters. Consider using airtight containers to store food. Also important is the need to do your dirty dishes as soon as you can.

Generally, these shouldn’t be left out in the open such as on the counter or sink.

You’ll need to avoid killing rodents such as skunks with poison.

First, you won’t know when such rodents are dead. Secondly, their smelly carcasses attract flies. All animal feces must be cleaned up immediately and properly disposed of.

Taking out the trash more frequently is also a great way of preventing flies.

• Exclusion

When it comes to exclusion, you’re looking at ways to keep flies from getting indoors. Thankfully, there are multiple ways of doing this.

Provisions like proofing of doors, roof vents, and windows among other areas will do a lot to keep out flies. Fine screens are placed or installed that cannot be penetrated by these pests.

The attraction of bug zappers to flies is never in doubt.

Here we’ve learned about its working principle. However, having a similar effect on other insects creates a problem.

You’ll have to consider other alternatives such as those included above to contain fly problems.