The warmer months are prime time for dealing with pests like flies and mosquitoes, which may be an annoyance all year round. Commercial bug traps and repellents often include strong chemicals that pose risks to both children and pets, as well as the environment.
Making your own traps out of common home materials is an option for those who want a safer and more environmentally friendly approach. These DIY traps are simple to put together and built using ordinary household items that are safe for children and pets. In this post, you will learn how to make a fly and mosquito trap at home with just three common items.
Supply items
- Vinegar, measuring one cup
- Oil from olives, 1/4 cup
- 1/4 cup of shampoo, fragrance of your choice
- An oval or shallow plate
Step 1:
Combine Things needed: Mix the shampoo and vinegar in the small basin. Make sure the vinegar and shampoo are well combined by stirring them together.
Olive oil should be added. Add the olive oil little by little to the bowl. A thin coating of oil should form on top of the liquid as it floats to the top.
Deploy the Trap: Put the basin somewhere where you often see a lot of mosquitoes or flies. Any wet spots, such as those near windows or doors, might be a candidate.
Step 2:
Because of its powerful and delicious aroma, vinegar attracts flies and mosquitoes and serves as a bait for them. Particularly effective is apple cider vinegar because of its inherent fermenting properties, which these insects find enticing.
Step 3:
Insects that try to settle on the surface of the vinegar will find it simpler to sink thanks to the shampoo in the combination, which lowers the surface tension of the vinegar.
A slippery barrier is formed on top of the mixture by the olive oil. If you put flies or mosquitoes in the trap—particularly via the perforations in the plastic wrap—the oil will suffocate them, limiting their ability to fly away.
Notes:
Use this trap around the house without worrying about hurting your kids or pets. If you’re worried about spillage, however, put it somewhere out of reach.
If the trap mixture becomes too full, or if you check on it every few days, you should change it.
Setting Up: A warm, shady spot frequented by flies and mosquitoes is ideal for setting up the trap.
