Flies...

[KeaauRich]

OK, so I've eliminated all known sources that would attract flies (garbage, poor compost, dog poop, etc.) and our back yard is still filled with small flies (look like houseflies, but smaller). Anyone have any effective, non-toxic ideas on how to eliminate them before they carry me off?

[csgray]

We have had very good luck with pheromone baited fly traps, hang it well away from the house though. Ace hardware carries them, as well as any good feed store. There are also really heavy duty ones used by dairymen and pig fattening stations available from internet farm supply houses, but they may be overkill and you don't want to attract every fly in the neighborhood to your house. Good luck.

Carol

[Aki]

Also, why do flies want to land on us at all? Are they attracted to sweat, lotion or?? I was in a swimming pool, just floating on an inflatable raft, and I kept getting waves of those pesky small flies landing on me, wave after wave!

[DoryGray]

They land on us b/c they are looking for a host to lay eggs on

[Wao nahele kane]

I don’t know if it’s true or not but I’ve heard that moving reflective items will drive them away. I checked online to see if I recalled it correctly and it appears it's more than just a story I heard years ago. I'd say Christmas tinsel bundled or crumpled foil and tied hanging off tree branches and or reflectors/prisms that the wind can blow around and put in motion. It might actually work seeing as how skittish they are when you move to swat them. Sudden motions or light changes do startle them. I’d try it myself if our place was as bad as our neighbors place but we’re not typically bothered by flies here.
I know how annoying they can be… good luck with it.
Maybe hang them on the North side of the area you want them to stay away from unless using prisms?

E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.

[KeaauRich]

quote:

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Originally posted by Wao nahele kane

I don’t know if it’s true or not but I’ve heard that moving reflective items will drive them away.

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Thanks for the suggestion...however, knowing myself as I do, I'm afraid I'll head out into the yard to do a routine errand and then become transfixed by all the glittery shiny objects. I'd need constant rescue by those not as ADD afflicted as I am

[mikewj]

Speaking of glittery, shiny objects, I've found that drilling a small hole in the edge of old CD's and hanging them with thread or fine monofilament does a good job for scaring away birds. Might work for flies? My neighbor used them to keep bats away from a small attic entry.

[dmbwest]

Garden or herbs growing back there ? Sweet Basil or Mint etc seem to attract those little green / yellow ones which I honestly don't know if these are simply 'teenager' regular ones or not ... I go out with the hose and spray every few minutes 'till I drive them off to drier pastures. Have to try a couple strands of tinsel the next time.

aloha,
pog

[Susan]

Redneck fly deterrent. Fill qt. size zip lock bags with water. Tack them up by the zipper part from porch rafters or any other place flies hang out. Looks pretty redneck but it seems to work.

[OpenD]

quote:

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Originally posted by mikewj

Speaking of glittery, shiny objects, I've found that drilling a small hole in the edge of old CD's and hanging them with thread or fine monofilament does a good job for scaring away birds.

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Is it really necessary to drill a hole in the CDs in order to hang them up? The ones I get already have a hole in them. [:p]