Roberta, you should be able to find wasp traps in the hardware or feed store. They are essentially the same thing. I suggest you take a look at how they work and see if they are worth duplicating. They are not very expensive.

They work on the principle that flies and wasps fly forward and up. They go in through the holes near the bottom and buzz around until they fall into the syrup and drown.

Also, if you are having large numbers of slow moving flies, that don't do much of anything but buzz around your windows, then you probably have cluster flies. They came inside in the fall, to hibernate inside, and now want to get back outside to find earthworms - on which they are a parasite. It's hard to trap them in a conventional fly trap, because they aren't interested in most of the baits, as I recall.

I have seen ads for "traps" for them, but it's either a sticky-trap that they simply crawl on, that fits along the base of a window or else a container of very fine eggshells, which dessicates them as they crawl into it. You might, if you can get any food or garden grade diatomaceous earth (don't use the pool filter grade, it's very finely ground and a breathing hazard), make your own crawl-into trap for them, as that will also dessicate them. I have seen garden DE at Lowe's in past summers.

Robereta, are the flies in the house, sunporch or barn/chicken house?

Last year, we had lots of flies pop 'out of the woodwork'-all those unfinished crevices around the doors and windows of our sunporch. Somewhere I read to sprinkle fresh ground black pepper on a white plate and add about a 1/4 inch of water. I set the plate on the floor. Sounds like voodoo, but the next AM, there were lots of dead flies on the tile floor-and none flying about. So far this spring, there is only an occasional fly.

For outside flies the plastic bottle traps work well for us. I make both meat and sweet(fruity) bottles.

An easy to make trap uses a 1 or 2 liter plastic bottle. Remove cap and toss. Cut the top 1/3 off: invert top portion into the bottom. Attach top to bottom at cut edge (heavy duty stapler or punch holes for wire-or maybe hot glue).

Shove a piece of raw meat ie. Ckn skin, hbgr or fish into the bottom-add about 1/2 cup of water and hang outside so odors do not invade house/patio. Flies go in and I have never seen any exit. You should check and add water or more bait as needed. You can even compost those critters, if inclined.

Also got hints for deer flies, if you get them.

Hope something works for you.
cella jane

That is exactly what I was thinking of but can't seem to picture what you are describing. I'm sure my husband will though. Thanks so much!!!!

Roberta,

I buy rechargable fly traps at the local feed store. About $8. I believe they are Farnam brand. They are about a quart size and in the fly season they will fill in a week. I also use a commercial bait but have found cat food works well also. Matter of fact, sometimes I just refill the trap with clear water. The greater problem is what to do with a filled trap. You can dig a hole and bury the contents but that can be tedious. I buy one gallon freezer bags and empty the traps into the bag, seal the bag and toss it in the garbage.

I've seen similar traps at big box stores such as Lowe's, Home Depot and Walmart.

Bob
Central Arizona

I put up a purchased fly trap one time - it STUNK, but it did catch the flies.

Roxann