It's a Trap!

Em here, so today we have a great Pinstrosity, Eden, did the foot work for us and did this science-fair-project-status. This is a great project to have on hand, especially this summer with everyone coming in and out of the house all season. She gave us what worked, what kinda worked, and what bombed.

The Original

: http://velacreations.com/waste/inorganic/item/64-pet-bottles.html

The Pinstrosity is five other traps that didn't work. Eden did not send pictures because, well let's face it, looking at a picture of a fly trap that didn't work well, that had maybe four dead flies in it just didn't seem... very fun. Eden I will allow this lack of pictures, only because I REALLY hate bugs. Moving on.

Eden had a need, a need for a speedy way to get rid of those pesky flies. Her husband, trying to help, bought one of those disgusting fly tape traps that just kinda hang there like a reminder to the other flies to stay away (which usually doesn’t work thankfully), and as a way to make you stop in your tracks and rethink that sandwich in your hands. Gross right?

So she took to her Pinterest account and went fly hunting (cyber speaking).

She decided on six tests, here they are:

Test 1: I gallon Jug with several pen cap size holes in it, contains 1 C. syrup, 1 C. apple cider vinegar

 http://www.ehow.com/way_5418231_homemade-fly-traps.html

Test 2:Open jar with equal parts sugar and soap (she used floor soap)
http://www.ehow.com/way_5418231_homemade-fly-traps.html

Test 3: 2 liter bottle with the top cut off and inverted into the bottom of the bottle (she hot glued hers) containing 1/4 C. apple cider vinegar, 1/4 C dish soap (again she used floor soap), cut fruit (she used browned bananas)
 http://www.ehow.com/way_5418231_homemade-fly-traps.html

Test 4: 1 gallon jug with holes, 1/2 C. water, 1 TBSP sugar, 1 TBSP soap, 1 TBSP syrup
http://www.something-like-life.com/2012/06/homemade-fly-traps.html

Test 5: Inverted top 2 liter bottle contains 1 tsp. active dry yeast, 1/2 C. sugar, 1 C. lukewarm water

: http://velacreations.com/waste/inorganic/item/64-pet-bottles.html

Test 6: Inverted top 2 liter bottle 12 oz. carbonated soda, 1 egg whisked

http://www.ehow.com/how_7563776_natural-homemade-fly-traps-pesticides.html

Control: Fly strip

She gave each test 24 hours in her kitchen, at which time she found Test 6 had one fly, and the control had 7 or 8 flies. Wanting to give them all a fair shot, she put them outside and gave them another 24 hours when she found these much more promising results!

Test 1: 1 fly

Test 2: 2 flies

Test 3 and 4: No flies

Test 5: LOTS!

Test 6: 9 flies

She concluded that indoors they didn’t seem to be as effective. However outside they were much more effective.

Good luck with getting rid of the pests, and as Eden put it, Happy Hunting!

                                           -Emilee