June 22nd, 2018 by Chris Chapman

Fly killers and repellents are useful all year round, especially in the summer months. If you’re plagued by flies, you’ve no doubt looked at all the options available for getting rid of them. With so many options available, which one is best for you? To help you decide, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at how each type of fly killer works so you can see if it does what you need it to do. Read on for an in-depth explanation of how fly killers work, and why it matters to you.

Electric Fly Killers

Arguably the most common kind of fly killer, electric fly killers are split into two groups; zappers and glueboards. More on those later, but first…

How Do Electric Fly Killers Work?

UV light is invisible to the human eye, but incredibly attractive to flies They’re the most common and well-known form of fly killer, but how do they work? Well, you probably know electric fly killers use ultra-violet (UV) bulbs to attract flies. These bulbs emit both UV light and visible light. UV light is found in sunlight, and to insects, strong sources of sunlight mean warmth and food; two of the main things that insects constantly search for. Naturally, the strong source of UV light from a UV bulb is irresistible to flies, so they get lured into the fly killer and either zapped by an electric grid or stuck to a glueboard (more on those later). It’s worth noting that one of the insects that aren’t attracted to UV light are mosquitoes, so if you want rid of them, you might have to try some dedicated mosquito killers. All of the above means that you need to place your fly killer somewhere that the flies can actually see it to make sure it’s effective. Most people will know this anyway, but there is something else you should know about how UV bulbs work to get the most out of your electric fly killer.

Why Isn’t My Electric Fly Killer Working?

Just because you can see the fly killer glowing doesn't mean it's giving out UV light! It sounds simple enough, but there are a couple of key details that people often miss. This means that people’s electric fly killers sometimes don’t work the way they expect. UV light is invisible to humans as the lenses in our eyes filter out UV rays. The purple, bluish light that we see in an electric fly killer is often confused for UV light, but it isn’t! That’s just the visible light that’s also emitted by the bulb. The UV light emitted by the fly killer’s bulbs comes from a substance called phosphor, which degrades over time. After a year, the phosphor in a UV bulb is completely degraded and isn’t giving out any UV light, so it isn’t attracting any flies and the bulb needs to be replaced. Now, because electric fly killers give off visible light - which just so happens to be purple - for much longer than a year, many people assume their bulb is giving out ultra-violet light and won’t realise that it’s actually completely ineffective. After 12 months is up, flies might accidentally bumble into your fly killer on occasion, but they won’t be attracted to it like they were when it was new. Make sure you’re replacing your UV bulbs at least once a year to ensure your fly killer is still working effectively.

How Do Electric Zapper Fly Killers Work?

The Xterminate Xzap 30 We mentioned earlier that there are two types of electric fly killer. One of them is the trusty zapper, which is probably the most well-known of all fly killers. Zappers lure flies in with their UV rays, where they zap the bugs with an electrical killing grid. The grid is charged with high-voltage electricity that superheats the flies when they come in contact with it, killing them instantly. That’s what causes the trademark “BZZZT” sound. The grids are protected by a cage that makes it impossible for anything but insects to get zapped. Zapper fly killers are usually the most affordable, and as such, they’re good for domestic and outdoor use. Most zappers come with a catching tray to help you hygienically dispose of the fly remains, so as long as you remember to change your bulb every 12 months the trusty zapper will be fine for most home use.

How Do Electric Glueboard Fly Killers Work?

Glueboard fly killers can be subtler and more stylish than zappers One of the issues with instantly superheating an insect with 2,000 volts is that it can lead flies to explode. That sounds a lot more dramatic than it actually is, and in most places, it poses no health risk and isn’t noticeable. In places where hygiene is essential, however, such as your kitchen, you may want something that’s a little cleaner, which is where glueboard fly killers come in! Glueboard electric fly killers attract flies in with UV bulbs much like the zapper, but instead of an electric grid, they use a sticky glueboard to trap the fly! This means all the fly remains are kept stuck to the glueboard until you change it. It’s a little more hygienic and bit subtler, meaning glueboards are favoured in kitchens, restaurants, and shop floors. You will have to replace the glueboard every now and then, which is an expense you might not need if you’re only using your fly killer in your living room, so bear this in mind when you’re weighing up your options.

Fly Paper

Invented in the 1800s, fly paper is a tried-and-true method of fly killing that’s still used to this day.

How Does Fly Paper Work?

  Fly paper usually comes in compact rolls Fly paper is simple and effective. It’s a sticky strip of paper that’s stuck around doors or windows and hung from ceilings, where it puts out a sweet fragrance that flies mistake for a food source. Some types of fly paper use a pheromone that makes flies think a mate is around, too. As the fly investigates the smell or pheromone, it gets stuck to the tacky surface of the paper.   As it’s so simple, fly paper is extremely cost-effective and it’s often used by homes and businesses alongside an electric fly killer to keep a room completely free of flies! This principle also applies to fly traps, which cost a little more, but which keep all the fly remains stored out of sight in a bag which you can just dispose of when full.

Fly Door Chains

Rounding out your fly-repelling arsenal should be a door chain. These have been around for hundreds of years, and there’s a good reason for that – they really work!

How Do Fly Door Chains Work?

Door chains provide a light, breezy barrier that flies can't pass Fly door chains are often called chain curtains, fly chain screens, fly chain curtains, and a number of other similar names, but they all do what it says on the tin. The way they work is simplicity itself! Fly door chains form a curtain of light, dangling chains that you hang over your door frame. People – even young children – can push through them as if they’re not there, but the chains are too heavy for flies! They’re surprisingly effective, and are often used in restaurants, cafes, fishmongers, and butcher shops where the door needs to be open to customers at all times without inviting flies in for a meal! Fly door chains are also useful for putting over front or back door at home, particularly if they lead straight into your kitchen. As with most pest control solutions, each one of these solutions has their own strengths as they work in different ways. The best approach is always to combine several of the above measures to make sure you have multiple lines of defence against flies, all working in different ways towards the same goal.