Flies

[jlazar]

When eating at a picnic table or just sitting out in chairs, what is the best approach to control flies, mosquitoes, bugs, etc.  I have seen some folks with citronella torches.  Are they effective?  Do they work with flies?

 

[Tom]

Citronella candles don't work for us.

 

[mnmnutswer]

Do not laugh till you try this. Put two penny's in a one quart zip lock clear plastic bag fill with water and hang it up so it hangs some what level and will turn in circles when ever the wind blows. The flies will stay away....We saw this is the south and it works. Been doing it in the barn a couple of years now....

 

[Coach_ Frank]

Ha, that is a  good one. Surely, you can"t be serious.

 

[Northern Rambler]

Well where we are right now it has been raining a lot with high heat and it has raised the worst mosquitoes population I have seen in my 70 years . We have tried most everything and have found Pic Coils to be the best . The trouble is is finding the right ones . The original brand Pic is the best . It doesn't have a strong smell like Black flag , Raid and some others .

 

[jlazar]

Terry.  I plan to try the water bag.  It is listed on several of my google searches.  Evidently the light refracting through the water bothers flies based on their multi-faceted eyes.  One site says mountain folks have used it for a long time.

 

[Terry A. Brewer]

Do not laugh till you try this. Put two penny's in a one quart zip lock clear plastic bag fill with water and hang it up so it hangs some what level and will turn in circles when ever the wind blows. The flies will stay away....We saw this is the south and it works. Been doing it in the barn a couple of years now....

Doesn't work on northern Idaho flies...

 

[eliallen]

I have seen campers used a big shop fan.

 

[Big D 83]

Ha, that is a  good one. Surely, you can"t be serious.

He is serious and don't call him surely!!! ;D

 

[bertnspike]

The water in the plastic bag thing seems to work in Florida, but it didn't work in Maryland last summer.....

 

[jlazar]

Haven't tried it yet but from what I have read, must it be in the sun to work?

 

[mnmnutswer]

Also must have two Penny's inside they think it is a large bug and keeps the flies away.

 

[Jim and di]

Terry,
Is there sun light in the barn?
Jim

 

[mnmnutswer]

When the doors are open all summer....................Also on the back porch and chicken and pig pin...

 

[Jim and di]

So then sun light is a factor in the packet working, does it also need breeze?

 

[koski1]

The water in the plastic bag thing seems to work in Florida, but it didn't work in Maryland last summer.....

Obviously, the flies in Maryland didn't get the memo! 

Snopes.com did an article on this, and concluded the results were "undetermined."  Basically, I think its worth a try, and you'll only be out the cost of a ziplock baggie.  My problem is, that if there's a fly within 20 miles of my motor home, it will come inside, and not make its presence known until 3 a.m.  Then, if I am lucky enough to hit it with the swatter (I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn), I inevitably find out he brought reinforcements!