How the trap works

Disposable Outdoor Fly Traps use a water-activated bait to attract and capture filth flies. Each trap contains a water-soluble bait pouch. When you add water, the pouch dissolves and begins a natural fermentation process. Over the next 24–48 hours the bait releases a scent that draws flies into the trap, where they are caught and cannot escape. The trap works by scent-based attraction and contains no insecticides.

What it catches

The bait is formulated to attract filth flies, including house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, and cluster flies. It is not designed to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

What to expect

  • Allow 24–48 hours to activate. It is normal to see few or no flies during this fermentation period, and effectiveness increases as the temperature rises.
  • More fly activity near the trap at first is normal. The trap draws flies from the surrounding area as it pulls them away from your living space. Hang it at least 20 feet from patios, doors, and windows.
  • Warmth and sunlight speed up activation. Activation slows below 65°F (18°C), so in cool weather place the trap in a sunny spot. In very hot weather, hang it in the shade.
  • The smell is how it works. The bait itself has only a mild smell. As the trap catches flies, they die and rot inside it, and the smell grows strong. It will smell very bad, like rotting meat. That is normal. That smell draws in even more flies, so the trap works better the fuller it gets. This is why the trap hangs at least 20 feet from where people spend time. Maggots in a full trap are normal too.
  • It is a trap, not a repellent. It pulls flies to one spot. It does not keep them out of an area.

Bait composition

The bait is made from natural, food-grade attractants (egg, fish meal, yeast and bran) and contains no insecticides. It is biodegradable.

Disposal

When the bag is full, tie a plastic bag around the trap, then tie a second bag around that, and put it in the outdoor trash, not the indoor trash. There is no need to handle the contents or clean out the trap.

The trap is single use and cannot be refilled. For a trap you can empty and refill, see our Reusable Outdoor Fly Trap.

General Product Information
  • Brand: BugBane
  • Model Number:

FlyTra2 – Disposable Outdoor Fly Traps Standard – 2 Pack

FlyTra4 – Disposable Outdoor Fly Traps Standard – 4 Pack

FlyTra9 – Disposable Outdoor Fly Traps Standard – 9 Pack

FlyTra12 – Disposable Outdoor Fly Traps Standard – 12 Pack

FlyTra2B – Disposable Outdoor Fly Traps Big Bag – 2 Pack

FlyTra4B – Disposable Outdoor Fly Traps Big Bag – 4 Pack

  • Product Type: Water-activated, Scent + Visual Lure
  • Target Environment: Outdoor Only (Gardens, Stables, Trash Areas, Ranches)
  • Target Species: Filth Flies (House, Blow, Bottle, Flesh, and Cluster flies)
  • Bag Material: Heavy-duty plastic, made to hang outdoors
  • Dimensions (Per Trap): Standard: 8.5″ x 8.5″ x 1″. Big Bag: 11″ x 8.27″ x 1″.
  • Weight (Per Trap, Dry): ~60 grams (2.1 oz)
  • Color: Clear bag with High-Contrast Blue entry cap/visual lure
  • Catch Capacity: Up to 20,000 flies per individual bag
  • Effective Range: 20 to 30-foot radius from the hanging point
  • Active Life: Up to 30 days or until the bag is full
  • Optimal Operating Temp: 70°F (21°C) and above (activation slows below 65°F)
  • Activation Time: 24–48 hours for full fermentation (faster in direct sunlight)
  • Activation Method: Water-soluble internal pouch
  • Bait Ingredients: Natural, food-grade attractants (egg, fish meal, yeast and bran)
  • Safety: Contains no insecticide. Hang out of reach of children and pets.
  • Hanging Height: Recommended 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 meters) above ground
  • Placement Distance: Minimum 20 feet from human activity/dwellings
  • Water Requirement: Fill to the designated line (approx. 2 cups/500 ml)
  • Hanging Hardware: Comes with a tie for hanging. Tie it on firmly.
  • Disposal Method: Double-bag the whole trap; outdoor trash only.
  • Storage: Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight until ready to use.
  • Precautions: Keep out of reach of children and pets.
  • Pesticide Status: This product has not been registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. BugBane represents that this product qualifies for exemption from registration under FIFRA.
  • Weather: Made for outdoor use. Heat, wind and the season change how well it works.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
  1. Cut the plastic on top of the cap along the dotted line.
  2. Pull open the lure and attach the wire that is included with the trap.
  3. Add warm water to the red fill line on the bag.
  4. Hang the trap outdoors, at least 20 feet away from inhabited areas, where flies are located (garbage, compost, dog run, stable) to draw flies away from home entrances and outdoor living areas.
  5. Within 24–48 hours, the attractant pouch inside the trap will dissolve and activate, creating an odor that attracts flies.
  6. If the water level drops, top up with fresh water as needed.
  7. Replace the trap when it is full or after 30 days, whichever comes first.

To get the most out of your BugBane Fly Traps, follow these placement and maintenance strategies:

  • The 20-Foot Rule: Hang the traps at least 20 feet away from patios, decks, or entryways. You want to lure the flies away from you, not toward you. Measure from where people actually sit, not from the house. Some yards need 30 to 40 feet.
  • Sun or Shade: In cool weather, hang the trap in the sun to speed up activation. In very hot weather, hang it in the shade. Heat, wind and the season all change how well it works.
  • The Warm Water Jumpstart: Warm water helps the water-soluble bait pouch dissolve immediately and kicks off the attraction process hours sooner than cold hose water.
  • Monitor Evaporation: Check the water level once a week; if it falls below the fill line, top it off through the entry cap to keep the bait active.
  • Positioning for Wind: Hang the trap downwind from your house or barn so the scent trail is carried into the yard where the flies are, rather than toward your windows.
  • Hang at Head-Height: Flies typically forage between 4 and 6 feet off the ground, which makes it easier for them to locate the entry point quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

The trap is water-activated and requires a fermentation period to become effective. It usually takes 24–48 hours for the bait to fully dissolve and begin emitting the scent that attracts flies. Effectiveness increases as the temperature rises.

Yes, especially in the first day or two. The scent draws flies toward the trap before they enter it. Make sure the entry cap is fully open, and the trap is in the sun (in the shade in very hot weather), and allow 24–48 hours after adding water for the bait to fully activate. Flies enter through the cap and cannot escape.

Work through this checklist:

  • Allow 24–48 hours for activation (longer in cool weather).
  • Confirm the water is filled to the line and the bait pouch has dissolved.
  • Hang it in the sun in cool weather, and in the shade in very hot weather.
  • Hang it at least 20 feet from your living space, near where flies gather (trash, compost, dog run, stable).
  • Temperatures below 65°F (18°C) slow activation.

Hang the trap at least 20 feet away, and downwind. Measure from where people actually sit, not from the house. Some yards need 30 to 40 feet. If you can smell it from where you sit, move it farther away. Because the trap uses a strong odor to lure flies, you want to lead them away from your living space. In cool weather, a sunny spot speeds up activation. In very hot weather, use shade.

Replace the bag once it is full of flies or after 30 days, whichever comes first. If the water evaporates before the bag is full, you can add more water through the top cap to keep the bait active.

The bait has no insecticide. It is made from food ingredients: egg, fish meal, yeast and bran. Still, hang the trap out of reach of children and pets. Once it starts catching flies, the contents are not sanitary. It is the trapped flies, more than the bait, that you do not want them getting into. If your pet eats any of it, please call your vet.

Double bag the trap: tie a plastic bag around it, then tie another around that, and place it in the outdoor trash. Double bagging prevents the smelly liquid from leaking into your trash can.

Our traps attract common filth flies, including house flies, blow flies, flesh flies, stable flies, phorid flies, drain flies, face flies, deer flies, cluster flies, and tachinid flies.

While it looks unpleasant, maggots make the trap even more attractive to flies because the scent grows stronger. You can keep using the trap until it is full, even if maggots begin to grow inside.