How the trap works

Reusable Outdoor Fly Traps use a water-activated bait to attract and capture filth flies. The bait is supplied as a dissolvable refill packet. You drop a packet into the reusable bottle and add warm water, which dissolves the packet and begins a natural fermentation process. Over the next 24 to 48 hours the bait releases a scent that draws flies into the trap through a one-way entry cone, 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, and flesh flies. It is not designed to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

What to expect

  • Allow 24 to 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. Below about 65 degrees F (18 degrees C) it takes longer to start working, so place the trap in a sunny spot for the best results.
  • 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.
  • Use it outdoors only. Its smell is what draws flies.

Reusable construction

The trap is a rigid, semi-transparent bottle with a one-way entry cone and a top cap that directs the scent outward. The semi-transparent housing lets you monitor the fill level without opening the unit. The trap is reusable across the season; only the bait packet is replaced each cycle.

Bait composition

The bait is a granular, water-soluble, protein-based attractant made from food-grade ingredients (egg, fish meal, yeast and bran) and contains no insecticides. It is biodegradable.

Bait cycle and disposal

Replace the bait when the trap is full or stops catching. Empty and clean the trap when it is full or at the end of the season. To empty, close the lid to drown any remaining live flies, then pour the contents into a bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash can. Because the bait is food-grade, the contents may also be buried in a garden as a high-nitrogen soil amendment.

General Product Information
  • Brand: BugBane
  • Model Number:

FlyTraR1 – Reusable Outdoor Fly Trap – 1 Pack

FlyTraR1-V2 – Reusable Outdoor Fly Traps – 1 Pack

FlyTraR2 – Reusable Outdoor Fly Traps – 2 Pack

FlyTraR3 – Reusable Outdoor Fly Traps – 3 Pack

FlyTraR2-FlyRib12 – 2 Traps + 12 Fly Ribbons

The ribbons work indoors: hang them where flies travel, near windows, doors or lights, about 6 to 7 feet up for houseflies.

  • Product Type: Outdoor Fly Control
  • Target Species: House flies, Blow flies, Bottle flies, and Flesh flies.
  • Main Reservoir: Impact-resistant; semi-transparent for level monitoring.
  • Entry Cone: Smooth-walled interior to prevent fly traction/escape.
  • Top Cap: Directs the scent outward.
  • Hanger: one per bottle. It ships inside the bottle with the bait and an insert, lids screwed shut.
  • Dimensions: 22.8 cm (H) x 7.6 cm (D)
  • Volume Capacity: 750 ml per unit.
  • Formulation: Granular, water-soluble protein-based attractant.
  • Ingredients: Egg, fish meal, yeast and bran.
  • Environmental Impact: Biodegradable; suitable for disposal in soil or municipal waste systems.
  • Refill Specs: 20 g dissolvable packets; vacuum-sealed for shelf-life stability (up to 2 years stored in a cool, dry place).
  • Activation: 24 to 48 hours; longer below about 65 degrees F (18 degrees C).
  • Attraction Radius: Effective up to 35 feet (10.6 meters) per trap under moderate wind conditions.
  • Targeted Species: Musca domestica (Common House Fly), Calliphoridae (Blow/Bottle Flies), Sarcophagidae (Flesh Flies).
  • Cycle: until the trap is full or stops catching (depends on fly numbers and evaporation).
  • Placement Height: 1.2 m to 1.8 m (4 to 6 feet) above ground level.
  • Strategic Positioning: Perimeter placement; minimum 6 meters from human activity.
  • Water Requirements: Requires potable or non-chlorinated water for initial activation (fill to indicated line).
  • Maintenance: Rinse with warm water between bait cycles; no harsh detergents required.
  • Disposal: Contents may be used as an organic fertilizer (burying recommended due to odor).
  • Storage: Keep refills away from moisture and direct sunlight until ready for 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.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
  1. Open: Unscrew the lid and take out the bait pouch.
  2. Add Bait: Tear the pouch open and drop the internal packet directly into the bottle.
  3. Add Water: Fill the bottle with warm water up to the fill line. This dissolves the packet.
  4. Activate: Screw the lid on tight, then pull up the top tab to open the trap’s entry point. With the tab down, it catches nothing.
  5. Placement: Hang the trap (it is made to hang, not to stand on a table) at least 20 feet away from where people gather, and downwind.

Operation & Maintenance

  • Activation Time: It takes 24 to 48 hours for the bait to fully dissolve and begin emitting an odor that attracts flies.
  • Refilling: If the water level goes down, top it up with fresh water.

Disposal and Reuse

Replace the bait when the trap is full or stops catching. Empty and clean the trap when it is full or at the end of the season.

  • To Empty Safely:
    • Close the lid first to drown any remaining live flies.
    • Unscrew the lid. Pour the contents into a plastic bag and tie it. Put it in a second bag, tie that too, and put it in the outdoor trash. Rinse the bottle with warm water; no soap is needed. Do this outside, because used bait smells very strong.
    • Replace the attractant to start the process over.

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

The “Sun & Shade” Balance

The bait in BugBane traps is biologically activated, meaning it needs heat to ferment. In Spring or Fall, place the trap in direct, all-day sunlight to keep the fermentation going. In the peak of Summer (90 degrees F and above), move the trap to a semi-shaded area. Extreme heat can kill the beneficial bacteria in the bait or cause the water to evaporate quickly, reducing effectiveness.

Prime the Pump (Pre-Activation)

If you have a big outdoor event (like a barbecue) coming up, set the trap a few days early. It takes roughly 48 hours for the scent plume to reach full strength. Setting it early ensures the flies are already drawn to the trap before your food is out.

Use Lure-Placement Logic

Think of the trap as a decoy. You want to draw flies away from your house. Hang traps along the perimeter fence or near fly breeding grounds (trash cans, dog runs, or compost piles). Placing the trap on your patio table can draw more flies toward your living space.

The “Sweet & Stinky” Boost

If your fly problem is particularly heavy, or if the bait is taking too long to activate in cooler weather, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or a small piece of overripe fruit (such as a bruised strawberry) to the water when you first set it up. This provides an immediate sugary scent while the main protein bait works on fermenting.

Combatting Evaporation

In dry climates, the water level controls whether the trap is active. Once the water is gone, the scent stops. Check the water level weekly. If it is low, top it off rather than dumping it out. Keeping the active water in place works better than starting fresh each time.

Burying the Contents

A full trap has a strong odor. When it is time to empty the trap, do it in the late evening when fly activity is low. Dig a small hole in your garden (away from the house), pour the contents in, and cover it with about 4 inches of soil. The flies and bait act as a high-nitrogen fertilizer for plants, and the soil seals in the odor.

Dealing with Hesitant Flies

If you notice flies hovering around the trap but not going in, give the canister a gentle swirl. Sometimes the bait settles at the bottom or a crust forms at the surface. Stirring it releases a fresh burst of scent to draw those hesitant flies inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

First, push down the lid and wait for any live flies inside the trap to drown. Then unscrew the lid and pour the contents into a plastic bag, tie it up, place that in another bag, tie that up, then place it in the outdoor trash. Replace the bait packet to start a new cycle.

The bait attracts flies from about 35 feet away in moderate wind. Replace the bait when the trap is full or stops catching. Keep the water above the fill line; top it up as often as needed.

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.

If glue from the bundle’s fly ribbons gets in fur, rub it with vegetable oil until it loosens, then wash with soap and warm water.

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.

Hang the trap about 5 feet off the ground, at least 20 feet away, and downwind. Measure from where you actually sit, not from the house. If you can still smell it there, move it farther out. Each trap draws flies from about 35 feet in moderate wind.

Empty, rinse and re-bait the trap when it is full or stops catching. Check the water every week in hot or dry weather.

In very hot or dry climates, check the water level weekly. If the water drops below the fill line, add more to keep the bait submerged. The trap must stay hydrated to remain effective.

Because the bait is made from food-grade ingredients, you can bury the contents in a garden (they make good compost) or double-bag them for the outdoor trash. We recommend doing this outdoors, as the used bait has a very strong odor.