Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Killing FLIES!!!! - Hunting them down for the slaughter!!!

RogueRose - 13-6-2016 at 23:23

IDK where these came from but as soon as I clear a room (like 10-20) and the doors & windows are closed, they re-appear. There's nothing dead, this happens every year.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to kill the buggers? I was thinking of using some kind of spray that wouldn't effect household items like IPA or Denatured alcohol. I have 91% IPA and was going to put that in a spray bottle.

If nothing else, the moisture should slow them down making swatting them easier.

Anyone have any proven methods?

Oh, if you use the sticky fly tape put themin the microwave for 4-6 seconds before unrolling them. I've had many break before doing this, as it loosens thr glue making them unroll easier.


[Edited on 14-6-2016 by RogueRose]

lavenatti - 14-6-2016 at 02:19

I've been using wide mouth jars (just an old jam jar) with about a 1/2 inch of IPA in it to kill stink bugs for years. I just knock them into the jar when I see them on a wall or a window. Oddly enough, flies seem to dive right into the jar when it's brought up to them slowly from underneath with the other hand slowly coming down on their position from above.

They seem to die nearly instantly and keeping a lid on the jar when not in use keeps the IPA from evaporating and allows you to keep a rather morbid collection well preserved.

DraconicAcid - 14-6-2016 at 04:47

I have a problem with fruit flies. I put out a dish with a bit of juice and a drop of dish detergent. The flies land in it, sink, and the bastards drown.

battoussai114 - 14-6-2016 at 05:47

I'd make a salt gun... not very efficient, but fun.

aga - 14-6-2016 at 07:29

How do you qualify this as 'Miscellaneous Chemistry' ?

It's just random insect control.

Fit screens to all doors and windows so they cannot get into the house, toss out the 8 dead cats and remember to plug the fridge/freezer in.

Armistice19 - 14-6-2016 at 08:16

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=5937

Interesting thread, and a good read, but it's really more for mosquitos. Further searching revealed that house flies can be quite resistant to DDT.

I would suggest obtaining multiple carnivorous plant species.

[Edited on 14-6-2016 by Armistice19]

[Edited on 14-6-2016 by Armistice19]

mayko - 14-6-2016 at 09:23

IPA in a spray bottle, plus a lighter. I have removed many swarms this way and never burned the house down, not even once.

Trimethyltin Acetate

Armistice19 - 14-6-2016 at 10:45


https://books.google.com/books?id=oBa_wQt9-W4C&pg=PA431&...

According to this particular source, organotins are the most effective against house flies, with trimethyltin acetate having the lowest lethal dose.

Maker - 14-6-2016 at 11:02

WD40 kills flies and wasps in seconds.

violet sin - 14-6-2016 at 18:07

I use a mix of essential oils in IPA/MeOH (separate/mixed doesnt matter) with some water and surfactant(coco wet). It kills bugs on contact and removes them from the area at least temporarily. Most used is cinnamon/wintergreen, touch of clove/anise/citronella and occasionally pepper extract from pepper flakes.

Spray them a few times and even field cocroaches die :) bastards like our squash/zuccini/mellons and the thought of their grubbly little feet all over my food makes me angry.

Best part is the plants just smell like mouth wash and dont get burnt from chems. I do extractions from kitchen spices for several of the oils, others I buy. Cinnamon/clove/pepper home done, mint/anise/eucalyptus/citronella are bought.

Its fun to make, better to use and my wife doesnt mind the smell :) all wins in my book

100PercentChemistry - 15-6-2016 at 04:03

Hairspray gun. Had the same problem with ants and thought I was about to make some complex poison. I just needed borax:D

NEMO-Chemistry - 18-6-2016 at 08:01

The chemist's guide to fly control! I love it!! Some great ideas and shows how mad you lot are lol. Personally tin of fly spray... Not as fun or inventful as most of yours but works!!

I heard lemon balm helps keep them away.

skip - 18-6-2016 at 12:56

fly paper.

chemplayer... - 18-6-2016 at 16:45

Not sure about flies but so far cyanogen iodide, benzyl bromide and bromoacetone haven't deterred the ants... so we've decided to call it a truce and share the space!

[Edited on 19-6-2016 by chemplayer...]

Eddygp - 19-6-2016 at 00:48

Open canisters of HCN and flood your house with them. Of course, it would be unwise to come in afterwards.

unionised - 19-6-2016 at 04:08

Quote: Originally posted by Armistice19  

https://books.google.com/books?id=oBa_wQt9-W4C&pg=PA431&...

According to this particular source, organotins are the most effective against house flies, with trimethyltin acetate having the lowest lethal dose.

What's the human lethal dose?

PHILOU Zrealone - 19-6-2016 at 08:23

Bottle trap with an exquisite smel attractive to that fly (depends on its menu)...
-Fruit juice, with a little vinegar :);)
-Rotten meat/blood juice with a little yeast :D
-Shit juice ;):P:cool:

Add water and a little dish liquid soap...

And then a little music...
The fly is dead -Swat - a la Bonsaï supreme

[Edited on 19-6-2016 by PHILOU Zrealone]

Praxichys - 21-6-2016 at 05:36

Just don't use a blowtorch.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2694794/Man-using-bl...

Velzee - 21-6-2016 at 12:03

I heard that DDT won't let them be. Or any insect except bed bugs for that matter. Someone should do a synthesis of DDT and on each of the main reactants. It would be cool to have a "overkill backup" just for the absolute horrible, need-to-get-rid-of-them-now occasions that we all usually have at least once a decade.

aga - 21-6-2016 at 13:09

Quote: Originally posted by Velzee  
Someone should do a synthesis of DDT and on each of the main reactants.

We look forward to your write-up on that.

Plenty of references to be found, so i expect it will not take you long to start posting the illustrated results.

Velzee - 21-6-2016 at 14:49

Quote: Originally posted by aga  
Quote: Originally posted by Velzee  
Someone should do a synthesis of DDT and on each of the main reactants.

We look forward to your write-up on that.

Plenty of references to be found, so i expect it will not take you long to start posting the illustrated results.


I was going to do it, but I don't have the $$$ to get the supplies at the moment, and probably not for the next few months, hence the reason why I suggested that some else do it. In all honesty, I'll probably wind up synthesizing it—strengthen my organic chemistry skills and have fun doing it

arkoma - 21-6-2016 at 15:31

Quote: Originally posted by chemplayer...  
Not sure about flies but so far cyanogen iodide, benzyl bromide and bromoacetone haven't deterred the ants... so we've decided to call it a truce and share the space!

[Edited on 19-6-2016 by chemplayer...]


With the spiders too (the little beasties are costars in y'all's videos LOL).

feacetech - 21-6-2016 at 15:55

Why not go old school and use Amanita Muscaria (red with white spots, fly agaric mushroom)

It pretty common every where in autumn usually found near trees

Active ingredients include Ibotenic acid and Muscimol