Area Coverage & List of Don'ts

Area Coverage?

File any published "area covered" claims in your wastebasket. At best, they are, generalized, rules of thumb. At worst, they are misleading advertising. They certainly shouldn't be used to compare traps. It is nonsense to say any flytrap will control insects within "X" square feet of space (even indoors) without, at least, specifying the species of insects concerned, the type and condition of the facility, the surrounding environment, and management's level of concern. The distance at which an insect responds is determined by lamp type and trap design, of course, but also by the number, visual acuity, and nature of the specific insect.

Visual Acuity 

Generally speaking, most insects do not respond to light traps more than a hundred feet away. Houseflies appear to respond at about 20 to 25 feet with a significant increase at about 12 feet, but just as important is the nature of the response.

Nature Of The Fly 

Many flies will respond immediately to a flytrap, most do not. In our lab tests with 100 houseflies, pro flytraps sometimes catch 20 to 30% in the first five minutes, 50 to 60% in 15 minutes, and 100% in less than two hours. On average, however, they have caught 92% in seven hours, 98% in 24 hours, and 99% in 36 hours. Quite often, a fly or two will be completely unresponsive for two or even three days; then suddenly, it's caught. All appear to respond, eventually, but in their own time. Houseflies appear to go through periods when they are simply more interested in resting, buzzing around searching for food or water, or frolicking with a playmate than responding to light (and vice-versa). This periodic-response-to-light combined with a strong flying ability make the housefly one tough insect to control. Their filth and germ dispersal makes it imperative.

A List Of Don'ts

• Do not use ceiling-hung flytraps in food processing areas. Use only low, wall mounted, professional flytraps at low height. And, keep them at least 5ft. (preferably 15 or 20 ft.) away from open product. Though our traps are escape-resistant (designed to retain the insect within the device); lightweight insect fragments can, on occasion, bounce or be blown out of any flytrap (including glueboards, especially when servicing boards that may have dried out).
• Do not use light traps where their attractant light shines directly out glass doors or doors to be open after dusk. Outside insects can be attracted in.
• Do not use any electric flytraps in explosion sensitive areas. See the National Electric Code. Remember that UV from flytraps can color-fade wall paper, fabrics, etc.
• Do not place flytraps in direct sunlight. Sunlight contains all the wavelengths of energy that both humans and insects see as light, including the wavelengths that attract insects to flytraps. This does not mean that the darkest spot in the room is always the best place for a light trap.
• Do not place UV light traps of any kind so that employees are required to work continuously in close eye level proximity (i.e. over a sink or table where an employee would be stationed continuously within one meter).
• Do not overestimate the ability of light meters; especially, cheap, little ones. If properly used (and that's the crux of the matter); they can distinguish an old lamp from a new one, but "if" and only "if" comparing the exact same brand and model of lamp. METERS ARE NOT FLIES! They cannot evaluate trap designs, the comparative effectiveness of different lamps, or shatter-proof coatings. Only good, honest research with insects can do that. Seen any?