How to catch a housefly and other winged insects

[tiecollector]

Only trick I knew was to clap with open fingers otherwise your hands clapping will create a wind that will force the fly outwards.

Once my apt had these monster flies coming out of the walls. They were just huge, like flying pencil erasers. I got so pissed I could literally punch some of them out of the air. I got a little too carried away and broke one of my windows.

 

[DNW]

One of these: electric zapper. Works every time, and the zapping noise is an added bonus.

 

[MrG]

Originally Posted by DBoon

cup with lid
fill cup with apple cider vinegar + tiny bit of dishwashing liquid
poke small hole in lid

watch.

I do something similar to this, but I do it without the lid/with some water mixed in. What is the benefit of the lid?

It's actually pretty cool - the vinegar attracts them, and they get stuck in the water because the soap breaks the surface tension.

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

One of these: electric zapper. Works every time, and the zapping noise is an added bonus.

I have one of these - it's really a lot more fun than it should be.

 

[Agnacious]

I usually use a spray bottle on a wide dispersion pattern. It wets their wings and they can't fly, and you don't have to get too close.

 

[Casey]

Over the summer, I was outside painting my patio and I used one of those large paint mixing sticks to smash a fly. I hit it so hard, there was red splatter everywhere. I didn't know flies could bleed like that.

 

[binge]

Flatulence rules all.

 

[thinman]

Flies ain't nothing. Take a look at this, smalltimers:

http://krmg.com/blogs/krmg_sports_wi...wats-a-ba.html

 

[Hayling]

I hear Obama is pretty good at killing insects.

 

[centrix]

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

One of these: electric zapper. Works every time, and the zapping noise is an added bonus.

this is the most rewarding way to kill them

 

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by emptym

I read once that since flies tend to take off backwards, if you clap your hands a few inches above and behind one, you'll catch it. It works more times than not. Of course, it's messy.

I do a variation of that method. Instead of clapping, I swat/grab with one hand. Then you can either squeeze it to death and throw it on the table to look like a badass or let it go outside to look like a *****.

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

I do a variation of that method. Instead of clapping, I swat/grab with one hand. Then you can either squeeze it to death and throw it on the table to look like a badass or let it go outside to look like a *****.

That's what I do. Sometimes, I shake it and let it go and yell "Drunk fly!"

 

[EnglishGent]

There was actually a study done that concluded flies have a specific pattern they follow when flying away. For example if you were to swing at a fly from infront, it would always fly off in the same direction, likewise if you were to swing from the left it would always fly away in a different pre-determined direction.

 

[forsbergacct2000]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

That works very well with fruitflies. Never tried it with flies.

I did catch a fly with honey once. The vinegar didn't seem to work:



Nothing like reinforcing basic truisms!!

 

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by Teacher

That's what I do. Sometimes, I shake it and let it go and yell "Drunk fly!"

Haha, I didn't know you could do that. I'll have to try that one.

 

[von Rothbart]

There're some micro miniature airplanes made of ultra-light material, then you glue a comatased fly or flies to the plane. When the flies wake up, watch the plane takes off. Very cool.