StopFlies.com

What do they do, how do they work? They naturally seek out fly larva in the pupa stage and sting it and lay eggs in the pupa. This naturally occurring process kills the larva(pupa) and therefore no fly emerges. Go to Top

How do they get to the fly larva? They are a winged insect active at night. They move to where fly larva is present and burrow in the ground or medium reaching the larva. They are canvassers in a seek and search operation. Go to Top

Are they safe? Yes. They are very safe because the specifically seek out fly larva and nothing else. They do not bother any animals or plants. If they cannot find fly larva, they naturally die off. Go to Top

Are there any problems developed by using them? None that we have ever heard of and we have been using them for 25 years and selling them for 15 years. Go to Top

How often should they be released? Fly control with fly parasites is a game of numbers. The more you release the more larva will be destroyed. Saving on numbers by only releasing once a month or every six weeks might save money, but you sacrifice control of flies compared to more frequent usage. Since most fly parasites only live approximately two weeks, we recommend release of them every two weeks. Go to Top

Will fly parasites reproduce at my location? Yes they certainly should. And this helps with your fly control. However, in most cases because flies are so reproductive, one fly may lay 1,000 eggs, you will need to add releases all season long. Go to Top

Will they be killed by sprays? Yes normally sprays used to kill flies will also kill fly parasites if they come in contact with them. If you think you still need to spray try to do so a few days before releasing the parasites and avoid spray at release areas. Also to avoid use of sprays and dangerous poisons, we strongly recommend use of Redwood Fly Traps offered on this site. Go to Top

Will flies become resistant to fly parasites? No because of the way they work flies cannot develop resistance. Flies do consistently develop resistance to common sprays. Go to Top

How many years have they been used? Probably over 30 years with common use for the last 15-20 years. Usage on dairies, horse farms, zoos, poultry and beef farms, for all other livestock like bison, llamas, alpacas, goats, yaks, etc.; dog kennels, slaughter houses, racing stables, etc. Go to Top

Do they really work? Yes. Unless somehow they are destroyed before or after release they have to work because they naturally seek out larva. Over the years the only disappointed customers are those who tried to cheat and order fewer than they need. It is a numbers game – the more parasites the less flies. Go to Top

What plan should I order? We can only offer guidelines because farms vary in their manure management. The cleaner the premises the less need. Guidelines are based on your number of livestock at one location. We normally recommend our standard plans or the saturation plan if the flies are out of control. Go to Top

When should I start? You can start at any time and as soon as the parasites arrive and hatch they will be helping you. If you can, we do recommend starting your plan about a week before you normally notice the first flies on your location. Go to Top

About Redwood Solar Fly Traps

What are they? Redwood traps are 1’ square traps made of redwood and galvanized screening. The bottom is an inverted cone. The body is screened in where the flies are trapped. The top is Plexiglas which slides off to allow easy dumping The trap comes with yeast bait that is used to activate the trap. Redwood and galvanized screening are used so the traps can be used year after year. Go to Top

How do they work? Flies are initially attracted to the underside of the trap by the bait. Once there, they panic and craw up inside the trap. Once inside the trap they do not escape. Also they do not immediately die. Their activity is the secret because it attracts other flies to the trap and soon it is a beehive of activity. As the flies spend time inside the trap they dehydrate and die and fall to the side. Go to Top

What type of bait is used? We supply a yeast bait and stabilizer. Other baits can be used if desired such as egg/beer, etc. Go to Top

Will my dogs go for the bait? Yes this has happened. We have also had raccoons raid the bait. If this does occur, the solution that has worked for us is to add some hot sauce to the bait mix. Go to Top

Why are they called solar traps? Because they need to be in the sun to work. Flies will go to a sunny area more frequently. They are best located in a sunny area on the ground, but not on the grass. If you put them on a grassy area be sure to place them on a piece of plywood or similar base. Go to Top

Can they be used inside the barn? No, they will not work well inside. But if you wish to keep flies out of the barn, locate them just outside the barn in a sunny area. Go to Top

Will they attract and catch deer or horse flies? No. These types of flies normally are not attracted to bait or traps. Go to Top

Can they be used safely? Yes there are no toxic materials and they can be used on organic farms. Go to Top

Can they be reused? Definitely yes. One of the major advantages of these traps is the low cost over time because they not only can be used all year but next year as well and the next year. Go to Top

How are they emptied? If you have ever used a jar with liquid in it to kill flies, you will love the Redwood Trap and you will never use jars again. Flies that die are dry. There are no maggots. You simply slide off the plastic top and dump them in a waste can. Some people who have ponds with fish dump them in the ponds. Go to Top

Are they subject to weather? The plastic top protects your bait from rain. If the winds are high, they are light enough to be blown from spot to spot; however, a lot of people in windy areas will place a stone on the top to add weight and stability. Normally this is not needed but it can be done. Don’t expect them to work well in cold weather because the flies are not active when it is cold. Go to Top

How many do I need? This is a hard question to answer. Flies actually don’t normally travel very far. Redwood traps work by area. A trap or traps should be used for each area. If you have one barn and just a few animals one might be all you need. If you have five barns and lots of animals you may want two per barn area. Again, probably more is better and you will not be disappointed with the results. Go to Top

Most of my flies come from neighbors will they help? Redwood traps are great in stopping movement of flies. Since we have used these, we have almost no flies in our house. On your farm, if you place them between the livestock and your house, you too will see that effect. If you have flies coming from a neighbors, place them in a sunny area on the property line where the flies are crossing. Go to Top

Can I place these in my pastures? If they are placed in pastures on a piece of plywood they are going to work. However most livestock are curious and they may knock them over or crush them. If you have a lot of flies in the pastures bothering your animals, we recommend placing them right outside the pastures on the ground. Go to Top

What happens if they are elevated? They will attract fewer flies. Go to Top

Can I purchase replacement bait? Each trap comes with two mixes of bait that will often last the whole fly season. You definitely can order replacement bait at a low cost - see our products section. Go to Top