How to make a 2-ton deer fly trap…

[Galileo]

Staying here at Glacial Lakes State Park as campground hosts for the month of July has had me researching how to deal with all of the various annoying flying critters here. Minnesota is called “the land of 10,000 lakes” and humorously “and 10 million mosquitoes”. (I think that’s a low estimate between you and me…)

Last year, the park manager told me that this time of year, flies are the bigger nuisance. She was right. We put if a cheapo screen house to sit in (when it’s not 95F of course) but when you’re walking, the deer flies have you at their mercy. 

The familiar stinky traps don’t attract deer flies, just “filth flies” (house flies).  Have one up anyway and have harvested many thousands of those pests. A disposable trap fills up in about three days(!)

A little research told me that deer flies go after moving targets, and go for your head or the highest point of whatever critter they’re annoying. I also read that they’re attracted to the color blue. 

I found a few articles - typically on equestrian sites - that told how to “troll” for deer flies using blue Solo cups and a sticky goo like “Tangle trap”. I used to use the stuff in my garden, so I was familiar with it. 

Amazon conveniently has a vendor selling a kit with the blue Solo cups and the sticky stuff. Since I couldn’t find any in the local hardware stores or Walmart, I bought the kit. 

I tried it out by painting the outside of one of the blue cups with the goo and taping the cup - upside-down - to my side view mirror. I took a slow drive through the campground and was shocked at how many deer flies I caught in just 5 or 10 minutes. 

I discovered that the flies attack - and stick to - the BACK surface of the cup. (Hitting their target from behind) So the next time I tried trolling, I put a cup on each mirror and only put the goo on the back side. 
 

Well, as I’ve rambled quite enough, so I’ll show you the pics of my 2-ton deer fly trap and the results. 
 

Now - if I could just find a way to ruin 10,000 mosquitoes’ day - I’ll be a very happy camper! 
 

(Here’s the kit if you want to make your own fly trap:

https://a.co/d/00v6uY1Q
)

ps - yes, I did get several quizzical looks as I drive through the campground with blue Solo cups taped to my mirrors….

[Tony and Rhonda]

I sympathize, I had a deer fly take a chunk out of my forehead 50 years ago and I still remember the pain.

Any place in the campground (away from your Ollie) you could set up a fan and a blue tarp covered with the sticky stuff? A deer fly version of the mosquito zappers!.

For Mosquitos, I've had good luck with Thermocells.

Good luck!

 

Edited 45 minutes ago by Tony and Rhonda
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