Rated 4 out of
5
by
eakraay from
Good fly catcher
Catches flies and other things, doesn't smell, but also doesn't catch as many as the "stinky bait" versions.
Date published: 2017-08-01
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Libby2563 from
Didn't catch many stable flies
This thing is EXTREMELY sticky so handle with care. As others have noted, it's strong enough to catch birds. I surrounded it with a cylinder of hardware cloth to prevent that. Thankfully I didn't catch any birds or bats, but I didn't catch many stable flies either. A few here and there perhaps, plus lots of cicadas and random other insects that don't bother me. I suspect I should have tried different locations so that's why I'm giving it 2 stars instead of 1, but I did follow the instructions as far as height etc. Wouldn't bother buying again, though I'm sure it may work for some people.
Date published: 2016-11-21
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Mary97 from
Indescriminate trapping of insects and birds
Before purchasing, I read on the manufacturer's website that they've had reports of birds being trapped by this trap, but that these incidents were "rare." Yeah, right. I set up three of these traps, following the instructions on the package, four days ago on my two acre farm. One trap caught two sparrows on Day 2. I moved that trap to a different location and it caught another sparrow on Day 4. Pulling birds off the trap is horrible. I considered modifying it with reflective strips that wave in the wind to deter birds but I can't stomach catching another bird to find out if that works or not. I understand this trap is targeting biting stable flies but it appears to attract any flying insect from Japanese beetles to bees to flies. Unfortunately, my horse has become deathly allergic to fly spray so I am forced to rely on traps and barrier clothing like fly sheets from now on, but this trap's design is unacceptable. Kudos to the excellent Customer Service at SmartPak who refunded my purchase.
Date published: 2016-08-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Sunnywiththelongmane from
Biting Fly Trap
These fly traps are for those nasty biting flies that make your horses stomp and swish like mad. I've found that they do reduce the number of biting flies and insects we have around our place. I would definitely caution that small birds can become trapped in these as well (the glue is EXTREMELY sticky!), and you should not use them without wrapping chicken wire around them. The bugs will still get caught, but you will save yourself from having to remove a poor little wren who has lost its tail and died from trying to escape. Overall, these are worth the cost, and one lasts me most of the summer (you can wash them off for longer use).
Date published: 2016-06-21
Rated 4 out of
5
by
1horsewoman from
Really sticky!
It is really effective in catching flies but it can also catch birds, so be mindful of where you position it.
Date published: 2016-05-10
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Terry from
Good news - they work Bad news - catch baby birds
After what i experienced with a bird being trapped. (we were able to free him) . I'm very careful where I place these. After i send the horses out to the pasture, I lock the stalls and leave these traps in the stall -- wow do they work but you have to be very careful. Hard on Geckos here in Florida
Date published: 2016-05-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Daisy Mae from
lots of surface for lots of flies
I have used these fly traps for several years and it always amazes me how many insects are caught on them. With lots of surface, the trap just keeps and attracting and catching without me having to mix & pour stinky attractants into catcher bottles.
Date published: 2016-04-12
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Pitch4kPrincess from
Better than the bags
These are clean and simple to use. You can hang them or set them on t-posts. They do not stink and they attract and catch all kinds of flies extremely well. I will never use bags again as long as this product is around.
Date published: 2016-04-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Hershey from
Great in my barn
I tried the smaller size in early summer, they worked better for me than the bags. I use them along with fly predators and have had less flies than i can ever recall. My horses aren't bothered in the barn or runs.
Date published: 2015-09-05
Rated 1 out of
5
by
margaret from
deadly to birds
these traps catch small birds, glueing them to the surface,where they will die an awful death. They cannot be freed, as the strong glue tears their wings off. Please don't use these-they are inhumane.
Date published: 2015-09-04
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Freedom from
Doesn;t work
I bought this about 3 weeks ago and it doesn't have the first fly on it. Other bugs seem to like it but it is not something I will buy again.
Date published: 2015-07-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
lbjb from
Great product
This product works well for catching flies and other flying insects. I keep several around and it lasts a long time too.
Date published: 2015-05-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
agricolass from
An excellent part of the solution to flies
Ohio flies in the months after midsummer are nasty, numerous, and not avoidable for horses living outside for three seasons of the year. After a summer's use, I concluded that the Bite Free traps made an important contribution to the overall picture. They were the one new thing added last summer. I just ordered for the upcoming season. Put out in early June, two traps near each shed area, by early September they had captured a variety of flying insects, but mostly face flies. They're not poisonous, don't require electricity, and don't have to be renewed through the season. Combine the traps with other solutions, including fly predators, mesh masks, Equispot in the worst months, and a spray for ticks (but effective on flies, too). It may seem like overkill, but the flies breed prolifically and bite viciously. One important caution: be sure to hang these traps in full sun: a trap under a tree caught half a dozen Monarch butterflies in the first week of hanging, and none after it was moved into full sun.
Date published: 2015-05-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Pony from
Definitely helps with fly control!
I've used these traps every summer for a few years now and find that they trap a lot of flies very quickly. I use baling twine to hang a couple of traps on the sunny side of the barn where the flies bother the horses. I put them at about 1-2 feet off the ground, and I can move them around easily or take them inside if needed, especially at night or if it's raining.
I think that timing and location are really important for these traps. They're specifically for the biting stable flies that bite around the horses' legs. In my area, these flies usually come out around July or August.
The traps are very sticky, and you have to be careful when taking them out of the box or setting them down next to anything. I also keep the original box to store and dispose them in.
Once the edges of the traps are filled with flies, I do find that they don't trap as well anymore. Depending on the fly population, sometimes one trap is only good for a week or two which can get quite expensive over the summer. But it makes me very happy to see a lot of dead flies on the trap and not biting my horses!
Date published: 2014-08-21
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Rhia from
Works well
Bought this about a few weeks ago and is working well, capturing the mature flys and other flying pests. Have not tried to hose it off yet, but it's definitely doing it's job.
Date published: 2014-07-05
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Lorrie from
This trap caught everything but flies.
It caught lizards, lady bugs, dragon flies. I saved the lizards and a dragon flie before discarding the 2 I purchased.
Date published: 2014-06-14
Rated 1 out of
5
by
ArabMom from
Do not recommend
I hung this near the manure pile, in the sunlight, about 3 feet off the ground, and about 50 feet away from the barn. I thought I followed the instructions precisely but it's been hanging there a week, and all that's in it is tons of wind blown debris (leaves, grass, pollen), a few gnats, some bees, and various beetles. Not one single fly. And yes the flies are out in full force! Total waste of money.
Date published: 2014-05-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Hank from
good bye stable flies
This is my second year using this product. Can't imagine spending a summer without it. This trap makes my horses stomp and twitch much less.
Date published: 2014-05-06
Rated 4 out of
5
by
QueenofCompost from
You Can't Buy Just One
I pride myself in keeping a fly-free barn, and these traps are definately an asset; I keep one or two in a sunny spot by both barn doors. I find they work much better than those with an added attractant. The flies seem to love the shiny surface, and they land on it in droves the moment it's set out and can't get unstuck. Because these are lightweight and easily blown over, my husband attached them to a stand (such as a former tank heater) for stability, which works great! The traps are pretty full within 2-3 weeks, and then it's time for a new one.
Date published: 2013-07-15
Rated 1 out of
5
by
AlfaMare from
Deadly Design for Birds
There is a fundamental design flaw to this sticky fly trap - it looks like a bird feeder. After the second bird landed on it, resulting in a no-doubt painful death, we took the remainder of the case to the recycling center.
By the way, relatively few flies were ever trapped. Also note that we subsequently tried to modify it by adding "bird protection" netting to its outside...but this did not work either.
If the manufacturer provided a bird protection "cage", it might become a better product.
Date published: 2013-07-04
Rated 3 out of
5
by
meettheborg from
Sticky but not that attractive to flies
If flies land on this trap, they do stick. Initially, I only had yellowjackets stuck to it. It was only when I placed it directly in a tub of manure that the flies were inclined to land on it.
So it does work but it will never make a dent in my fly population since they are not drawn to it.
Date published: 2013-06-24
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Springhope Farm from
Fly trap
Except for rainy and stormy days it has been hanging on a plant hanger between the barn and small paddocks. Seems to be catching flies, gnats, and 1 wasp. Hung it 3-4 feet off the ground on an plant hanger. Fly season is just starting here so we'll see if it helps with the small stable flies. They were terrible last year, maybe not so bad this year. Ordered a 2nd one to put on the other side of the barn.
Date published: 2013-06-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Paul Oliver from
Catch a Lot of flys!
Great for catching a lot of stable flys. I hang two near my barn within 4 feet of the ground. In several years of using one bird has been caught in them. No problem to me as we have plenty of birds. The hawks around here whack more birds than these traps. Great pest control.
Date published: 2013-05-14
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Stu Van Tine from
Death Trap for Birds
We try to attract insect eating birds to the barn and paddock area. After three days near the barn, the trap caught a few insects and 3 chickadees, drawn to the trap by the bugs. I'm sure they would have eaten more flies over the summer than the trap would. Pulled out most flight fathers trying to escape. Beyond saving. WHY NO WARNING? You must have known this would happen. Kicking myself for not foreseeing it.
Date published: 2013-05-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Babs from
Wise buy
very pleased with the amount of flies attracted,long lasting fly control. Will be buying this product again!
Date published: 2012-08-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
NoNames from
Flys are gone!
I am so happy with the use of these fly traps this year! I started putting them up first thing this year! I also bought WAY more than I did last year, I cannot tell you how great this year has been with flys for us! I have one horse that is alergic to flys and I have yet to give him medication and he is doing well with very minimal signs of sweet itch! I am very satisfied! I was worried I would catch a lot of bats because last year I did catch a couple bats, I had to take them into the wildlife shelter and it was very stressful, however, last year I also had massive flys comparing to this year to attract the bats! I have not caught a bat and I also hung my fly traps on the East side of our barn, a friend said to. I cannot remember why? But it was worked!
Date published: 2012-07-29
Rated 3 out of
5
by
ontherocks from
Traps everything but Stable flies
I purchased this as it is advertised to specifically trap stable flies. I check it daily, and still no stable flies, but bees, beetles, etc. Also read somewhere that it can be reused, but the package says it is disposable. Too pricey to not reuse and not do what it is supposed to.
Date published: 2012-07-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Chances Mom from
Big and Effective
Love these fly traps. They catch flies better than fly paper, look nicer and no foul odor! I also discovered if you hose them off once, you can reuse them!
Date published: 2012-06-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
debbieg from
Best Fly catcher ever
No more mixing water and that smelly liquid. This fly catcher is worth every penny. Just take out of the box and hang.
Planning on buying a few more!
Date published: 2012-04-26
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Trub from
Yes it does catch birds
I read on the manufacturer's site that these traps can catch birds.
I hung the trap and on the second day I had a gold finch stuck in it.
It does catch lots of flies, not sure the risk to the birds and butterflies (caught two in those two days) is worth it.
We did take the second trap I bought (at the same time as the first) and put wire mesh all around it. Does not catch as many flies but the birds are safe.
Date published: 2011-11-29