just got my mite trap in today,, it recoommends useing fly paper,, but,, where I CAN find it,, its pretty expensive,, anything I can subbstiute, preferrably make at home or in the shed??

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), April 12, 2001

Answers

How about honey on wax paper? Maybe mix a little DE in with it to kill them after they set on it?

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 12, 2001.

if I use anyhthing sweet,, the bees will work like bees trying to get to it. Once the mited are stuck,, they will die,, so DE isnt necessary

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), April 12, 2001.

I use Tree Tanglefoot, which I use on my red sphere traps in my apple trees. It comes in the can with the spreader brush already inside and the handle on the outside, so it's easy to smear onto paper or plastic (doesn't soak into the plastic like it does paper). Otherwise, why not try petroleum jelly on plastic backing? I cut up grocery store plastic bags for making whitefly and fungus gnat traps this way.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), April 12, 2001.

I tried honey once. I developed a skin on top and the gnats just walked around on it and flew off.

-- Julie (jdavis@vol.com), April 16, 2001.

FLY PAPER

2 C. milk 2 T. black pepper 2 T. white sugar 2 T. brown sugar Brown paper bags, cut into strips

Boil milk, pepper, and sugar together for 5 minutes. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes longer, until thickened, and then let cool. Wind the brown paper strips into a tight roll and drop them into the milk mixture. Let them become completely saturated. Rewind the strips gently and let them air dry on a cookie sheet. They are ready to hang when they are sticky to the touch.

To use, suspend the strips up and out of the way wherever flies are a problem. CAUTION: Keep the strips away from young children, especially after they are covered with flies.

-- Mac Tall (mtall@olg.com), April 18, 2001.