An Old, Chemical Free Way to Help Control Flies

By Penny Ossowski

A number of years ago when listening to afternoon ABC radio (612), there was a recipe given for making your own fly paper. This being the time of the year for the fly population to increase I thought I might give it a go.

Materials needed:

                        brown paper (yes you can still buy it)

                        ½ cup golden syrup

                        1 tbsp dark brown sugar           

                        1 tbsp white or raw sugar

                        string

You will also need a bowl to mix it in and a container (like a lamington tray or old Tupperware container of a similar size)

How to do it:

Cut paper into strips 5cm wide and no longer than your container.

In a bowl mix together golden syrup and sugars until like a thin paste

Lay paper strips in container in one layer, pour the syrup mix over them, cover with plastic wrap or lid and sit overnight.

Next day scrape excess mixture off strips and put hole in one end of each strip. Tie string though hole and hang where flies buzz by.