Fly Light Traps

If you’ve dealt with infestations of flies in the past, you would know that fly control is not the smoothest job to successfully pull off. Getting rid of flies involves investigating what the fly attraction source is, carefully sanitizing the active area, applying fly control pesticides followed by preventative and exclusion measures.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the time and energy to carry out DIY Fly Control. So if you have a fly problem but can't spare the sweat and hours needed to kill flies, what do you do. This is where fly lights come in handy.

What Are Fly Lights?

A fly light is a type of electronic insect trap that uses Ultraviolet (UV) light as an attractant. Fly lights lure flying insects toward an attached glue trap, rendering flies stuck and unable to escape. Fly lights provide discrete and low-maintenance protection without the need for unsightly hanging glue traps or toxic chemical sprays.

Fly lights are an excellent method of fly control and a safe, low-key, and low-effort alternative to applying fly control insecticides because flies (and other light-loving bugs) can’t resist the glow they bring. They are ideal for use in situations where low-profile, non-toxic protection is preferred, such as in kitchens, restaurants, or storefronts. 

On this page, you can learn all you need to know about fly lights, how they are used and maintained and shop our top fly light recommendations that you can order today.

The Benefits of Using Fly Lights

No matter the type, flies are always a nuisance. Houseflies specifically can be a troublesome problem, especially when they are present in restaurants and businesses where they can bother customers and ruin a dining experience.

In these sort of situations, insecticides are not always the best choice to perform fly control. It is common knowledge that flies and various other insects are not able to resist the allure of light, so by utilizing a brilliant UV light to lure in flies and a wide variety of other insects indoors and out and combining that light with a sticky trap or glue board, you have yourself a UV fly light trap — the ultimate tool in fly control.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fly Lights

What is an Ultraviolet Fly Light trap?

An Ultraviolet (or UV) fly Light Trap is a trap specifically designed for fly control which harnesses the power of ultraviolet rays to lure and capture flies and other unsuspecting flying insects. This eliminates the need for the usage of potentially harmful and toxic chemicals and the labor involved in applying such insecticides

In What Situations is a UV Fly Light Trap most Useful?

UV Fly Lights and traps are most useful in settings where using conventional fly control insecticides or pesticides would not be appropriate or when it is preferred to conduct fly control that is more discreet and low-profile (for instance, in kitchens, restaurants, or storefronts).

How Do Fly Lights Work So Effectively?

Depending on the insect, there are different wavelengths of light which attract a particular insect. However, perhaps the most common light in which a large number of insects readily are drawn towards are lights that emit fluorescent UV rays.

The lights serve as an attractant and are set up usually to have glueboards attached to them which act as sticky traps that will capture the flies when they get close enough. While you can certainly use fly glue boards and traps on their own to capture flies, the addition of a fly light significantly increases your ability to catch flies with glue traps.

Fly Lights vs. Bug Zappers

Many people associate fly lights with bug zappers but they aren’t necessarily the same thing. There are two general types of fly lights which are used for fly control: 

1) Fly lights that have bug zappers installed. These fly lights lure flies in with the attractive UV rays and once within the vicinity of the zapper, the flies are electrocuted, which usually makes a distinct “ZAP!” noise.

These zappers are usually inappropriate for residential areas, businesses or food preparation area and can actually be a hazard in some cases. Typically, fly lights with zappers are used in warehouses where there is lots of open space.

2) Fly lights which use glue boards.  The fly control traps also attract flies using ultraviolet light, but rather than being zapped to smithereens, the fly finds itself stuck on a removable glue strip or glueboard. These glue strips often also have pheromones added which attract pesky flies even more than with light alone. This model is appropriate for most public and food settings because they are often seen as decorative.

No zapping means no disturbing noises and no fly body parts falling into food (if placed in a restaurant or dining area)

Our Recommendation

Professional fly lights strike the perfect balance between aesthetics, affordability, and effectiveness. A great model to start out with if you’re looking to add a fly light to your protection plan is the Professional Flylight 1x2. It is recommended that you also pick up some replacement glue boards and bulbs, so you have them when the time comes to replace them.

Parts

A Fly Light unit has three parts. There’s the unit itself, the bulb or bulbs, and the glue boards.

The Main Unit

The main unit houses the bulbs, glue boards, and the electrical systems that power the fly light. The Professional Flylight 1x2 we recommend can be mounted to a wall or placed on a surface such as a tabletop.

The Bulbs

The bulbs are the fly light's lure. These bulbs emit UV light that is harmless to humans but irresistible to flies and other flying insects. The Professional 1x2 unit has one facing with two bulbs covered by a grill that can be easily lifted to replace bulbs or glue boards.

The Glue Boards

The actual trap portion of the fly light unit, the glue boards have a sticky surface that traps any insect that comes in contact with them. They also emit an attractive pheromone to make sure there is no escape for any pest that is attracted by the UV bulbs.

Installation Guide

Step 1: Unbox the Unit

The Professional Flylight 1x2 unit comes with the bulbs and glue boards already installed. However, the bulbs have cardboard tubing covering them for protection and the glueboards has a protective paper that will need to be peeled off. The mounting plate can also be found in the box, as well as screws and wall anchors.

Step 2: Mounting or Placing the Unit

If a horizontal surface near a power source is available, the unit may simply be placed upright and plugged in. Alternatively, it may be mounted on a structure such as a wall. The Professional Flylight 1x2 comes with mounting hardware; two screws and drywall anchors, and brackets.

If mounting in drywall, use a small hammer to secure the drywall anchors, otherwise use a power drill to mount with screws. Once the unit is installed, simply turn the lights on and ensure the glue board is in place and clean.

Fly Light Placement

If you are considering buying fly lights as part of your fly control efforts, there are a few things you must consider when choosing the type of fly light you wish to own and where to place it.

We personally feel fly traps are better in most situations because bug zappers have a reputation for malfunctioning or for electrocuting bugs to the point that they explode and even have the potential to start fires. Below you will find some placement tips for fly lights.

• When placing fly lights indoors, hang fly lights in areas where they cannot be seen by outdoor flies. This will attract insects to come towards your windows.

• Hang fly lights at least six feet off the floor (or closer to the floor than the ceiling) Flies have a tendency to fly lower to the ground rather than high towards the ceiling.

• Place the light about fifteen feet away from doors and hallways (essentially in the middle of a room) so bugs will be attracted to one area and won’t be as likely to fly around the whole home or building.

• Never place these lights near areas where food is prepared or processed.

• Check and clean traps often, replacing full sticky traps to allow the light to do its job. 

Fly Light Inspection and Maintenance

The key to keeping your fly light trap unit working properly is regular inspection and maintenance. You should inspect your unit at least once a month to see if the glue boards are full or if the bulbs are dimming.

Step 1: Check the Glue Boards

If the glue boards are completely covered in dirt, debris, or dead insects, they will no longer be able to trap pests. They need to be replaced regularly. A good rule of thumb is to replace them at least every 90 days. However, it’s best to check them regularly to ensure they remain effective.

Step 2: Check the Bulbs

Over time the UV bulbs will wear out and lose effectiveness as a lure. For the Professional Flylight 1x2, we recommend the Vector Classic Shatterproof Bulb as a replacement bulb. Bulbs need to be replaced at least once per year, approximately every 9 months. However, as with glue boards, it’s best to inspect them regularly to ensure they remain constantly effective.

Key takeaways

• Fly Lights provide a discreet, low-profile layer of protection. They require some maintenance but nothing too serious. As long as you check the UV bulbs and glue boards regularly, you should be fly-free.
• UV Fly Light traps are a fantastic alternative to harsh chemical treatments or unsightly hanging traps in contexts where such things would be inappropriate such as a restaurant.