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 pull off successfully. Getting rid of flies involves investigating the fly attraction source, carefully sanitizing the active area, and 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 an electronic insect trap that uses Ultraviolet (UV) light as an attractant. Flylights lure flying insects toward an attached glue trap, rendering flies stuck and unable to escape. Flylights 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 when 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 and how they are used and maintained, and shop our top fly light recommendations, which 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 sorts of situations, insecticides are not always the best choice for fly control. It is common knowledge that flies and various other insects cannot resist the allure of light, so 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 designed explicitly for fly control that harnesses the power of ultraviolet rays to lure and capture flies and other unsuspecting flying insects. This eliminates the need to use 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, different wavelengths of light attract a particular insect. However, the most common light to which many insects are readily drawn is lights emitting fluorescent UV rays.

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

Fly Lights vs. Bug Zappers

Many people associate flylights 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 their attractive UV rays. 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 areas and can actually be a hazard in some cases. Typically, flylights with zappers are used in warehouses with lots of open space.

2) Fly lights that 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 glue board. These glue strips often also have pheromones added, which attract pesky flies even more than 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 flylights strike the perfect balance between aesthetics, affordability, and effectiveness. The Professional Flylight 1 by 2 is a great model to start with if you want to add a flylight to your protection plan. 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 electrical systems that power the fly light. We recommend the Professional Flylight 1x2, which 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

In 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 ensure there is no escape from any pest attracted by the UV bulbs.

Installation Guide

Step 1: Unbox the Unit

The Professional Flylight 1x2 unit has bulbs and glue boards already installed. However, the bulbs have cardboard tubing covering them for protection, and the glue boards have 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

The unit may be placed upright and plugged in if a horizontal surface near a power source is available. 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, turn the lights on and ensure the glue board is in place and clean.

Fly Light Placement

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

We feel fly traps are better in most situations because bug zappers have a reputation for malfunctioning or 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 them in areas where outdoor flies cannot see them. 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 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 correctly is regular inspection and maintenance. You should inspect your unit at least once a month to see if the glue boards are complete or if the bulbs are dimming.

Step 1: Check the Glue Boards

If the glue boards are entirely covered in dirt, debris, or dead insects, they can no longer trap pests. They need to be replaced regularly. A good rule of thumb is to replace them at least every 90 days. However, checking them periodically is best to ensure they remain effective.

Step 2: Check the Bulbs

Over time, the UV bulbs will wear out and lose their effectiveness as lures. 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 nine months. However, as with glue boards, it’s best to inspect them regularly to ensure they remain effective.

Key takeaways

• Flylights 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 in a restaurant.