Outdoor flies!!!

[tjtops]

What do people reckon is the best thing to kill/deter/annihilate the flies which are already plaguing me on my terrace?? At this rate I'll be spending the summer indoors!
PS. Have tried plug-in repellant (the terrace does have a roof on it) but didn't think it would work - (and it didn't!); also the tin things (citronella-based I think) which you just peel the top back -- nope.
Help please!

[annie_d]

Have you tried eating garlic capsules? I am sure i read that somewhere.

[dido72]

Have you tried putting bottles of water out, it is supposed to deter cats and dogs but when I put some on my kitchen windowsill I had practically no flies in all day, it could have been a coincidence but it can't hurt to try!!

[Jool]

THe water thing is supposed to work as flies see their reflection so much larger and think there are giant flies about to eat them so stay away......

[Cassandra]

If you have electricity on your terrace try a fan. They love still air and even a slight breeze can disperse them. A ceiling fan would probably work best if you could mount it just under the centre of the terrace roof.

[annie_d]

That's it, a fan! Garlic for...hmm, mosquitos was it? I wish I had a memory.

Flies go into the pool a great deal though don't they so I can't see that their reflection worries them too much.

[katy]

Good point

[julian]

if you look at your relection in the pool water it will be life size, try looking at your reflection in a clear plastic bag full of water hanging from the ceiling !

[hillybilly]

try looking at your reflection in a clear plastic bag full of water hanging from the ceiling !

Must come to one of your house parties...

[mirandamac]

THe water thing is supposed to work as flies see their reflection so much larger and think there are giant flies about to eat them so stay away......

I now have this horrific picture of lots of giant flies eating all the little ones. Yuk!

[GRANVILLE]

My reflection in the pool always looks bigger than i think

[tjtops]

my reflection unfortunately is life size..need to find one that makes me look smaller!
And I can't decide if you lot are winding me up
I get plagued with the little beepers whether there is any breeze or not, sadly. As for garlic, I eat loads of it anyway (probably why I'm sitting out there on my own ).... and I really don;t know what t make of the water thing....new one on me!!
Keep 'em coming cos I have to find SOMETHING which does the trick!

[Grouser]

Try growing lots of Basil.

[mirandamac]

Try growing lots of Basil.

One of my dogs is called Basil. He's stopped growing though but he coes help keep flies away! Seriously, I thought lavender is supposed to help? Don't know about the garlic, it doesn't work here either but it certainly keeps the vampires away - not seen any of them.

[Troglodyfae]

Try a product called Agita. It is meant to be used in animal housing areas etc, but living in the campo we found that flies were becoming a bit of a problem. A lot of my friends and neighbours have used this and report fantastic results.

It is a granule preparation that you mix with water and paint onto surfaces. We have painted under our tiled patio table and under the chairs, outside door frames, under the BBQ and in window reveals. I have to say this stuff is brilliant, the flies are actually attracted to it and within minutes they are on the floor dying. It has made it comfortable to now sit outside and enjoy our terrace. I believe this is only to be used outside.

It is not cheap however but it does last for 6 - 8 months. I paid €25 for a tub so I reckon this represents good value for money. Here is a link to further information from their website.

http://www.flycontrol.novartis.com/prod ... a1GB.shtml

[JAKE M]

try looking at your reflection in a clear plastic bag full of water hanging from the ceiling !

Must come to one of your house parties...

should'nt that be house fly parties

[julian]

there are certain plants that the flies stay away from,ask at the garden centre, you could plant a few around the terrace
ref the water in a clear plastic bag, it´s no wind up,

[JAKE M]

Then again there's the traditional Venus fly trap plant.
It won't catch them all but it can be mildly entertaining

[Jool]

I found out about the plastic bag full of water from spanish neighbours and it does work - no wind up. Also growing lots of basil seems to help too especially on windowsills........

[Andy1]

Hi,

Where can we buy agita?