Fly-killing device
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2008-06-29T20:13:37Z
75.178.74.130
/* Fly swatter */
A '''fly-killing device''' is an [[apparatus]] used for [[pest control]]. A fly-killing device usually attracts flying [[insects]] including [[houseflies]], [[wasps]], [[moths]] and [[mosquito]]es. The flying insects are then either killed or released.
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== Fly catcher history to modern day==
The modern fly catcher (the small cylinder, thumbtack and ribbon of sticky paper) had its start over 140 years ago in the bakery of Frederick Kaiser in Germany. Whenever Kaiser's pies were placed in the show window, flies would swarm to them. After some weeks of frustration, Kaiser dipped a large sheet of wrapping paper into [[molasses]], and hung it above his baked goods. Flies were attracted to the sheet and caught by the [[viscous]] molasses. Soon, people came to Kaiser's bakery not to buy pies, but to buy fly catchers.
Most people believe that fly catchers, also known as fly ribbons, are obsolete {{fact}}. However, fly catchers are still popular {{fact}}. What was once a small market is now dominated by fierce competition between many different companies {{fact}}.
It said something about fly catchers being more popular today than 20 or 30 years ago also. Feel free to add it back in if you can source it.-->
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Aeroxon, part of Roxide (the company which was formed from Kaiser's bakery), creates a wide variety of fly catchers, ranging from traditional ribbons for homes to large two-sided fly paper for barns. [http://www.roxide.com Roxide (Aeroxon)]
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==Types of Fly Killers==
[[Image:3 fly-bottles.jpg|thumb|Three fly-bottles, [[Central Europe]], beginning of the XXth century]]
===Fly swatter===
[[Image:Gewone vliegenmepper.jpg|thumb|A flyswatter]]
[[Image:Fliegenfaenger.jpg|thumb|50px|A sticky fly ribbon]]
A [[flyswatter]] is an age old tool for fly control and is usually made of plastic. The swatter is composed of a long, thin handle usually not exceeding 8-10 [[inches]] in length. Attached to the end of the handle is a large [[mesh]]-like head consisting of a flat sheet of material covered with holes (as to decrease wind resistance). This head is usually somewhat [[rectangular]] or resembling a [[square (geometry)|square]], normally measuring 2-4 inches in [[length]] and 3-5 inches in [[width]]. The fly swatter is ideally lightweight, as quick acceleration of the swatter is usually needed to overcome the quick reaction time of the fly. A rolled up newspaper with a diameter of about two inches can also be used with some success in the absence of a fly swatter.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
===Fly Sticker===
{{main|flypaper}}
The "Fly Sticker" (also known as a fly strip, fly paper, fly ribbon or fly tape) is another way of sticking flies to adhesive so that they can be starved/killed. It has an exposed adhesive strip, making it more stick-prone than a glue board. A fly strip is a small cardboard tube with a pin on the top. It is used by pulling the pin off the top (usually covered with wax), removing the adhesive 'fly strip' and using the pin to attach it to a wall.
===Glue board fly killer===
A glue board is a capture device with a strong adhesive. An index card covered in strong adhesive is situated in an enclosure so that when the flies come into contact with it, they remain stuck and die there. Their remains are removed through the use of vegetable oil and then removing the oil with [[dishwashing detergent]] and a water rinse.
===Electric grid / fly zapper===
An electric grid (fly zapper or [[bug zapper]]) kills flies by [[electric shock|electrocution]] through a high voltage that is maintained on an electric grid. If the fly comes into contact with the grid, it is given a fatal electric shock and dies.
== External links ==
*[http://www.flykiller.net/pages/fly_zappers_industrial.htm Example of an electric fly killer]
*[http://www.flykiller.net/pages/glueboards_small.htm Example of a glueboard fly killer]
[[Category:Equipment]]
[[Category:Entomology]]
[[Category:Pest control]]
[[fr:Attrape-mouche]]