Deer fly trap

[cowboy]

This would be good to mount on the cub

http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/MizellRF/deerfly_trap.htm

I just picked some tanglefoot up from Aco Hardware. The only place I found that stocks so far and give it a try this week. I also heard there are patches you can get that will go on the back of your hat.

Billy

[UmbrellaGirl]

I have trapped over 11,000 deer flies in the first 5 weeks of the 2012 deer fly season in Michigan using my version of the trolling deer fly trap developed by Dr. Mizell. My trap uses an umbrella, blue cups, and Tangle-Foot. Check out my blog for how to make and use this easy effective trap. I've also posted my trapping data there. Happy trapping! http://deerflytrapumbrella.blogspot.com/

[Don McCombs]

Is the black and white color of the umbrella significant, or will any color umbrella do? Thanks.

[UmbrellaGirl]

Well, I've never tried a different color or different pattern for the umbrella. I went straight for the black-and-white alternating panels on the umbrella because I figured this would present the most contrast and would work best for visually getting the deer flies' attention. It may also mimic the form of an animal walking (that is, the dark panels might look a bit like legs and the white panels like the space between the legs). In any case, the black-and-white umbrella is the only one I've ever used (this is my third year of doing this, but it's my first year of actually doing it every day and collecting counts and recording the data).

[Gary Dotson]

That's a very interesting project, umbrellagirl! I enjoyed your blog!

[Yogie]

Very neat project, really enjoyed reading about this.
We don't seen to have that many deer flies in this area although we do have other pests.
We feed birds to keep them in our area and have bat boxes. That seems to keep the bugs under control pretty well.

Thanks, I'll share this with the family.

[bob in CT]

Very neat project, really enjoyed reading about this.
We don't seen to have that many deer flies in this area although we do have other pests.
We feed birds to keep them in our area and have bat boxes. That seems to keep the bugs under control pretty well.

Thanks, I'll share this with the family.

We have not seen a single bat this year.

Great project and documentation. I only get a few deer flies here, but it only take one to make yard work annoying. Last week I was being bussed by what I thought was a P-51 Mustang. After letting it land on my leg, I swatted the biggest biting fly I ever saw- about an inch long with black and grey stripes. Hope it was the last of the species.