what about baggies of water over the doorway to repel flies?

Answer 1

Everybody down south uses this method...as to the science of it, this is the best I can offer...

http://www.hgtvgarden.com/hgtv/gl_diseases_pests_insects/article/0,1785,HGTV_3580_1381705,00.html

Answer 2

I think if someone suggested that to you they were probably kidding. Did they show you a place that was free of flies because it had baggies of water over the doorway? Since the idea of a baggy is to make a closed container that nothing can get out of or into, a baggy seems a particularly weird choice for a repelling technique.

If you want to hang something, try traditional sticky flypaper. They land on it and get stuck. Periodically you take down the old one and put up a new one. You can see it is working based on the number of flies caught there.

You can also try keeping your house clean by throwing away trash and keeping counters washed. That makes the house less likely to attract flies in the first place.

Answer 3

One explanation is that: "it's an Amish technique where you can keep a clear bag of water over the entrance, and somehow the light refraction keeps them away".

Another theory is that: "flies see this enormous monster clone of themselves and go away."

One restaurant used it with a penny in the bag because : "It looks like a spider and its web to a bug".
http://ask.metafilter.com/19342/flies


This site claims it is effective & also brings up the idea that the reflection of the water disorients the flies & that the image the bags cast resemble spider webs: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/48042/home_remedies_to_get_rid_of_flies.html

Some people still believe in it today & say it works for them while others say it doesn't work.
Could it be that it works for some & not for others because of where it's placed... particularly, if the sun or bright light is actually reflecting on it & it's not just hung in a darkened spot? Seems that needs to be checked out to know for sure if it's a myth or not. I haven't seen any scientific studies done on that subject yet.

Answer 4

What?

This sounds like that same folk-remedy where you put gallon jugs of water at the corners of your property to keep out dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, etc.

Removing those things that attract flies would work better than hanging water-filled baggies.

Answer 5

It repels the flies because of the static field it creates

Answer 6

I have seen this kind of question posted many times, so I asked my dad about it since he grew up in the south. He had never heard of it and neither of us have ever seen this done and cannot see how it would work. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try it.

Answer 7

Yeah, they really work. I have throughout my horse barn and it works wonders. I have them on our back deck where we spend alot of time in the afternoon. No Flies!

Answer 8

Say what? What does that do to or for the flies?

Answer 9

Nope, someone is pulling your leg...try some flyspray

Answer 10

Seems to be working for me.