When it comes to ridding your home or office of bugs, insects and just about any other flying annoyance, you might be surprised to know there are quite a few safe and effective solutions that are not only chemical and odor-free but also safe for the whole family, including pets. If you’re tired of hiding your produce in the fridge and can’t figure out how to get rid of small flying bugs, it’s time to use a fruit fly trap.
What To Consider When Buying A Trap
Location, location, location is important in housing real estate and insect trap real estate. Will your trap be placed indoors or outdoors? Will it be visible to guests? The location of your trap will heavily influence which option you chose.
What types of insects are you looking to get rid of in your space? We’ve included more affordable options that are great for fruit flies, as well as heavy-duty electric traps that can handle small and large insects.
How We Chose the Best Traps
Featured below are some of the best indoor and outdoor insect traps for catching gnats, fruit flies and mosquitos. What these traps have in common is their ease of use and effectiveness. Disposable sticky boards, liquid lures and powerful UV lights provide a variety of options for customers who are tired of swatting pesky bugs.
These comprehensive insect traps are also compact and convenient, non-toxic, odorless and safe for babies, small children, and pets. Ideal for kitchens, bedrooms, offices, garages or covered porches, simply place them on your kitchen counter, under a sink, in a plant, or connect them to a power source and let the traps do the rest.
1. Katchy Indoor Insect Trap
The Indoor Insect Trap by Katchy works best for catching gnats, fruit flies and mosquitoes. It has a UV light that lures the bug above the fan, sucks them in and the sticky glue boards make sure they don’t escape. Non-toxic, odorless and with no electric zapping, this trap is safe around small children and pets and will work well in your kitchen, bedroom, office or garage. Simply set up the trap as close to the insects as possible, plug it into the wall or USB and let it do its job.
Pros: This product will also work in areas with no electricity such as cabins or other enclosed spaces.
Cons: Glueboard replacements are required when needed.
2. Eon Luxe Solutions Indoor Mosquito Killer & Fruit Fly Trap
Trapping and killing bugs can be smelly, toxic business but not with the Eon Luxe Solutions Indoor Mosquito Killer & Fruit Fly Trap. The USB powered unit attracts bugs with its UV light and then captures the bugs with its fan and holds on to them using the refillable sticky pads. The chemical-free solution helps to get rid of mosquitoes, fruit flies and gnats. The unit comes with six sticky pads, which is enough for three to six months of use.
Pros: The unit goes into automatic mode at night when the UV light is most effective and automatically turns off in the daytime.
Cons: Like the Katchy, users will have to purchase refills of the sticky sheets separately for the Eon Luxe.
3. TERRO Fruit Fly Trap
For a discrete way to get rid of fruit flies, we recommend the TERRO Fruit Fly Trap. The set comes with two small traps that each have a 45-day lifespan. Users simply add the liquid lure included with the set and place the trap in an area that is frequented by fruit flies. Designed to look like a small apple, fruit flies will be attracted to the lure inside the trap and fly through the small holes and get stuck in the liquid. If the trap does get knocked over, the lure should not leave a stain.
Pros: The no maintenance fly traps can be discarded in the garbage after 45 days.
Cons: The liquid can be poured out and traps should not be placed where kids and pets could have access.
4. Terro Fly Magnet Sticky Fly Paper Fly Trap
For a mess-free way to rid your home and outdoor space of insects, try the Terro Fly Magnet Sticky Fly Paper Fly Trap. The Terro comes with a built-in hook for hanging, making it easy for users to unravel the sticky tape and let the trap get to work. Insects are trapped by the adhesive on the tape, which can be disposed of when filled. The odor-free trap doesn’t require any baiting and can be used indoors and outdoors.
Pros: Terro uses non-toxic glue.
Cons: The adhesive may freeze in cold temperatures and melt in the heat.
5. Kensizer 20-Pack Window Fly Traps
Tired of swatting insects near your windows? Rid your home of unwanted guests with minimal effort using the Kensizer 20-Pack Window Fly Traps. The clear, adhesive strips can be applied directly to windowpanes for a discrete trap that will target all types of flies, which are typically attracted to light coming in through a window. The odorless traps are non-toxic and won’t harm pets or young children.
Pros: The strips won’t leave any residue on windows and can easily be peeled off when it’s time for a new strip.
Cons: Customers may find the collection of insects on their windowpane unsightly.
6. Trappify Hanging Fly Stick Traps
For a trap that can last up to three months and needs minimal maintenance, we like the Trappify Hanging Fly Stick Traps. The large traps, which are 10” tall, can be placed indoors or outdoors on a flat surface or hung using their connected hook. The bright yellow design helps to attract insects, which get stuck to the adhesive paper. Trappify helps to rid your home of fruit flies, gnats, horse flies, mosquitos, and house flies.
Pros: Trappify is made using recycled paper and doesn’t require batteries.
Cons: Trappify works best if users add honey to the bottom of the unit, which is not included.
7. Garsum Sticky Houseplant Trap
Love the look of plants in your home but don’t love all the insects they attract? Try the Garsum Sticky Houseplant Traps, which are designed to attract fruit flies, gnats, white and black flies, and more pesky critters. Waterproof and UV-resistant, the Garsum traps use bright yellow adhesive to attract and trap insects. Each adhesive strip is connected to a green plastic stick that can easily be inserted into any potted plant or in soft soil outdoors.
Pros: The Garsum traps are safe for green farming and ideal for users growing herbs, fruit, and vegetables.
Cons: The traps may fall over in windy or rainy conditions when used outdoors.
8. BLACK+DECKER Bug Zapper
Tired of having your al fresco dining interrupted by flies, mosquitos, wasps, and more uninvited insects? The BLACK+DECKER Bug Zapper attracts a wide variety of insects using a non-toxic UV light and zaps them instantly upon contact. Safe for use around children or pets, the zapper can be hung using its attached hook or placed on a flat surface. The zapper provides an impressive amount of coverage of up to one acre, is waterproof, and emits only a small amount of noise pollution.
Pros: Cleaning is easy thanks to a removable tray and cleaning brush included with each unit.
Cons: The BLACK+DECKER Bug Zapper must be placed near an outlet in order to be plugged in and powered.
9. ZAP IT! Bug Zapper
Do you always find yourself half a second too slow when it comes to swatting pesky insects? Rid your home of flies, mosquitos, and more with the powerful Zap It! Bug Zapper. The racket-style swatter boasts an impressive 3,500-volt grid that is powered by two AA batteries and easily turned on and off with an activation switch on the handle. Lightweight and effective, the Zap It! Bug Zapper is available in three sizes.
Pros: A triple-layer safety mesh provides protection against accidental zapping.
Cons: Unlike other options on our list, customers will have to manually aim and swing for insects.
10. Bug Bulb 2 in 1 Camping Lantern by Boundery
Just because you enjoy being outdoors doesn’t mean you enjoy bugs. Sleep soundly in a cabin and enjoy your meal in the dining tent without flies, mosquitos, and gnats by using the Bug Bulb 2 in 1 Camping Lantern by Boundery. The portable lantern features a bright 6000K white light and uses 5W for an impressive 16 feet by 16 feet bug-free perimeter. The cordless lantern has a built-in hook for hanging, is non-toxic, and is made from durable ABS plastic.
Pros: The Boundery is rated IPX6 waterproof and lightning-proof.
Cons: When used at its highest light and bug zapping mode, the rechargeable Boundery will only last four hours on a single charge.
11. Zalik Bug Zapper Light Bulb
The Zalik Bug Zapper Light Bulb offers a discrete way to rid your home of pesky insects. The Zalik screws into any standard light switch and comes with three modes, including light mode, bug-killing mode, and light and bug-killing mode. Quiet and non-toxic, the Zalik has a 45-degree slope design that makes it easy to collect dead bugs for a hassle-free clean. The bulb emits an ultraviolet beam to attract bugs and then zaps them on its metal grill.
Pros: Thanks to its 50,000-hour lifetime, the Zalik doesn’t need to be changed frequently.
Cons: The Zalik can only be used indoors.
12. Stingmon 12 Pack Sticky Fruit Fly Traps
If fruit flies and gnats are eating your beloved garden, fight back with the Stingmon 12 Pack Sticky Fruit Fly Traps. Available in a variety of fun designs, including butterflies, birds and cats, the yellow traps are designed to attract fruit flies and gnats with their bright color. The sticky traps then hold onto the bugs and stops them from eating and destroying plants. Made without any harmful odors or chemicals that could negatively affect humans or pets, the traps have a pointed bottom for easy insertion into the soil.
Pros: The traps are UV-resistant and waterproof and will continue to work until they are fully covered in bugs.
Cons: The glue on the traps can begin to melt in hot weather and the traps should be stored in the refrigerator prior to use during warm months.
13. RSVP Endurance Fruit Fly Trap
Get rid of fruit flies with a natural solution using the RSVP Endurance Fruit Fly Trap. The small ceramic bowl comes with a stainless steel lid that has perforations to allow for fruit flies to fly through. The bowl comes with instructions on how to make fruit fly lure using apple cider vinegar and dish soap. Simply add the lure to the bowl, place the lid on top and station the trap in an area where fruit flies have been previously spotted. The attractive set will blend seamlessly into most kitchen decors and can be refilled and reused as many times as necessary.
Pros: The container is dishwasher safe and durable.
Cons: The container can be messy to clean.