The X-Flies

[steve_earwig]

Hi folks, I had an idea I thought I'd share. Out in the sticks here loads of people keep various livestock, pigs, chickens, the odd cow etc. and this time of year we're plagued with annoying flies. At my other half's there's net curtains hanging over the doors and windows but, with the dogs charging in an out the whole time, the ones across the doors usually end up dragged to one end and the little buggers swarm in.

Last night I looked up and there were about 40 on the ceiling, I can take them out with the fly swatters but if I'm not careful it makes a mess, so I thought I'd get the hoover out. I've tried the hoover before but they generally get spooked by it, so this time I stuck a 6" plastic funnel in the end - perfect! If it's all round them they don't know where to go and, when they decide to escape it's generally too late. The best thing is the satisfying little pop! they make as they disappear inside

[Welly]

I've been hoovering up flies for years (not with a Heath Robinson on the end though).

TBH you can't really cut it in the world of hoovering flies until you can reliably catch them in mid-flight then you know you've made it

[steve_earwig]

These little bastards are too quick for that, although I have managed to catch a couple in mid air with the swatter (Juice!)

[teamster1975]

I got an electric fly swatter for my birthday a couple of years ago
It looks like a tennis racket but with a metal grid. You press a button and it electrifies it
There is nothing more satisfying than frying a wasp