Trap Kills Flies Without Chemicals

Trap Kills Flies Without Chemicals MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Pest Animals 90-10-32 Mark Bonacquista liked the fly trap he bought for his cattle so much that he went back to the company and bought the rights to build and sell the trap. The Epps Biting Fly Trap uses no chemicals, bait or power to trap and kill biting flies. The flies do the job themselves when they drop into trays of water laced with dish soap. "We had two black, thin-skinned mares, and biting flies were driving them crazy," explains Bonacquista. "The Epps Trap eliminated the problem." When he heard the company was dropping the fly trap, Bonacquista contacted Alan Epp, the inventor, and obtained exclusive rights to manufacture and market it. One trap will control biting flies over a 20-acre area, he says. The design uses black panels covered with clear plastic with room in between for the flies to fly in and land. As they circle what they think is a big warm-blooded animal, they hit clear plastic deflector arms between the two surfaces and fall into the catch trays. "All the soap does is break the surface tension of the water so the flies quickly drown," says Bonacquista. "We scoop out about a pound of flies every other day from our trays. We had a call from one customer who filled three large coffee cans full after three days of use." Bonacquista sells a permanent unit (5 by 7-ft.) that attaches to four T-posts and has two catch trays. It is priced at $295 plus shipping. A new portable model (4 by 6-ft.) comes with a stand and a single tray. It can be held in place with sand bags. It sells for $325 plus shipping. Both are wind rated to withstand 90 mph winds when properly installed. "The portable stand is ideal for people who do rotational grazing or move horses from one pasture to another," says Bonacquista. "They wanted a fly trap they could pick up and move. You can throw it in the back of a pickup with some sand bags and set it up in a minute." The black panels are made from heavy-duty cargo covers and are a one-time investment. However, the clear plastic panels do have to be replaced due to exposure to the sun. Replacement sheets are only $7.95, and Bonacquista says they can last for three to four years in northern states with a short biting fly season. They may have to be replaced once a year in the far South where the biting fly season is longer. "I know people who are still using units they bought more than 10 years ago," says Bonacquista. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Horseline Products, Inc., 1340 Jones Rd., Henderson, Tenn. 38340 (ph/fax 731 989-9963 or 800 208-4846; horselineproducts@att.net; www.horselineproducts.com).

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