The FLYght guide to Insect Light Trap (ILT) use

Though businesses buy and use Insect Light Traps (ILTs) for monitoring flies, we commonly come across ILTs at the wrong height or full of trapped flies, due to lack of user knowledge of ILT use. 

We share the below guidelines on insect light trap use to help our customers to implement an effective fly monitoring program at their facilities.

Do’s:

1. Understand the path a fly takes after entering your facility to decide the place where you want to trap them before they reach areas of open food.
2. Intercept flies after they enter but before they reach the sensitive areas of your facility.
3. Fly-proof your building with double doors, auto door closers, and insect screens on windows and vents to minimize fly incursion.
4. Have traps along the critical pathways that see regular human and material movement.
5. Install traps five feet or lower for best results in trapping flies.  Even traps on floors effectively trap fly trapping as those on walls.
6. Ensure that you can access all ILTs for replacing glue boards and checking for the flies they have trapped.
7. Spread traps evenly for ensuring that you trap flies throughout the facility 
8. Use more traps in areas such as trash areas that have a higher fly population.
9. Analyze the glue board fly catch for the number and type of flies which may vary with season and by trap position.
10. Use ILTs for fly monitoring and not controlling flies as no devices can trap all flies entering your facility.  

Don’ts:

1. Site your traps next to light sources like windows or lighting that divert flies away from ILTs.
2. Install ILTs at sensitive areas where you don’t want any flies.
3. Place ILTs in narrow passageways with high foot or vehicular traffic that may damage traps.
4. Forget to review your facility’s trap efficacy to decide which to move or remove as they are not trapping insects.
5. Ignore dust and greasy vapors affecting trap performance by making glue boards less sticky or damaging the electronic circuits which illuminate the lights.
6. Let glue boards with dead insects remain in traps as they could prevent fly trapping and attract carnivorous insects.
7. Place traps near strong air currents from fans or air conditioners.
8. Expose ILTs to water sprays or high humidity or oily vapors.
9. Place traps near open doors or windows facing outwards.
10. Use traps close to production areas having exposed food.

If you have any questions after reading our guidelines on placement and use of ILTs, please contact us.