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Step 1
Consider that a bug repellent made from a plastic bag full of water may just work. They are used throughout Latin America. If you have ever been to a Mexican resort area such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlan you may have seen clear plastic bags full of water hanging in restaurants and shops. Did you know their purpose? They supposed to repel flies and mosquitoes.
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Step 2
Realize that there may be some sound theory behind Mexican water bag bug repellent devices. I was told the "science" behind these bug repellent devices by a restaurant owner in Cozumel who swore by it and have since heard the same story in different parts of Mexico.
Supposedly the flies and mosquitoes that fly near the bag see a very large reflection of themselves in the clear water and are scared off.
As strange as it seems this bug repellent device does seem to work.
It seems to work on flies more than it does on mosquitoes.
We put one up on our patio when we returned to the states and have hardly seen any flies when we cook out. Coincidence? Maybe not. -
Step 3
Go ahead and make your own Mexican bug repellent device. Get a large, gallon or bigger clear plastic bag and fill it full of clean water, leaving enough space to gather up the plastic and tie a string tightly around it. Bags that are not absolutely clear will not work.
Suspend the bag full of water with nylon line just above head high and hang it and several like it around the the perimeter of your patio and hopefully this homemade bug repellent will help solve your fly problem. If anything it is a good conversation piece.
Comments
jessrm said
on 1/10/2009 The comment about that the plastic bag must be clear is absolutely correct. Ziplock type bags are not as clear as those with cellophane like clearness quality. Rather than a big plastic bag it is best to have numerous small ones the size of two cellophane wrappers of individual cigarette packs. The number of plastic/cellophane bags must have a multiplier effect on the flies.