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This bug trap is a grossly satisfying graveyard for my kitchen's fruit flies
I didn't want to use insecticides, and I didn't need to — the bright light and sticky cartridge did the dirty work sans chemicals.
'Tis the season for fun in the sun, chillaxing in the shade... and, ugh, fruit flies. I live in an older home, and there are a lot of little cracks that make it easy for these maddening little critters to make their way in. Considering we've been trying to leave windows and doors open more often to let in the air (and ease the electricity bills during this sweltering season), they've been an even bigger frustration this summer. So when I saw this commercial for the Stem Light Trap, I knew it was time to call in the big guns and give this fly-attracting gizmo a try.
And friends: I'm so happy I did.
But first things first — how does it work?
This kit comes with the basics: One plug-in light trap and one sticky cartridge.
The Stem Light Trap was created with one goal in mind: To attract and trap a variety of flying insects, including fruit flies, gnats and mosquitoes, without chemicals or insecticides. That means no mess, no odor and no concerns about the health of your loved ones — just chemical-free bug trapping. When used as directed, the trap is family-, plant- and pet-friendly, which was important to me as someone who is very conscious about anything going into the air in my home, especially when it comes to how it might affect my beloved furbaby, Poe.
The device uses a blue light to attract flying pests, much like a moth to a flame, and when the flies come too close, they stick! They're glued to the cartridge insert just behind the blue light, which works as the insecticide-free trap part of the equation.
It was pretty simple to set up — in each box is the main light trap, a sticky cartridge that goes inside (labeled "refill"), and a handy instruction booklet on how to put it all together.
To assemble the unit, you peel off cartridge's casing and insert it behind the plastic face of the light trap. This was the most cumbersome part of the process; the cartridge is very sticky (on both sides, which maximizes the trapping area), and despite my careful handling, I definitely had to wash my hands afterward to remove bits of gunk left on my fingers. However, everything else was smooth sailing. I have an outlet right by my sink that was a perfect place to put this trap, since even a single day's worth of accumulated dishes tends to attract fruit flies. I placed the light trap vertically, but if you have more limited space, you can place it horizontally. Immediately, the blue light came on, and I knew that the trap was set.
After that, it was just time to wait... with a couple of glances every few days, of course. After two weeks (though you can wait a month to check it), I decided to take a look at the carnage my trap hath wrought, and readers, it was gross ... but satisfying.
I simply couldn't believe how many bugs it had caught! And not just fruit flies, but what appeared to be other gross-looking pests I couldn't name. After only two weeks, the Stem Light Trap had proven itself and then some. Aside from the stickiness factor, which is understandable, my only wish was that this base kit had come with an actual refill and not just the single insert — I think that would've made the current sale price of $17 a better value. But there are value packs you can get that include more cartridges for a few bucks more. Packs of two refills are also available.
Amazon reviewers have found a lot to love too: "We were having a flea infestation so we purchased a Stem Light Trap," shared a shopper. "After two days we had over 60 fleas in the trap, and after one week, our flea population was wiped out. So we can say, it works! Much cheaper solution than hiring a professional exterminator."
Another reviewer wrote, "Every year [we battle with] fruit flies, and the fruit flies always win. I've tried different products, and this is the best so far. No fruit flies this year — because they were attracted to the light and trapped. I'm sold, and will buy more inserts as needed."
A final fan said that it "works well and catches a lot of bugs," but did note that "the only thing that bothered us is the light is very bright at night. I had to hide it behind a plant, or it kept catching our eye and distracting us." Since I put the trap in my kitchen, I didn't have any issues, but I could see it being more of a problem in living rooms and bedrooms — the light is super bright!
No chemicals, no insecticides, just a bright light and a sticky trap that stop flying pests in their tracks.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
