How do you make flea traps? - briefly
Prepare a shallow container, fill it with warm water, add a few drops of dish soap, and position a bright cloth or light over the rim to attract fleas. The insects jump toward the light, fall into the soapy water, and become trapped.
How do you make flea traps? - in detail
To build an effective flea capture device, gather the following items: a shallow plastic container (e.g., a 2‑liter soda bottle), a piece of white cardstock or paper, a small lamp or LED light, and a sticky adhesive (commercial flypaper or double‑sided tape). Optionally, add a few drops of dish soap to water for a liquid lure.
- Cut the bottle in half horizontally. Keep the top portion, including the neck, and invert it so the opening faces downward, forming a funnel.
- Place the inverted top inside the bottom half, aligning the edges to create a sealed chamber.
- Line the interior walls of the chamber with the sticky adhesive, ensuring coverage from the funnel rim to the base.
- Position the white cardstock at the bottom of the chamber; fleas are attracted to light-reflective surfaces and will jump toward it.
- Fill a shallow dish with warm water mixed with a few drops of dish soap and set it beneath the funnel. The moisture and scent draw fleas upward, while the soap reduces surface tension, causing them to sink and drown.
- Install the lamp or LED light above the trap, directing illumination toward the white surface. Fleas move toward the light, increasing capture rates.
Deploy the trap in areas where flea activity is observed: along baseboards, under pet bedding, or near furniture legs. Leave the device in place for 24‑48 hours, then dispose of captured insects by sealing the trap in a plastic bag and discarding it. Clean the container, replace adhesive, and repeat the process weekly until flea presence diminishes. Adjust placement and light intensity based on observed activity to maximize efficiency.