h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Never swat the spot where the fly is, it'll be too quick for you. Instead, clap hands four inches above fly. It'll see the approaching hands and shoot upwards, little knowing that you have anticipated this evasive tactic and that it is speeding towards its doom. Next week: making sandwich spread from household insects.

Another technique I have found enjoyable is the stalk and snatch. Follow the fly around the room and try to grab it out of the air. Not nearly as effective as the Clap of Death, but more of a time killer. Also a multiplayer game. Kill/escape ratio about 4 out of 10 dead. But If dead flies were the only goal here, a can of spray poison would be favorite.

Boy, you fellas are in for a rough time next life.

Ever tried stalking them with a ruler and a box of elastic bands?... great sport.

JTG

Try killing them with a pea-shooter and small rolled balls of foil-paper. It will keep you busy for hours, exercises your lungs,
and best of all, keep you busy for days picking up all the ammunition from the floor.

This isn't about time wasting - sometimes it's about mental and / or physical survival.

The best method I have found is to: -
1. wait until they stop moving - be a little patient it won't take long

2. whack them

Gets 'em nearly every time.

Nicely put together JTG

One method - I have not tried for years is to tie five or six eleastic bands together - take aim and ping. This is an advance on you method JTG as it has a quick repeater action and you dont have to pick up all those loose elastic bands afterwards. Happy hunting.
vegiman

Letting geckos or anoles loose in your home can also be fun. These small lizards are great stalkers. And they stick to the walls. Not as personal, but great as a spectator sport. Only drawback is if you have a cat it will try to kill the lizards.

I don't think my other half would agree with you - I'll stick to the elastic bands

when i'm not pig sticking i sleep with my prided fly swat, for privy tis the only true method of fly extermination. I stalk, i swat, i maim, i kill. What can i say?

Get a bottle of some sweet alcoholic beverage. Drink it down until there is about an inch left in the bottle, then leave the bottle where the flies are. There are two theories that account for what happens next. The first is that flies are stupid, and after being attracted to the bottle by the sweet smell they can't find their way out and drown. The second theory is that they get drunk and drown. At any rate, you get a bottle of dead flies.

I did once witness someone hunt a fly down with a baking tray and a large knife. I think luck rather than skill played the biggest part but he managed to cut it in half in mid-air.

That sounds like fun. Maybe with some other kitchen implements? How about with a cheese grater? Or a garlic press? Could that work? Why am I asking so many questions? What does this mean?

Lacking a can of spray poison, I once sprayed Dettox in the air, the fly flew through it and dropped to the ground, where it wiggled. I then finshed it off with a drop of Dettol. I think I disinfected it's exo-skeleton. I don't remember why I was carrying these instruments of death with me at the time, but it was nonetheless effective.

Watching a dog trying to snap flies from the air is usally interesting for a minute or two.

The dog is trying to catch the fly so it can be used, still buzzing, to itch that bit by his bumhole.


AG

What a horrible thought - I think I will fly off that subject
vegiman

You notice the dog ignores a beetle flying by as he knows that it will just skid over the surface on it's wing cases.

AG

MMMmm - no I havn't noticed that before - but then I am not studied dogs as much as you - perhaps you should write an article about them

veg

Perhaps an article on bad habits, I am by no means an expert on canines!

AG

Sounds good to me - let me know when you have done it - I'll pop over and have a look see.
vegiman