Today's market has hundred's of different brand name baits and attractants. All of these brands fall into 1 of 2 categories: chemical or natural.

Chemical –

The largest segment of the market uses a chemical based attractant called pheromone or sex lure. This compound emits a scent given off by the female fly.

Chemical based attractants are attractive to purchasers due to its packaging (easy dispensing) and shelf life. There is no mixing to be done by consumers, either.

However, there are some definite dis-advantages of using chemical attractants (especially those which use the chemical pheromone).

1. Female Flies are not attracted to pheromone, only males.

2. There is not one chemical product that will attract all fly species.

3. There is a small time window (first 6 days of their life) where male flies would be attracted to the female fly smell. After the first 6 days, male flies do not reproduce.

4. Resistance, as discussed previously, is also a complex problem associated with chemical management of insects.

5. Extremely foul chemical odor is associated with most chemical-based attractants.

Natural –

Until recently, commercial natural baits consisted of sugars, yeast and alcohol. The mixtures come in different measurements and proved semi -successful.

The single most advantageous property of natural attractants is, it is considered a food source for flies, not just a sex lure. Flies are constantly searching for food sources. Fly Banquet (food attractant) attracts both the male & female flies.

The biggest downfall of natural attractants is the repugnant odors, messy mixing and clean up.  Fly Banquet does not have a bad chemical odor.