You might have noticed transparent bags filled with something hanging by the doors or windows of some buildings. The burning question is: What are they for and what’s inside them? No, it’s not related to birds, like the old trick of using CDs to scare pigeons. Although if that’s what you’re thinking, you’re not entirely off track.
These hanging bags contain water, that’s it. Their purpose is to keep away a particular nuisance during summer: flies. People hang these bags outside their homes and businesses as a means to clear the space of flies. But then another question arises: Does it work? And how?
There are several versions of the water bag practice. Some believe the bag should contain floating aluminum foil balls; others swear by dropping a small coin inside, but that’s not the end of the story.
Understanding the Theory
Flies buzz around us most of the time, but what they are truly fond of are germ havens: trash bins, wet and dirty ground corners, animal feces, and even carcasses. This is why it’s a big concern if we see them around our food during a pool day (or anywhere, anytime, because they’re always around). Because of this behavior, flies aren’t just annoying; they also carry diseases.
Getting rid of them can be the most exhausting routine during these months, even if we try all the tricks we know, seek new ones, or rely on store-bought solutions. They just keep coming. So, how could a single bag achieve the impossible?
Those who vouch for this homemade method suggest that flies perceive the clear liquid as a body of water’s surface. Others claim the insect flies away upon seeing its magnified reflection. Interestingly, the most popular rationale among entomologists is the simple refraction of light.
Refraction Could Be the Key
Refraction occurs when a clear or opaque object, like a piece of glass or a water bag, alters the direction and speed of light. Rays of light, which usually travel in a straight line, bend. This effect is behind some optical illusions, like mirages, which can even confuse us humans, making it plausible that it confounds smaller creatures, even insects.
Flies have two eyes, and each eye is made up of thousands of highly sensitive smaller eyes allowing them to see in multiple directions simultaneously, like in a mosaic pattern. Given this, experts believe that these insects orient themselves based on the direction from which sunlight comes. Some entomologists suggest that when these complex, sensitive eyes experience refracted light, the insect becomes disoriented and flies away.
However, there are no proven studies on the specific effectiveness of this method, but you can always try it and see the results for yourself. Can you imagine a fly-free home?
You might have noticed transparent bags filled with something hanging by the doors or windows of some buildings. The burning question is: What are they for and what’s inside them? No, it’s not related to birds, like the old trick of using CDs to scare pigeons. Although if that’s what you’re thinking, you’re not entirely off track.
I was an intern at the editorial office. When I saw their ad for a freelancer, I decided to come back. I’m a fan of series and movies, I spend my weekends at the cinema and my nights in front of Netflix