The mechanism is brutally simple: A fly lands on the strip, attracted by the scent. As it walks, its tarsi (the sticky pads on its feet) become entangled in the glue. A fly’s cleaning instinct is its downfall; the more it struggles and attempts to groom itself, the more of its body comes into contact with the adhesive. Within seconds, the fly is immobilized, eventually dying of exhaustion or starvation.
At its core, flypaper is an adhesive-based trap designed to capture flying insects, specifically houseflies. Modern versions typically consist of a long strip of paper, plastic, or ribbon coated with a non-drying, pressure-sensitive adhesive. This adhesive is often infused with an attractant—usually a sweet-smelling substance like sucrose, fructose, or a pheromone lure—to draw flies in for a meal they will never leave. Flypaper