How to Use Yellow Sticky Traps: Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about placing, using and replacing Canuck Landing yellow sticky traps, plus how the fungus gnat life cycle works.
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Getting Started
What are yellow sticky traps and how do they work?
They're thin cards coated on both sides with a non-toxic adhesive. Many flying pests are attracted to bright yellow. When they land, they stick, which stops them from breeding and laying more eggs in your soil.
How do I set up a trap?
Peel the paper backing from both sides. Then push the pointed end into the soil, slide the trap onto a stake, hang it with a twist tie, or stand it in a glass of apple cider vinegar for fruit flies.
How many traps do I need?
Use 1 trap for a small or medium pot and 2 for a large pot or a heavy infestation. In a greenhouse, start with 1 trap every 1 to 2 metres of bench.
Where should I place them?
Put traps close to the plant and at the height where you see pests flying, usually just above the soil for fungus gnats and near the top of the plant for whiteflies. For taller plants, slide one or two traps onto a stake to raise them.
Can I use them indoors and outdoors?
Yes. They work in homes, kitchens, offices, grow towers and greenhouses. Outdoors, place them under a shield or inside a covered raised bed to protect birds and pollinators.
Can I cut the traps smaller?
Yes. Trim them with scissors to fit seed trays, small pots and terrariums.
Fruit Flies & Gnats
What pests do the traps catch?
Fungus gnats, fruit flies, whiteflies, winged aphids, thrips, leaf miners, shore flies and moth flies.
How do I catch fruit flies?
Pour 4 cm (1.5 in) of apple cider vinegar into a clear glass. Peel both sides of a trap and stand it in the glass, point down. Place it next to the fruit bowl or compost bin and leave it for 24 to 48 hours. The vinegar attracts the flies and the trap catches them.
How fast will I see results?
Most people see gnats on the trap within a day or two. A full infestation usually clears in 2 to 3 weeks as the remaining eggs hatch and adults are caught.
Why do I still see gnats after a week?
The traps catch adults, but larvae keep developing in damp soil. Let the top 2 to 3 cm of soil dry out between waterings, and keep the traps in place until no new gnats appear.
Where do fungus gnats come from?
They usually arrive in new plants or bags of potting mix and thrive in soil that stays wet, which is common in Canadian homes in winter.
The Fungus Gnat Life Cycle
Eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. Knowing each stage shows why catching adults with yellow sticky traps breaks the cycle.
Stage 1: Eggs. Where are fungus gnat eggs laid?
Female fungus gnats lay tiny, almost see-through eggs in the top few centimetres of damp potting soil, often a hundred or more at a time. They hatch within about 3 to 6 days. Letting the top 2 to 3 cm of soil dry out between waterings makes the soil far less inviting for egg-laying.
Stage 2: Larvae. Why are the larvae a problem?
Larvae are small, clear-bodied worms with shiny black heads. For roughly two weeks they feed on fungi, decaying matter and fine roots in the top layer of soil, which can leave seedlings and young plants wilting or yellowing. Use the mini shovel to gently loosen the top layer of soil and check for them when you repot.
Stage 3: Pupae. What happens in the pupa stage?
Fully grown larvae rest in the soil as pupae for about 3 to 5 days before emerging as flying adults. Pupae don't feed or move, so they're hard to spot. The key is to keep traps in place so the adults are caught as soon as they emerge.
Stage 4: Adults. How do sticky traps break the cycle?
Adult gnats live about a week, stay close to the soil and lay the next batch of eggs within days. Yellow sticky traps catch adults before they can breed. A full cycle takes about 3 to 4 weeks, which is why keeping traps out for 2 to 3 weeks clears most infestations.
Safety
Are the traps safe around children and pets?
They contain no pesticides, poisons or scents. They are still sticky and a potential choking hazard if chewed, so place traps where children and pets can't touch, chew or get stuck to them.
Do the traps leave residue on plants or counters?
No. Nothing is sprayed or released, so there's no residue on leaves, soil, food or surfaces.
Will the traps harm bees or other beneficial insects?
Indoors, no. Outdoors, yellow can attract beneficial insects, so shield the traps, keep them away from flowering plants, and focus on areas with high pest activity.
What if a trap sticks to skin, fur or hair?
Rub a little vegetable or olive oil into the area to loosen the adhesive, then wash with warm, soapy water.
What makes the traps eco-friendly?
They control pests with colour and adhesive instead of chemical pesticides, and each trap keeps working until its surface is full.
Care & Replacement
How long does a trap last?
Each trap keeps working until its surface is covered. Check traps every 2 weeks and replace them when full or when dust reduces stickiness.
Do the traps work in humid or sunny spots?
Yes. They're UV-resistant and water-resistant, so they hold up near bright windows and in humid greenhouses.
How do I dispose of a used trap?
Fold it in half with the sticky sides together and place it in household garbage.
How should I store unused traps?
Keep them in their pack, in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
Buying
Where can I buy Canuck Landing traps?
Online on Amazon.ca and Walmart.ca, and on the shelves of 300+ garden centres, grocery and hardware stores across Canada, including Minter Gardening, Calgary Co-op, Plant Shop Calgary, Plant Plant Shop and Spruce It Up Garden Centre.
What's included in each pack?
20 dual-sided yellow sticky traps in butterfly and flower shapes, twist ties, 2 plant stakes and a mini shovel.
Who handles shipping and returns?
Orders placed on Amazon.ca or Walmart.ca are shipped and supported by that retailer. Check your orders in your Amazon.ca or Walmart.ca account for the fastest help.
Can I order in bulk or wholesale?
Yes. See our Bulk Orders and Wholesale pages, or call (587) 377-0255.
Still Have a Question?
Call us at (587) 377-0255 or send a message and our team will get back to you.