Press and Testimonials

CLUSTER FLIES...Finally, A Solution

Inventor's Trap Takes Flight Out Of Cluster Fly

That's the main motivation behind a product that drew a lot of attention at the 13th annual Canadian International Farm Equipment Show this year.

The Cluster Buster, a flytrap for cluster flies, is the invention of Tom Clarke, president of Power Trap Inc. and a self-describe entrepreneurial inventor who lives near Orangeville, Ont. On 85 acres of land.

"It's quicksand for flies," said Clarke in front of his booth at the show, holding up a rectangular plastic tube, about 20 centimeters long, containing white plastic powder. After the files crawl or buzz through a slot on top, they hit the powder, sinking to the bottom.

"It's a very clean solution. It intercepts their flight path."

The Cluster Buster, which sells for $15, stood out among all the high-tech equipment at the show because it was decidedly low-tech, simple and relatively inexpensive compared to the big-ticket farm machinery displayed at hundreds of booths.

Bait not attractive.

Made from recycled pop bottles with biodegradable plastic powder, Clarke said the lightweight fly trap has been designed for the cluster fly because the insect, known scientifically as Pollenia Rudis, will not go after bait. It is a pest in rural communities across the country.

Slightly larger than a housefly, it hibernates in large numbers in rural homes.

Eight years ago, the idea for the fly trap come to Clarke when he saw a fly fall into some lightweight powder in his home. The fly quickly exhausted itself and was unable to move.

"It was inspired in the classic way. It was one of those Eureka things, this new concept in pest control," he said.

Powder as a trap is the mechanism behind his invention: the flies tire themselves out trying to get out of the powder and it coats their wings, feet and hairs, dehydrating them as they struggle. Its clogs their breathing apparatus. Stuck in the powder, they sink to the bottom and die.

In the unlikely event the files get out of the powder, there is a false ceiling in the tube that blocks the exit.

The cluster Buster eliminates buzzing because the powder muffles sound. It involves no sticky mess, no chemicals, no toxic pesticides and no odor.

With an adhesive backing, it attaches to windows, where the files congregate.

"We've got an attractive universal styling on this unit that completely hides the problem. Over 1000 flies can go into the trap and never be seen again," said Clarke.

Next on the list is a flytrap for use in barns, which would be larger than the version used in the home.

*(We do not use such words as "control" or "kill" to describe PowderTrap™ Technology, so as to preclude having this Un-Regulated, Mechanical Alternative fall under "Controlled Product" status."

Testimonials

Cluster Buster has proven itself over 8 seasons to be the only way to safely eliminate the Cluster Fly Problem - completely, all year 'round. We thought you might be interested in reading a few of the many testimonials we receive:

Just a comment on your "ClusterBuster"™..it works! Best flycatcher I've seen in years. No messing around with harsh chemicals, or those ugly disgusting sticky tapes. This product is a winner!

Thank you, Jim McLean                                        The Chalet Manitoulin Island

Hi,
Just a quick note to let you know how pleased we are with your product. We haven't had a fly in sight ever since we put up some of your traps. Quite an endorsement from folks who live in an old remodeled farmhouse deep in the woods of Maine. Many thanks! Mary and Lee

Hello, I'm wondering if you are still in the cluster buster business. If so,
I'm going to order another case for this fall. They are starting to come in
again. I purchased a case last fall and I couldn't believe how well those
traps work. Let me know the cost. Thanks, Sarah Boles

“This morning the second – not the minute but the very second – I attached my first Cluster Buster™ to a window, a south-facing window, the Cluster Buster™ entrapped its first fly. Congratulations, and thank you, for inventing a much better fly trap. My home is regained – next, Easter weekend, the cottage !”
Best regards, J.R. Duncan,   Caledon, Ontario, Canada   PUBLIC SYSTEMS GROUP

We put ten Cluster Buster™ traps in our Vermont vacation home in October. What a difference they have made! We no longer spent the first hour we enter the house on weekends vacuuming up flies. Thank the genius who invented this product. We are spreading the news about Cluster Buster™ ! We will be ordering more traps in the future.
                                                            Ann F. Morgan

Dear Sirs:
We heard news of your wonderful windowsill gadget that catches flies, and drowns them in eggshell, from a CBC interview. We ordered twelve, for a large house at Ashburn. These have worked perfectly, and there are no flies in the house anymore. We were very very pleased, and would like to take this opportunity to thank you for a great invention. Hooray! No more cluster flies.
Sincerely, Aileen E. Roy Copper Cliff, ON

Dear sirs:

I have received and put into use the ten units you sent to me last week, the results are amazing.

The fly problem, that was so annoying, no longer exists. I truly believe your product has tremendous possibilities and would therefore request you send me your dealer information package so that I might review it, with the idea of adding it to our product line @ FUN PRODUCTS INC.

Your early attention to this matter would be appreciated.

Sincerely BILL CONGDON

Well Tom, if we had any doubts about your product....we certainly do not now. The flies were starting to gather in the windows of the house and yesterday afternoon we placed a trap in each window (11 in all) This morning there is not a body or a buzz to be seen or heard! The window sills are as clean as we left them yesterday. I thought we were going to have to close down our B & B business during cluster fly season so this is an absolutely phenomenal product you have developed. David is looking forward to talking to you later today ( if you have time)

Thank you! Norma Collis. Holly Cottage Owen Sound, ON

I purchased a case of your Cluster Buster Fly Traps a year ago and continue to keep them in one or two windows of our old farm house for the spring and fall seasons. What an amazing invention! Recently I discovered that these crazed flies had found a woodshed window that they loved even better than any window in the house so they were there by the thousands. I hated to use a Flytrap on such a window but the buzzing was literally driving me crazy so I stuck one there and within minutes the window was clear of flies so now I feel wonderful again! We just returned from the IPM in Navan and fully expected to see your company there. Did I miss you? If you weren't there then you missed a fabulous opportunity to advertise and sell this wonderful product.

                                                                                Lois Perth, ON

Help!!

We have recently discovered your incredible cluster fly trap - it is truly amazing!!! We have had, over the years, had cluster fly problems in our home during the late summer and early fall - problems which last year persisted into the winter. We came across your product a couple of months ago and decided to give it a try and we have been amazed at the results.
Unfortunately we bought up the limited supply in our area and now we are running out with nowhere to get additional traps for the winter. Could you please tell us who in our area (Kinmount Ontario) would have some in stock and, if there is no-one, could we buy direct?

Thanks for your help, Max Radiff

We recently purchased your "Cluster Buster"™ powder traps for our home in New York. We have been plagued by "Cluster Flies" for many years but have resisted the pesticide treatments provided by local pest control companies.

Following placement of the traps on our windows, the masses of cluster flies that were attracted to the windows began to disappear. My wife and I were amazed at the rapidity with which the flies disappeared into the PowderTraps™. Within 15 minutes all the flies on our four large windows were trapped with the "Cluster Buster"™ and no longer visible.

It is also very comforting to know that we do not have to be concerned with any pesticide residue since you do not use any chemical in your traps. Thanks again for your great invention.

Best wishes, John J. Kupa, Professor Emeritus, University of Rhode Island
ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. - Environmental Consultants

“In January we moved into an older home (close to 100 yrs old). True to my worst thoughts we soon found ourselves in a major cluster fly problem; especially in the upstairs bedrooms where they actually kept me awake at night. Luckily for my husband, he sleeps through anything and never hears them. They drove me insane!

While reading the Farm & Country magazine at work one day I came across the ad for “Cluster Buster”™ fly traps that were being shown at the farm shows. Although they sounded much too good to be true, I called to order some, received them in the mail shortly afterward, and put them up that night. Within 24 hours the problem was cleared up! In all honesty, I don’t understand why they work, or how, and I don’t care. What it comes down to is that they are simple to use, are far from being ugly like sticky fly papers, hold tons more flies than sticky paper, and WORK! Since placing my original order, I have ordered more for the downstairs as well. Thank you for finding a solution to a very annoying problem.”

Best regards, Jenn Cousineau, Elmira, Ontario

Hi Tom,

I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that your fly traps are wonderful!

I have a 120 year old schoolhouse which we use on the weekends and this is the first year I haven't had to spend hours vacuuming windows and floors every time we arrive. We normally use a mosquito netting over the bed to keep the flies from driving us crazy at night, and we haven't had to bother this year. We still have the odd fly buzzing around, but for the most part, they are now under control. The traps even seem to work on moths that get in at night. It's truly AMAZING!

Now if I could only find something that works on the clusters of ladybugs that we seem to be plagued with this year, everything would be perfect!!

Thanks again! Will be recommending your product to family and friends...

Shari in Toronto

A few weeks ago I ordered 4 fly traps to see if your claims were true. THEY ARE!!!!

I placed two of the traps in our office and two in our home, NO MORE FLIES!!!!
Within hours of putting up the units, there was peaceful silence, no more buzzing.
I wish I had found these wonderful traps a lot sooner.

Last week I ordered a case of these amazing traps, so that all the people I keep raving to can also enjoy a fly free environment. They may seem a trifle expensive at first, but they are well worth it.

I was also surprised by how fast my orders came through. It is nice to see a Canadian company doing a great job.

Thanks again for a great product and great service too!

Sue Forsythe                                                                                             Pickering, ON

Dear Mr. Clarke:
We are writing to let you know that your invention of the Powder Trap™ has made an enormous difference in our lives. We have a farm in Dummer Township in Ontario and an unrelenting problem with cluster flies. The flies were so numerous that we had to vacuum them from the windows and/or floors and constantly clean the glass, the blinds and the woodwork. They were a problem in every room including the bedrooms where they would cluster together in the corners of the ceiling and hang about in the curtains, leaving behind their dirt specks on the material.

We tried fly papers (only slightly effective) but disgusting to look at, an electric fly zapper while we were away in the city (perfectly horrible in the kitchen). We tried several makes of vacuums - from dustbusters that were not strong enough to cope; to 2 electric brooms and other more powerful hand held vacuums. No amount of vacuuming, sweeping or washing of floors, glass or woodwork made the slightest difference. When guests come, we were even more vigilant.

Last Spring we started using the Powder Traps™ which we have put on just about every window in the farmhouse. The cluster flies fly into them and they do not come out again. There is no noise and our windows are virtually clear even on bright sunny days when before the flies would be living on the inside of the glass inside our rooms. There are no more dirt specks on the curtains, windows and woodwork and we are no longer sweeping and vacuuming up cluster flies daily. In the past it was more than once a day.

It is truly pleasant now to live in our farm house. We can now invite guests to join us in a clean environment - and we do not worry that the flies will be all over the kitchen windows, floors, or buzz the lights when we read at night. All of this change is due entirely to the Powder Traps™. The fact is, they work!

We look forward to seeing a good stock of Powder Traps™ in stores across Canada.

Sincerely, Michael Pitman and Ruth Pitman                                               Warsaw, Ontario

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