Platform Decks

How do the hanging plastic baggies of water on restaurant patios repel flies?

I'm told that the baggies of water hanging overhead on the patios of a couple of my favorite restaurants serve to repel flies. How can this possibly work?

Public Comments

1. Never heard of this myself. Try reading these: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_diseases_pests_insects/article/0,,hgtv_3580_1381705,00.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericrice/29537376/ http://stellamacaroni.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/shoo-fly-shoo/ http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Flies-Out-of-Your-House
2. I've never tried it myself but hear that this is moderately common in the rural South. Supposedly, the play of light as the breeze moves the baggie is supposed to be repellant to the flies.
3. Ask what chemicals they put into the water.