A formulation containing volatile attractants has been developed against pestiferous and disease-carrying flies—such as eye gnats, houseflies, blowflies, and flesh flies. The material, known as UC fly attractant, or Lursect, when mixed with standard fly killing toxicants, has shown considerable promise for the suppression of pest fly populations. The attractants show greatest activity when the preparation is dispensed on moist soil or other damp substrates. Efficacy is greatest when the production potential of flies is at a low to medium level. The attractant proved far superior to commercial fly baits against centric and pericentric populations of a number of species of synanthropic flies.