Matamoscas

For other uses of this term, see Dittrichia viscosa.

A fly swatter is a hand-held instrument to forcefully strike flies and other insects (such as mosquitoes and moths). The modern fly swatter generally consists of a small square (usually about 10 centimeters) of lightweight and flexible material with gratings, usually of lightweight rubber or plastic, attached to a shovel or light wire about 30 centimeters long. The grate shovel allows the fly swatter to move more quickly through the air, making it easier to hit a fast target like a fly. The grids also allow the fly-swatter to get close enough to the fly before being detected by the fly, since flies can detect the change in air pressure caused by a solid object approaching. Thanks to this grid, the flywheel gets close enough to the fly so that when it can detect it by sight or by changing the pressure of the air or too late to escape.

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