Terro spider and insect traps come as flat cardboard sheets with pre-scored fold lines and a sticky glue surface protected by a peel-off backing. Folding one takes about 30 seconds once you know where the creases go. Here’s exactly how to do it, plus when you might want to skip folding entirely.
How to Fold the Trap
Remove the trap from its packaging and lay it flat with the printed side facing up. You’ll see scored lines running across the cardboard, creating panels that form the walls and roof of the finished box shape.
Peel off the protective backing paper to expose the sticky glue surface on the inside. Do this before folding, since it’s much easier to remove the backing while the trap is still flat. Try not to touch the glue with your fingers.
Fold along each scored line so the sticky surface ends up on the inside of the enclosure. The panels should bend easily at the creases. Once folded, tuck the tab into the corresponding slot to lock the trap into its box shape. The finished trap will have six entry points along the sides where spiders and other insects can walk in and contact the glue board.
Folded vs. Flat: Which Setup to Use
You don’t have to fold these traps at all. Terro designs them to work in either configuration, and each has a clear advantage.
- Folded (enclosed box): Best if you have pets or small children. The box shape keeps the sticky surface hidden so curious fingers and paws won’t get stuck. It also keeps captured insects out of sight, which is a plus if that bothers you.
- Flat (open): Exposes more sticky surface area, which can catch more insects. Use this setup in areas pets and kids can’t access, like behind appliances, inside cabinets, or in a sealed attic space.
If you’re placing traps in a basement where your dog roams, fold them. If you’re sliding one under a heavy appliance where nothing but bugs will find it, lay it flat.
Where to Place the Traps
Spiders follow insects, and insects follow walls. Place traps flush against baseboards, in corners, behind doors, and underneath furniture. The most productive spots tend to be kitchens, under sinks, behind toilets, inside cabinets, basements, and attics. Any area where you’ve seen spider activity or webbing is worth a trap.
Push the trap snugly against the wall or into the corner rather than leaving it out in the open. Spiders and crawling insects travel along edges, so a trap sitting in the middle of a room won’t catch much.
How the Traps Catch Spiders
The standard Terro spider trap (T3206) uses a non-toxic sticky glue with a synthetic, non-allergenic scent. There are no pesticides or pheromones involved. Insects wander in through the entry points and get stuck. Spiders then follow because they’re hunting those same insects, and they get stuck too.
Terro also makes a refillable version with a food-based lure that releases moisture inside the trap. Moisture attracts insects, and that version claims a catch rate 2.5 times higher than a standard glue board. The lure lasts about 30 days before it needs replacing.
When to Replace a Trap
Check your traps every week or two. Replace a trap when the glue surface is covered with insects and there’s little exposed sticky area left. Dust and debris also reduce effectiveness over time, even if the trap hasn’t caught much. In dusty environments like garages or basements, you may need to swap traps more frequently.
If you’re using the refillable version with the moisture lure, replace the lure every 30 days. The glue board itself still gets replaced whenever it’s full.
If the Glue Gets on Skin or Pet Fur
The adhesive is non-toxic but annoyingly sticky. If it gets on your hands, soak the area in warm soapy water for about 15 minutes, then massage vegetable oil, mineral oil, or baby oil around the edges of the glue. Give the oil a few minutes to break down the adhesive, then gently roll the glue away from your skin. Wash with soap and water afterward.
For pets, the process is similar but requires more patience. Prevent your pet from licking the glue or any oil you apply. Work vegetable or mineral oil into small sections of fur at a time using cotton pads or your fingers, letting the oil sit for several minutes before gently separating the fur from the adhesive. Don’t try to pull the trap off in one motion. Once free, wash the coat with mild soap to remove the oily residue.