Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Fruit Flies
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
September 3, 2009 at 12:48 am #592160
celeste17ParticipantHi all, I am having a problem with fruit flies. A neighbor gave me some plumbs that were a little to ripe and I now have fruit flies. How can I get rid of them.
September 3, 2009 at 12:57 am #676209
JayDeeParticipantI’d like to say you could–maybe if you have a fly trap or empty bottle and put a little vinegar in it? That way they are attracted to the vinegar but get trapped?
–
Or just laugh at this old joke:
“Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana.”
September 3, 2009 at 1:04 am #676210
hollyplaceParticipantI am usually against wasting wine, but I leave some red wine in a cup or a bottle our overnight. They are all dead in it in the morning.
September 3, 2009 at 1:17 am #676211
johnnyblegsMemberI second the wine method. Just leave it on the kitchen counter. Works well. Also, be sure to pour a little bleach down the sink – don’t rinse it down. Those little buggers like to hide out down there.
September 3, 2009 at 1:30 am #676212
celeste17ParticipantI don’t have any wine (or whine) but I will try some vinegar (red wine).
September 3, 2009 at 2:50 am #676213
herongrrrlParticipantThe wine or red wine vinegar traps should help. Even better if you can put a small funnel in whatever container you’re using, ‘cuz they aren’t too bright so they fly in the little opening and can’t figure out how to get out again.
If you have a nice sunny kitchen window, you might stop by Village Green nursery and see if they have any sundew plants for sale right now. They are carnivorous plants that do a fine job of taking out fruit flies, and you can also use the gooey leaves for first aid like you would use aloe vera.
September 3, 2009 at 3:44 am #676214
shannonMemberWe use: 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup water, and a couple drops of dawn dish soap swished around a little. I have caught dozens this way!
September 3, 2009 at 3:25 pm #676215
CMPParticipantI agree with pouring vinegar or wine in a cup, then taping a paper funnel around the edges so that they can’t get out. The flies can’t find a way out and end up drowning. It looks ridiculous on the kitchen counter but it worked for me last summer and I was having the worst fruit fly problem ever. A bit of bleach down the drain will also work.
September 3, 2009 at 4:09 pm #676216
celeste17ParticipantWell I tried the red wine vinegar in a soda bottle with a funnel last night and I still have the flies. They are circling the bottle but not going in. Now I am using a plastic funnel does that make a difference. And I am using straight vinegar does that make a difference? I left it out last night near where they have been circling (near the stove).
September 3, 2009 at 4:16 pm #676217
cclarueMemberIve used a glass with balsamic vinegar and a paper funnel and caught tons of the little pests.
September 3, 2009 at 4:32 pm #676218
WesCAddleMemberWe’ve always found that once you remove all of the fruit from our countertops (placed in the frig) they tend to dissipate pretty quickly. Just make sure you don’t have anything that will attract them and they won’t hang around for long.
September 3, 2009 at 4:39 pm #676219
johnnyblegsMemberBalsamic would work better than straight vinegar. They dig on the sugar.
September 3, 2009 at 4:43 pm #676220
MargLMemberLast year when it got particularly bad I’d get out the vacuum hose and suck the little buggers up as they tried to fly away. Very satisfying!
I also set up a fly trap with a piece of plastic wrap over a small container with apple cider vinegar in the bottom. Poke a couple pencil holes in the top and put a rubber band around the edge so it’s tight. I have a little fruit fly graveyard going on right now…
September 3, 2009 at 4:47 pm #676221
WesCAddleMemberSeptember 3, 2009 at 5:00 pm #676222
hollyplaceParticipantMake sure you take away their food supply – fruit, potatoes, tomatoes so they have to look for food somewhere and you might try adding some sugar to the vinegar, couldn’t hurt.
September 3, 2009 at 5:42 pm #676223
HomerParticipantOne trick that I’ve always had work was slice off the top of a 2 liter soda bottle at the top, where the taper turns into the main cylindrical part of the bottle, then, invert this top into the remaining cylindrical tube. It’ll sit perfectly on top (in) and will form and inverted funnel. Then, just leave a bit of soda or whatever you’d like at the bottom (should be sugary or “fermenty”). Because of the long drop from the funnel to the liquid, they have to go down into it to get the “food”, as opposed to an open can that they can hover around the edges for little tastes….hope it works!
September 3, 2009 at 6:05 pm #676224
bsmommaParticipantI have a little clear glss bowl that I put a couple drops of dish soap in then run some warm water to make it bubbly. Add some Apple Cider Vinegar in it. They smell the vinegar and get trapped in the bubbles! Done! I have done this forever and it really does work. I tried to use regular white vinegar and it didn’t work at all. The red wine works too!
September 3, 2009 at 10:54 pm #676225
BayouMemberIt will definitely help to get rid of the source and give your kitchen a good scrubbing. Since it’s near the stove, you might want to make sure that you haven’t dropped anything down the side of the stove that’s attracting them. My kitchen composter is where I have the most issues, personally.
I take a glass and put either red wine or balsamic vinegar in the bottom and cover it with saran wrap. Then take a fork and poke holes in the wrap. The flies will get in and won’t be able to get out.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.