Fruit Flies!

[kristalsnow7]

I went away for a long weekend, and came back to a kitchen full of fruit flies. I thew away the grape tomatoes they seemed to be snacking on, but they are still around. I've read some old threads on this subject, but wondered if anyone has any tried and true method of getting rid of them? I don't want to use bug spray.

Thanks!

[sneezles]

Putting a jar of vinegar and some dish detergent, covered with plastic wrap and tiny holes poked in the wrap, on the counter will attract and drowned them. Then at night pour 1/2 cup of amonia down the drain in the kitchen (or bathroom if you see them in there). Leave the drain to sit until morning and then flush with water. Sometimes fruit flies will breed in the drain if there is no fruit for them to breed on.

[cindyluwho]

You might also try making a paper funnel and attaching that securely to a plastic or glass jar with a yeast sludge in it (mix some yeast with water until runny), or you could try a piece of banana peel. Make the funnel such that the hole is only about 1/4 inch in diameter. The flies hone their way into the jar by smell, but cannot usually find their way out of the hole to escape. This is essentially the sort of "trap" that people use in fruit fly labs. When you've caught all the flies, I would toss the whole thing. It gets yucky!

[cindyluwho]

P.S.--If you do it the way I suggested, I would recommend not keeping the jar around for more than about a week and a half. If by chance some of the flies manage to survive and reproduce in the jar, then by about day 11 or so after egg laying, the pupae will hatch and emerge as new flies. I've never tried what sneezles suggested, but it seems like it might be a bit less messy.

[mcraig13]

I bought this fruit fly trap thingie from a catalog--Gardeners Supply or something like that. It was not terribly expensive and has been doing the trick for longer than it was supposed to. It sets next to the compost pot.

[sunberst]

Originally posted by sneezles
Sometimes fruit flies will breed in the drain if there is no fruit for them to breed on.

thank you, thank you, thank you! i recently saw a few fruit flies & got really grossed out. i do not even have any fresh fruit in the house except for a few lemons in the fridge! they seemed to be hanging out in the kitchen sink, and i was wondering where they came from. i thought it was because i left a few dirty dishes in the sink overnight- i do not normally do that. i only saw a few, but i plan on pouring some amonia down there anyways just in case.

[sneezles]

Those little buggers don't need fruit, anything with sugar or yeast will attract them! And they won't survive in the cold refrigerator. Good luck with them. If the ammonia doesn't seem to do the trick on its own then slowly pour a small amount of veggie oil in the drain after the ammonia...it helps drown the suckers !

[kristalsnow7]

Thank you so much for all the suggestions. I left early yesterday and didn't get a chance to read the responses until today. Last night I poured some red wine into a few glasses, covered with plastic wrap, and poked a slit in it. This morning I found a bunch of dead flies in the wine, but there are still some more flying around. I didn't even think about the drain, but that completely makes sense to me! I really want to go to the farmer's market and get some fresh flowers and peaches, but I can't until these things die. :mad: Then I will probably get some more. I'm going to try the vinegar solution tonight, and pour some ammonia down the drain, too. I also like the idea of the funnel with the yeast. Very clever!

Thanks!