Fruit flies

[Sillybloss]

Ok, does anyone have tips on getting rid of fruit flies? We seem to have brought home some in a bunch of bananas and they have taken over our house! I removed all exposed fruit and I have no idea what they are living on, but they seem to constantly be multiplying and I can't eat my salad in peace! Despite being completely against poisons, I'm ready to bomb the house!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!

[JennaBoBenna]

Oh gosh! I know how you feel! I hope someone will have good tips, sorry that I don't :(

[TA]

A suggestion in a recent post here (sorry I don't remember who posted it) was to put some apple cider vinegar in an open jar on the counter top...the flies go in for a sip and perish. I've tried it a few times and it works pretty well.

HTH

[Janet]

A jar, a piece of banana or fruit and a coned piece of paper are all you need.

It completely works, because the flies fly in for the banana, and can't get out. They're trapped.

http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/images/frtfltrp.gif

I've used this type for years.

[Boysenberry]

We used those sticky fly traps that you hang on the ceiling and unwind. We hung one up and put all our fruit in the fridge for a couple of days. No more flies.

[JennaBoBenna]

Thanks! I'm trying the apple cider vinegar and the paper cone methods now!

[Janet]

The sticky fly traps or tape are laden with chemicals and adhesives.

Not only that, the occasional insect can get away and spread the chemicals directly to a food.

Yuck!

The cone method really works.

[Boysenberry]

eewww. :eek: Thanks for telling us.

[Janet]

eewww. :eek: Thanks for telling us.

LOL love that smilie!
Sorry BBerry

[blessed]

;) We were so overrun with them and then we started to wash every piece of fruit that we brought into the house, right then and there before we put a piece out we washed it in warm water and dryed it off and then we noticed that the number of fruit flies were dropping. Now we can live in peace.
Now keep check on them because they ripen quickly and if you have a stray fly her/she will be attracted to it and your problems can start again.
Every now and then I keep check and rewash the fruit just in case the sweet odor bring them back around.

Hope this helps, it certainly did make a difference in our home.
Ann :cool:

[FreshAir]

When I got invaded with them, I took the advice I found on this forum. I just put 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup or so of water, and 1 or 2 drops of dishwashing liquid in a small bowl. I set it by the bananas, and within a couple of days, they were gone. I don't have too much trouble with them since it's gotten cold. I noticed at the store this summer, the fruit flies would really come out when I picked up a bunch of bananas. Ick!!

[Sillybloss]

Thank you so much, everyone, for your very helpful advice! Since I live in Southern California, we don't have the chill that other parts of the country have so these things seem to survive well into the winter! I'm going to set up my cone and apple cider traps right now.....I can't wait for peace to rein again in my home!!!!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[vegggeeemom]

Yes, definitely use the apple cider vinegar. I was told about that by someone else, and passed that on to a few people here.

It really does work. If you are infested with them, make sure to put alot of jars around! They will be gone in days.

We had a TON of them this summer and I put about 5-6 jars out with some apple cider vinegar in them and with in 3 days they were all gone.

That stuff works wonders!

Hope you get rid of those pesky things! :)

Pam

[jaurequi]

Janet, regarding your cone, does it involve the injury or death of the insects? As a vegan, I'm interested in a method that does not harm.
If it doesn't, do you let the insects outside?
Thanks.

Best,

[Sillybloss]

Here's an update! First, I put a bowl of apple cider vinegar out. They swarmed around immediately! No wonder they were swarming me and my salad (I use apple cider vinegar in my dressing)! However, I wasn't sure if that would do enough, so I added the apple cider vinegar to the jar with the banana piece in it (a double whammy!) and then put the paper cone in to make a trap. This morning, they were not all gone, but most were inside the two cone traps I set. The rest that were flying about looking little - probably newly hatched (from where I don't even want to think about).

Ooooooo.....I'm so excited to be rid of them!!!

BTW, Jaurequi, many in my jar were dead from the apple cider vinegar, but if you just use a banana in the jar with the cone, I'm sure they'd survive. Then you could just let them out outside. However, with the chill at night, I'm not sure they'd survive out there. Just letting you know!

[Sharon in Colorado]

I've had much success with scattering bay leaves around and in my fruit bowl.

[Janet]

In my own experience, ACV works but kills many.

The cone situation (bananas work best) tends to leave the little buggers alive and trapped between the jar and cone.

I let them outside, although at this time of year, they're doomed no matter what.

I'm not eating them or living with them. They either die in the cold (although they don't live outside in warmth either unless there is produce around) or they are otherwise disposed of.

Life is messy. We have choices. Sometimes, some things cannot be saved.

I find the cone more efficient in the long run, regardless of disposal.

Best
Janet

[jaurequi]

Sharon In Colorado, that's interesting; I didn't know bay leaves worked for fruitflies. They worked, somewhat, when I had those pantry moths flying out of my cupboards :) (Cedar blocks doused with extra essential oil of cedar works great to repel them too.) I'll have to try that; though I don't find them so bothersome, really -- they go away pretty quickly. And I usually put my fruit underglass or cover them and that works. It's good to have options though; and I like the preventative aspect of bay leaves.

I don't feel letting out insects is sending them to their death anymore than letting loose a mouse caught in a humane trap.


Thanks for your responses.

Best,

[Janet]

I don't feel letting out insects is sending them to their death

.


It is when the temperature is sub-zero and not fit for man, beast, nor teeny weeny fruit fly. :D

[MIKEMERTZ]

I'm going to go out on a limb here...why not just put the fruit in the refrigerator? My guess would be the fridge would be bad for enzymes or the taste of the fruit?