Is your fruit basket constantly invaded by pests? You know those little brown insects that you often mistake for mosquitoes. In fact, they are “fruit flies”. In absolute terms, these little creatures are harmless, they won’t bite you, if that’s what you’re worried about. But, truth be told, they are extremely annoying as they gather in masses around your fruit and can transmit diseases. Enough to whet your appetite!
Trap number 1: Apple cider vinegar and dishwashing liquid
To say goodbye to fruit flies , here is a first trap that is simple to make, but powerful. As an added bonus, it won’t cost you much: you probably already have apple cider vinegar and dish soap at home.
How to do it?
- Take a jar, pour in some cider vinegar and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Mix the two ingredients well and cover the container with a sheet of aluminium foil.
- Next, use a pin to poke small holes in the sheet, just big enough for the flies to pass through.
- Next, secure the foil with the ring on the jar lid, but do not screw it on completely. Attach another piece of foil to this ring with a rubber band. Carefully poke holes in this part as well (there should be a small gap between the first and second layer of foil).
- But be careful not to drill additional holes in the inside of the foil. You should avoid having the holes line up with each other, otherwise more fruit flies might get out.
For your information
Why is this method effective?
Simply because fruit flies are attracted to the smell of fermentation. And they happen to love the fermented aroma of cider vinegar. So the idea is to bait them with this ingredient that they love and once in the jar they won’t be able to get out easily, due to the layers of aluminum foil . Once trapped inside, as long as you don’t remove the lid, they won’t have much chance to escape. And dish soap also helps kill them faster.
Tip: If your trap isn’t working the way you want, add more fruit-flavored soap.
Trap No. 2: Plastic bottle
This other popular method involves creating a trap from a plastic bottle. You’ll see, it’s easy to make yourself.
How to do it?
- Make some small holes in the lid of a soda or mineral water bottle (2 liters).
- Screw the cap back on, cut off the top third of the bottle and set it aside. Pour an attractive bait into the bottom of the bottle, such as cider vinegar, fruit juice, wine or beer.
- Next, flip the top of the bottle over and place it upside down with the cap pointing downwards like a funnel.
- Seal around the top of the bottle with tape to hold it securely.
- All you have to do is place your trap near where fruit flies tend to congregate.
For your information
Why is this method effective?
Same principle, these insects will follow their sense of smell straight to this trap. Fruit flies will be attracted like a magnet to the sweet, vinegary liquid. They will therefore be able to slip inside easily, but the funnel shape will prevent them from escaping. And voila, they are completely blocked here! The advantage of this method is that you won’t have to worry about cleaning. You can throw away the bottle and make another trap.
Trap No. 3: Cone and paper jar
Our last technique is also not complicated to perform. To catch these pests, you will simply need a paper cone and a jar.
How to do it?
- Form a paper cone with a small hole in the bottom. You should insert it into the jar, but make sure it doesn’t completely touch the bottom. It doesn’t matter if the cone is much larger than the container. In fact, the sides of the cone and the edge of the jar should form a sort of seal without any gaps.
- Tape the side of the paper cone to hold its shape and set it aside.
- Next, take some leftover fruit and place it in the bottom of the jar. Even apple or banana peels will work.
- Finally, place the paper cone in place and glue it around the jar to seal it well.
For your information
Why is this method effective?
The zest and fruit scraps integrated into this trap will irresistibly attract small flies. Especially if they are very juicy, such as pineapple for example, one of their favourite fruits apparently. Combining the size of the small entrance of the trap with the shape created by the paper cone will make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to find their way back to the exit. Bet wins!
Important: Be careful not to widen the hole in the paper cone too much, otherwise the flies will have trouble getting in and out.
Note : If you find that these homemade traps don’t work as well as you would have liked, there is still the option of purchasing commercial traps from stores. That said, in terms of efficiency, they are all equal. But maybe you have a real home invasion. In which case, it’s good to take all options!
Practical advice: steps to take to anticipate an invasion of fruit flies
Now that you have the best traps to combat fruit flies in your hands, you will feel very relieved to eradicate this problem at home. At least temporarily. Because, if the threat is recurrent, it would also be good to take certain precautions to anticipate this invasion and stop it at its source.
Keep in mind that these homemade traps will only be truly effective if you establish good habits on a daily basis. Here are some of them:
- Wash and refrigerate food when you bring it home (because fruit flies are often transported inside produce). Tell yourself that the longer you let it ripen at room temperature, the more these pests will attract it. Not to mention that fly eggs, deposited on the surface, can quickly hatch and transform into adult flies.
- As much as possible, avoid leaving your juice, wine or beer glasses out in the open. Also remember to always rinse bottles thoroughly before recycling them. If they are not washed properly, even the slightest residue could attract fruit flies.
- Make sure you don’t leave food scraps on the kitchen counter, in the sink or on the dining room table. And if you have a compost bin, check if it’s leak-proof and empty it regularly.
- Empty trash cans more frequently to avoid a buildup of waste. Make sure to always close them tightly with their lids. And clean them thoroughly to avoid attracting pests.
- Clean your kitchen sink drain and garbage disposal frequently to prevent the buildup of rotting food debris. Tell yourself that this is a favorable breeding ground for fruit flies.
- To get rid of them, it is always wiser to detect the source of these fruit flies. However, they should not be confused with traditional flies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest method to get rid of fruit flies?
Keeping fruit flies away is not a natural thing. You will need to maximize your efforts – hygiene and sanitation are your watchwords. First, you need to identify and try to eliminate potential sources of fruit flies. So remove anything that might attract them and store the fruit properly. From there, these unwanted people will start to disappear. Of course, traps can speed up the process by blocking any remaining flies.
Which bait attracts fruit flies the most?
First of all, the good news is that they aren’t hard to attract. They are irresistibly drawn to fruits that are already ripe (or even rotten) and anything that smells like fermentation. They also love cider vinegar, leftover juicy fruit, and pineapple peels.
Why are there fruit flies in my bathroom?
Fruit flies are usually most visible in the kitchen or any other area where fermented foods are present. If it’s near the bathroom, you might find some there as well. But, if you notice a persistent presence in that area of the house, then they are probably “drain flies.” They can be easily confused with fruit flies. However, these insects are distinguished by their powdery, moth-like appearance with feather-like antennae.
Is baking soda a good way to get rid of fruit flies?
Of course, if your drains are regularly cleaned and hygienic, you will be able to control the problem more and you will be less likely to notice the presence of fruit and drain flies. There is actually a practical remedy to combat the parasites: 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of salt and 1 cup of vinegar. This is the ideal solution to clean your pipes frequently and kill drain fly larvae at the same time. It is very simple to apply: pour the mixture overnight and let it sit slowly. The next day, pour boiling water down the drain. You will notice a clear difference! A tip: if you clean your pipes regularly, the fly problem will be a distant memory.
Do these traps also work on other pests?
These traps primarily target fruit flies, but they can also attract other insects like mosquitoes, for example. That said, there are still plenty of simple, all-natural solutions to repel other flying insects like fungus gnats and drain flies. Since all pest species are different, pest control should be tailored to each one.
