Can’t get rid of fruit flies in the house? You’re not alone! These tiny pests can be a major nuisance. At flyermedia.net, we’ll show you effective strategies to eliminate fruit flies. Discover proven methods and expert advice to reclaim your home. Get rid of fruit flies with these home remedies, pest control techniques, and prevention tips.
1. What Exactly Are Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies are small, bothersome insects that are drawn to ripe fruits and specific vegetables. Like their name implies, they’re also attracted to sweet or fermented drinks such as beer, wine, or juice. You may notice them congregating around fruit bowls, trash cans, and even kitchen drains. They are about the size of a grain of rice, resembling small, tan, or brownish houseflies with red eyes. They tend to appear in the summer or late fall when many fruits are in season.
Your fruit fly infestation might start when a couple of bugs hitch a ride home on a piece of fruit. However, females can lay hundreds of eggs in their brief lives, which hatch in as little as 12 hours. They can reach adulthood in just a few days, meaning a few pests can quickly turn into a swarm. That’s why it’s critical to eliminate fruit flies as soon as possible.
Fruit Flies Vs. Fungus Gnats Vs. Drain Flies: What’s the Difference?
Fruit flies are easily confused with other common household pests, particularly fungus gnats and drain flies. While all of these are small flying insects, correctly identifying them is essential to choosing the right way to get rid of them. The easiest way to distinguish them is by where you see them and what larger insect they resemble.
- Fruit flies look like small flies. They’re found near fruit bowls, trash, or other smelly food sources.
- Drain flies look like small fuzzy moths. They’re typically found near sinks and drains.
- Fungus gnats look like small mosquitos. They’re typically found near houseplants since they breed in damp soil.
If you’re unsure, you can try one of the traps below. If it attracts the pests in your home, you’ve got fruit flies.
2. What Are Some DIY Fruit Fly Traps?
Getting rid of fruit flies isn’t complicated or expensive. All you need are some household supplies and a little bit of patience. Each trap follows the same basic formula: attract the fruit fly + keep it from escaping. Consider the following DIY methods:
- Funnel Trap
- Plastic Wrap Trap
- Dish Soap Trap
- Rotting Fruit Trap
DIY Fruit Fly Traps Tested On Windowsill
Some traps work faster than others, and all techniques may take several days to fully eradicate your issue.
3. How Can I Make A Funnel Fruit Fly Trap?
This trap attracts fruit flies into a container through a small hole in the bottom of a homemade paper funnel. The flies find their way in but have difficulty getting back out through the small hole.
Supplies needed:
- Small clear jar, cup, or container, preferably with a small or narrow opening
- Piece of paper or cardstock
- Tape
- Scissors
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Steps:
- Choose your container. Find a small (preferably clear) container like an old food jar or plastic soda bottle. For this method, it’s easier if it has a small or narrow opening.
- Add apple cider vinegar. Pour a little bit of apple cider vinegar, old beer, or wine into the bottom of the container. The smell will attract the fruit flies.
- Make your funnel. Wrap a small piece of paper or cardstock into a cone shape with a very small opening at the tip. Secure the shape with tape. You can also cut this opening at the end if that’s easier. It only needs to be about the size of a grain of rice.
- Set your funnel. Place your paper cone into the opening of your container. You may need to reshape your funnel so it’s wide enough to rest on top of the opening of your container without touching the ACV. Make sure it rests firmly against all edges of the opening, so flies can’t escape through any gaps.
- Optional outdoor ending. Bring the entire contraption outside carefully without moving the funnel (or they’ll all escape before you make it out the door), then remove the funnel and let them fly away.
You can also try this method with a store-bought funnel. However, you may find that the opening at the bottom of store-bought funnels is too large and lets too many fruit flies out of your trap.
4. How Do I Create A Plastic Wrap Fruit Fly Trap?
This trap works by attracting fruit flies with the smell of apple cider vinegar. They enter the trap through small holes in the plastic-wrapped top but then have trouble finding their way back out, just like the trap above.
Supplies needed:
- Small clear jar, cup, or container
- Rubber band
- Plastic wrap or plastic bag
- Toothpick
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
DIY Fruit Fly Trap With Apple Cider Vinegar And Plastic
Steps:
- Choose your container. Find a small clear jar, cup, or other glass container. Just about anything works, and it doesn’t need to be large. Using something clear makes it easier to see the flies you’re trapping, but an old soda or beer can works too.
- Add apple cider vinegar. Pour apple cider vinegar into your container. The scent will attract the flies. Old beer or wine also works too, but not regular white vinegar.
- Cover with plastic. Wrap the opening tightly with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band. Saran wrap works, but you can also cut scraps from a plastic bag.
- Poke small holes. Use a toothpick to poke a few small holes in the top of the plastic. You don’t need a lot, but make sure they are big enough for a fly to fit through.
- Optional outdoor ending. Bring the entire contraption outside carefully without removing the plastic wrap cover (or they’ll all escape before you make it out the door), then remove it and let them fly away.
This technique can also be done by poking a hole in the lid of a metal jar lid. You can use a mason jar or old food jar for this. Use a hammer and nail to puncture the top.
5. How Effective Is A Dish Soap Fruit Fly Trap?
Unlike the previous two methods, this fruit fly trap doesn’t require making any covers. Instead, it relies on a soapy surface to keep these pets from flying away. Note: this one doesn’t allow you to set them free outside, as they get coated in the soap.
Supplies needed:
- Small container, bowl, or dish
- Dish soap
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Steps:
- Put out some apple cider vinegar. Like the other traps, fill the bottom of a small container, bowl, or dish with apple cider vinegar. This scent will attract the fruit flies.
- Add dish soap & mix. Squirt several drops of dish soap into the ACV and mix to create a soapy solution. Flies will land on the mixture but then find it difficult to fly away.
This technique can also be combined with the plastic wrap and funnel method. Just add some dish soap to the apple cider vinegar before you cover the top. This introduces another way the flies can get stuck in your contraption.
6. What Is A Rotting Fruit Trap?
Rotting fruit traps can be created using either a Plastic Wrap or Funnel trap.
Fruit Fly Entering Plastic Wrap On DIY Trap
Supplies needed:
- Small glass jar, cup, or container
- Plastic wrap or paper funnel, depending on your chosen trap mechanism
- A small fruit scrap like a banana peel or apple slice
To create a rotting fruit trap, substitute apple cider vinegar for a piece of banana peel, apple slice, or peach in either the Plastic Wrap or Funnel trap. You can also add this fruit scrap to your ACV as well. Just be prepared to swap out your fruit scrap every day or two so you don’t introduce unwanted smells to your kitchen.
7. What Is The Best Fruit Fly Trap?
The lure is the most important factor in determining the best fruit fly trap. Anything with banana peel performs MUCH better than apple cider vinegar. Two Plastic Wrap Traps were nearly identical, but the one with the banana peel dramatically outperformed the one with the ACV + soap. Maybe ACV is less enticing when there’s real fruit nearby?
No matter what trap you set up, add a fruit scrap to it. A plastic wrap trap is easier to make and less prone to disruption.
8. What Attracts Fruit Flies The Most?
Fruit flies are the most attracted to strawberries. Although the banana peel started off strong (it was the most rotten at the beginning), the fruit flies ended up being the most attracted to the strawberry. The banana peel still snagged several flies, but the longer the strawberry rotted, the more flies it caught. The apple slices didn’t catch a single one.
9. Are Store-Bought Fruit Fly Traps Effective?
If you’re not having any luck with DIY solutions or don’t have the time or materials to make them, there are premade traps you can buy instead. All have thousands of positive reviews and cost less than $20. They might be worth considering if you want something that catches other types of flying insects or if you want something more discreet than a DIY trap.
During the little experiment, a pack of Terro Traps was tested to see if they performed better than homemade methods. One was left out for 24 hours next to the banana & strawberry traps to see which of the three performed best.
Terro Fruit Fly Apple Trap With No Fruit Flies In It
The homemade strawberry trap did best, followed closely by the homemade banana peel trap. The store-bought trap caught only one. However, after discarding both of the DIY traps and leaving the store-bought trap out for another 24 hours, it caught a significant number of fruit flies.
Store-bought traps are effective if you want something more discreet looking, especially if you plan to leave it out indefinitely. However, homemade ones are the best way to get the fruit flies right away.
10. How To Prevent Fruit Flies From Entering Your Home?
Getting rid of fruit flies is pretty simple, but the best-case scenario is to stop them from invading in the first place. Here are some simple ways you can prevent fruit flies from taking up residence in your home.
- Clean kitchen surfaces. Wipe down kitchen counters, stovetops, tables, and any other surfaces that may collect food residue or spilled liquids. Fruit flies are especially attracted to fruit, sweet juices, and alcohol, so don’t let those sit.
- Take out your trash. Leaving food scraps in your garbage overnight can quickly turn your trash can into a fruit fly breeding ground.
- Dispose of overripe fruit. Monitor your fruit bowl for browning or rotting apples, bananas, etc., so you can get rid of them before they become a problem.
- Wash your fruit as soon as you get it home. You can eliminate eggs or larvae that might come home from the store by washing produce right away (except for berries, which could rot faster from the moisture).
- Store produce in the fridge when possible. Fruit flies won’t flourish in the cold, so when in doubt, try storing your fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator.
- Clean your sink drain. Food scraps left in your drain can also attract fruit flies, so make sure you run your garbage disposal and/or flush the drain regularly.
Don’t panic when you spot fruit flies in your home. Take action quickly to prevent the problem from getting worse. The solutions in this post are easy, effective, and fast-acting.
FAQ About Getting Rid of Fruit Flies
1. What causes fruit flies in the house?
Fruit flies are attracted to fermenting fruits and vegetables, sugary spills, and other organic matter.
2. Are fruit flies harmful?
Fruit flies are generally harmless, but they can be a nuisance and contaminate food.
3. How quickly do fruit flies reproduce?
Fruit flies can lay hundreds of eggs, and their life cycle from egg to adult can be as short as a week.
4. Can fruit flies live in drains?
Yes, fruit flies can breed in drains where organic matter accumulates.
5. What is the best bait for a fruit fly trap?
A combination of apple cider vinegar and a piece of ripe fruit works well.
6. How long does it take to get rid of fruit flies?
With consistent efforts, you can significantly reduce or eliminate fruit flies within a week or two.
7. Do fruit flies bite humans?
No, fruit flies do not bite humans.
8. Can I use regular vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar in a trap?
Apple cider vinegar is more attractive to fruit flies, but regular vinegar can work in a pinch.
9. How do I prevent fruit flies from returning?
Keep your kitchen clean, store fruits and vegetables properly, and regularly clean drains.
10. Are there any natural repellents for fruit flies?
Some people find that essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus can help repel fruit flies.
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