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Best way to get rid of fruit flies

Posted on 2/5/14 at 4:57 pm
Posted by Jax-Tiger
Vero Beach, FL
Member since Jan 2005
26802 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 4:57 pm
Someone brought some oranges into work with a bunch of fruit flies on them, and ever since, we've had fruit flies flying around. Apparently, there is just enough food around for them to continue to subsist.

Is there a good way to kill these little bastards, short of fumigating the building?
Posted by CarRamrod
Spurbury, VT
Member since Dec 2006
58272 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 4:59 pm to
i guess searching the internet would be your best bet.
Posted by Zach
Gizmonic Institute
Member since May 2005
116630 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:00 pm to
You can put out a glass of sweet red wine...like a goblet that has a larger bottom than top. Only fill the goblet 1/4 full.

The flies will go in for the wine but they cannot climb out the sides of the sloped goblet. They drown.
Posted by Jax-Tiger
Vero Beach, FL
Member since Jan 2005
26802 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:00 pm to
quote:

i guess searching the internet would be your best bet.


The first site I went to suggested "trap and release".

I stopped there and thought I try to find someone with personal experience.
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
88575 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:01 pm to
Bowl of apple cider vinegar with some dish soap on top.
Posted by ProjectP2294
South St. Louis city
Member since May 2007
75791 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:02 pm to
quote:

You can put out a glass of sweet red wine...like a goblet that has a larger bottom than top. Only fill the goblet 1/4 full. The flies will go in for the wine but they cannot climb out the sides of the sloped goblet. They drown.


Do this, but take it a step further and put clear plastic wrap on the top of the glass and poke holes in it. The flies can get in, but they won't get out.
Posted by Sull
Tulip, LA
Member since Aug 2006
3921 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:09 pm to
Posted by Sailorjerry
Lafitte
Member since Sep 2013
848 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:18 pm to
all I do is put apple cider vinegar and 3 drops of Dawn in a saucer, it attracts them and they drown....works great
Posted by NOLAGT
Over there
Member since Dec 2012
13932 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:24 pm to
quote:

all I do is put apple cider vinegar and 3 drops of Dawn in a saucer, it attracts them and they drown....works great


This!

The dawn helps brake the surface tension and they fall in. I use red wine vinegar but either will work. Might pour a cup or two of bleach down any nearby drains too. I was told they like to hang in there. The trap above will work tho...
Posted by krugerrand gladiator
Member since Dec 2013
23 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:30 pm to
quote:

LINK


This, but sub tequila if the ACV fails to attract them. The dish soap is essential. Also pour a little bleach in every drain. Fruit flies live off fat trapped in sink & floor drains.
Posted by BottomlandBrew
Member since Aug 2010
29129 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:45 pm to
quote:

Do this, but take it a step further and put clear plastic wrap on the top of the glass and poke holes in it. The flies can get in, but they won't get out.


And take this a step further and make the plastic covering concave. They are also really attracted to CO2 production. Sugar water and a touch of bread yeast will work, or some yeast dregs from a bottle-condtitioned beer. I know you have a few of those around.
Posted by LSUJuice
Back in Houston
Member since Apr 2004
18008 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 5:57 pm to
I think you should take all the variations of what seem to be similar suggestions here, and see which ones kill the most. Have the a-hole who brought in the oranges count the dead fruit flies in each vessel and tabulate the results.
Posted by BottomlandBrew
Member since Aug 2010
29129 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 6:04 pm to
I stand by my fermenting sugar water. Bottomland Guarantee.
Posted by ksayetiger
Centenary Gents
Member since Jul 2007
70130 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 6:15 pm to
quote:

The first site I went to suggested "trap and release". 

I stopped there


I lol'd

the above suggestions work. we had them at a restaurant I worked at and we did all the above it was so bad
Posted by CITWTT
baton rouge
Member since Sep 2005
31765 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 6:16 pm to
Get rid of the fruit is the first step. Do not store fruit at room temp to attract the little bastards into anything.
Posted by Sig
dallas
Member since Oct 2010
2042 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 7:10 pm to
My wife does the death trap.

Take a 2 liter bottle and cut the top off.. then stuff it inside (upside down) like a funnel.

Fill the bowl of the bottle with apple cider vinegar.
Posted by MeridianDog
Home on the range
Member since Nov 2010
14539 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 7:47 pm to
everything here should work. Remember to treat drains if you have them. The little guys hide in the drains.


A gecko might work too and would be entertaining to watch. Not sure where you get the taking ones.

Posted by joeleblanc
Member since Jan 2012
4114 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 9:17 pm to
had the same problem. Took a canning jar, poured about an inch of cider vinegar in it with a squirt of dishwashing detergent. Poke holes on the lid and put it on the kitchen window sill. within a few minutes, we had a couple in the solution. and yes, they do hang out in the kitchen sink drains. within about 3 days, all the bugs were gone
Posted by BluegrassBelle
RIP Hefty Lefty - 1981-2019
Member since Nov 2010
105894 posts
Posted on 2/5/14 at 10:32 pm to
quote:

Do this, but take it a step further and put clear plastic wrap on the top of the glass and poke holes in it. The flies can get in, but they won't get out.


This is what I've always done with a solo cup, rubber band, Saran Wrap, and either grape juice or red wine (whatever is handy). Works everytime.
Posted by Geauxld Finger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
32493 posts
Posted on 2/6/14 at 8:52 am to
put apple cider vinegar on a saucer. leave it out for a day. /fruit flies
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