Fruit flies (or Drosophila melanogaster) are common household pests which are known for their attraction to fruit which has been left out. When it comes to fruit flies, you are probably only interested in one thing – keeping them out of your house!
We have written this article for that very reason. We’re going to outline some easy DIY and store-bought methods of keeping these flies at bay. Let’s get started.
Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?
Perhaps the most effective way to prevent fruit flies is to understand why they are in your house in the first place. After all, effective prevention strategies are simply based on an understanding of what caused the issue in the first place.
As you probably know, fruit flies are attracted to fruit. In fact, they love ripe, rotting, or decayed fruit. But they’re also attracted to other produce and vegetables, as well as fermented products (beer, wine, liquor, vinegar, etc.). It’s a good idea to keep these products tucked away whenever possible, so that they can’t be detected by these flies.
The reason that a fruit fly infestation seems to spring up overnight is because, well, that’s literally what happens. Fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time, which can hatch in less than a day! The problem can get out of control quick, and you’ll quickly want to know how to deal with the flies.
How To Get Rid of Fruit Flies
In this section, we’re giving you several methods for getting rid of fruit flies. Let’s start with some DIY methods that can be done with materials you might already have laying around the house:
DIY Suggestions
Make a “Fruit Fly Trap”
As mentioned above, fruit flies are attracted to specific foods and substances. We can use this to our advantage in building a fruit fly trap. Here’s how to do it:
- Take some apple cider vinegar, and fill a medium-sized bowl about ¼ full.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and poke holes so that the flies can enter the bowl.
- The flies will be attracted to the vinegar, and will enter the bowl through the holes, but won’t be able to leave.
- Repeat until problem is dealt with. You can even make multiple traps.
Drown the Flies
This method isn’t always as effective as the fly traps, but it’s much easier to set up.
- Take a bowl, fill about 1/3 with apple cider vinegar, and add a few drops of any dish soap.
- Leave the bowl uncovered and place near your fruit fly infestation (you can make multiple bowls for a bigger problem).
- The flies will be attracted to the solution because of the vinegar, but the heavy soap will trap them once they land.
The Cone Method
Here’s a similar concept to the “fly trap” method above. This trap is a little easier to make, but not quite as effective. Here’s how you get it done:
- Take a jar, and place some vinegar at the bottom for bait. You can also place some fruit for an even more effective bait.
- “Twist” a normal piece of printer paper into a cone (with a 1-inch opening at the narrow end) and tape it in place. Place the narrow side of the cone facing down into the jar.
- The result is a wide mouth for the flies to enter the jar easily, but a narrow end that keeps them trapped inside.
Product Suggestions
If you’d prefer some store-bought solutions, let’s run through the top choices. In keeping with the theme of our website, we’re giving you the top environmentally conscious fruit fly insecticide products.
1. Natural Catch Fruit Fly Traps
This fly trap operates using a similar concept to the DIY traps above. They use a natural vinegar-based bait to attract flies. The flies enter the small holes in the trap, and there’s no escape. It’s a highly effective method of trapping flies which uses a natural fruit fly attractant.
These traps are versatile and convenient. In fact, you can put them right in the fruit bowl. There’s no mess, and no set-up. Put them wherever you have a fly problem, and you’re good to go. They’re fairly cheap, so you can buy multiple if you have a big problem.
And best of all, it’s all-natural. No harsh chemicals or substances here. It’s a trap that effectively lures flies without any adverse effects on the environment (or on you!).
2. Bye Bye Fruit Fly
Here’s another all-natural fruit fly bait that we really like. This product works in a similar method to the DIY traps above. You pour the bait into a bowl, and place it near your fly infestation – that’s it.
The flies are attracted to the solution in the bowl, and become trapped by the weight of the liquid. No cover is necessary, as this product was designed to be “zero plastic”. No plastic traps, plastic wrap, or anything of the sort.
The bait has been specially formulated to attract flies with maximum effectiveness, and it’s safe and non-toxic to boot.
It’s an easy, effective fly attractant, and you get a whole lot of bang for your buck. Unlike disposable traps, this solution will last you a long time, which is good news if fruit flies are a frequent problem.
How Can I Prevent Fruit Flies in the Future?
Thanks for checking out our guide to the best natural solutions for getting rid of fruit flies. We’ll finish this article with some advice for perhaps the most effective method of avoiding fruit flies – by preventing them altogether.
The best method of preventing fruit flies is to avoid leaving out the products that attract fruit flies. It really is that simple.
Try to keep fruit and vegetables in your fridge whenever you can, and be sure to dispose of any fruits or vegetables that are going bad. And once you’ve thrown them away, be sure to empty your garbage with regularity (fruit flies don’t care where the fruit is located). Also, don’t leave any alcohol or vinegar containers open. Finally, be sure to give new produce a rinse, as it can actually already contain fruit fly eggs if you’re unlucky!
Get into these habits, and you’ll find that your fruit fly problem is a thing of the past.