Have fruit flies taken over your fruit bowl? Once established, these unwanted guests know how to settle in. Thankfully, there are several easy ways to get rid of them and prevent them from coming back.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Trap them with a paper funnel
Step 1. Choose a tall jar, wine bottle, old soda bottle or vase to use as the base of the trap
Almost all containers of this type are suitable for the purpose.
This method is probably the most effective for catching large numbers of fruit flies
Step 2. Add some fruit as bait
Fruit flies feed on any sugary substance, so you have plenty of options. Any type of fruit, fruit juice, soda, or other sweet substance are great incentives to get these insects into your trap. Try one of these solutions as a decoy, listed in descending order of effectiveness:
- Bits of very ripe or rotten fruit. For example, a few blackened banana slices, a soft strawberry, or a soft peach are perfect.
- Honey, maple syrup or corn syrup.
- Fruit juice of any type or carbonated drink. Make sure you take the regular version, because the diet version doesn't work.
- Apple cider vinegar or soy sauce.
- Sediments from a bottle of wine or beer can also be equally effective, as fruit flies are attracted to the sugars found in alcoholic beverages.
Step 3. Roll up a piece of paper to make a funnel and place it on the trap container
A funnel with a small hole will allow the insects to enter the pot, which will not be smart enough to fly out. Tie the funnel with duct tape to hold its shape and place it inside the opening of the jar so that the tip of the cone is facing down without touching the bait.
- You can use any piece of paper or a page torn from a magazine to create the funnel.
- Optionally, you can also build the funnel using a coffee filter and piercing the bottom with a toothpick.
Step 4. Place the trap in an area infested with fruit flies
Place it near the sink, trash can, or fruit bowl. If bugs are present in multiple areas of the kitchen, you may want to consider setting up and placing multiple traps.
- Leave them in place overnight. The next day you should see the midges happily eating the bait inside the container.
- If you weren't able to trap them, try inserting new baits into the trap and make sure the hole is large enough for the midges to enter.
Step 5. Kill any fruit flies you managed to catch
Pour a mixture of hot water and dish soap into the jar. The detergent can reduce the surface tension of the water and drown insects. Wait a few minutes and then discard the contents of the jar.
- If the midges are still alive and buzzing inside the trap, take the container outside before removing the funnel.
- At the end, rinse the vase thoroughly with hot water. You can reuse it to make a new trap.
Step 6. Repeat the process until there are no more bugs to catch
Fruit flies tend to multiply rapidly. Their life cycle can be as long as eight days, so it is quite possible that you will have to repeat the procedure several times if you want to get rid of these pesky insects completely when they are adults.
- Fruit fly eggs hatch 8-10 days after spawning, so you may need to run the trap every day for a week or two. You will be able to stop when you no longer see any insects inside the container after leaving it exposed for several hours.
- If you want to completely rid the kitchen of fruit flies as quickly as possible, take steps to get rid of the eggs as well.
Method 2 of 6: Trap them with a Bowl
Step 1. First get a large or medium sized bowl
While not as effective as the funnel method, this trap uses the same principle: it attracts the midges by flying them into a trap with a small opening and preventing them from getting out.
Step 2. Place a sweet bait on the bottom of the bowl
It does not matter so much the type of bait, but rather its quantity; you have to put at least 2, 5 cm of sweet liquid that covers the bottom of the container. Here are some suggestions for sweet mixes that turn into irresistible lures:
- Place a piece of an old peeled fruit, such as an orange or banana, in the bowl, along with some balsamic vinegar.
- Try a mix of white wine and coriander seeds. This mixture seems particularly effective. Add some white wine vinegar to make it even more pungent.
- A blend of honey, sugar, and balsamic vinegar also seems to work just as well.
Step 3. Cover the bowl tightly with cling film
Use a large sheet of cling film to completely cover the container to properly seal the opening.
Step 4. Make small but numerous holes in the plastic with a fork or other similar tool
Try to drill the smallest holes you can; if they are large they will allow the captured midges to escape out of the trap. The purpose is precisely to attract insects into the bowl and make it extremely difficult to exit.
If you use a fork and see that it leaves the holes too large, then switch to a very pointed toothpick to make smaller diameter holes
Step 5. Place the trap in an insect infested area and leave it undisturbed overnight
The next day you should see the fruit flies caught inside the plastic wrap happily enjoying the bait. If you haven't been able to trap them, make sure the holes in the cling film aren't too big.
Step 6. Eliminate the captured insects
It's best to take the bowl outside before killing the gnats so any fugitives don't come back to infest your kitchen. Remove the plastic wrap and kill the bugs by pouring a mixture of warm water and dish soap into the container. The detergent is able to reduce the surface tension of the water, in this way the insects drown. Wait a few minutes and then discard the contents of the bowl.
When you have finished disposing of the midges, wash the container with hot water and reuse it to prepare a new trap
Method 3 of 6: Trap and Freeze Them
Step 1. Get two glass jars
The small ones are easier to handle than the larger ones.
Step 2. Place fruit scraps in each jar, such as peels, to use as bait
Step 3. Set the jar lids aside
Instead, close them with a sheet of elastic clear plastic.
Step 4. Press the center of the paper with your fingertip
Create a ditch or funnel shape in the plastic that goes down into the jar.
Step 5. Make a hole about 1mm in the center of the indent
While it may seem that such a small hole may not be enough to trap all the insects, the opposite is true.
Step 6. Wait for the insects to get trapped
When you notice gnats in a jar, place it in the freezer to kill them along with the eggs. When you see some in the second jar as well, put it in the freezer and take out the one that has already been there for some time. Continue simply putting the jars in the rotating freezer. It will not be necessary to clean the trap outside or use vinegar to kill the midges.
Method 4 of 6: Use Spray or other Products
Step 1. Make a spray product to get rid of bugs
Fill a spray bottle with alcohol and spray it on the fruit flies you see fluttering. Alcohol makes them fall to the ground immediately and you can wipe them out and dispose of them properly.
- A window cleaner is also a great way to kill most of the small bugs instantly. If you see some midges resting on an area that you are willing to wet with glass cleaner, spray them repeatedly and quickly, you will see that they will not survive for long.
- An alternative is to use an all-purpose spray cleaner with bleach. However, you will need to ventilate the room if you plan to spray this product, as the smell can be a bit strong. Do not use it, however, if you are concerned that it may poison the air inside the room or if you have to kill the midges near the surfaces where you prepare food.
- Eventually, you can also use a simple spray bottle that finely nebulizes the liquids and sprinkle normal water on the infesting flies; you will see that they will immediately fall on the underlying surface, as, with this method, you wet their wings preventing the flight and you will be able to crush them easily and eliminate them.
Step 2. Use a spray product containing pyrethrin
This substance is an insecticide that effectively kills adult fruit flies, but not eggs. Make sure you use it by following the instructions carefully. Avoid spraying it directly over fruit or in areas where you prepare meals.
- This product is available in spray format and you can spray it directly on fruit flies when you see them; it kills them on simple contact.
- Alternatively, you can buy some pyrethrin powder and make the insecticide yourself if you have to deal with a very large infestation of midges.
Step 3. Manage a plumbing infestation with gel
There are several gel insecticides on the market that are formulated specifically to treat infestations of fruit flies and their eggs in kitchen drains. If boiling water and soap don't solve the problem, consider getting one of these products. Follow the instructions on the package to use the gel correctly. It may be necessary to repeat the treatment more than once to get rid of the insects completely.
Step 4. Try a professional level treatment
If you can't control the infestation in any way, you can decide to rid your home of the annoying presence of midges with a residual insecticide that you can spray where the insects tend to settle and stabilize more easily. If you store food properly and keep the kitchen clean, this measure is generally not necessary. Contact a company specializing in pest control for more information, if you want to have a professional treatment and get rid of fruit flies permanently.
Method 5 of 6: Get rid of the Eggs
Step 1. Locate the area where they spawned
Fruit flies lay eggs in places where they can find food and moisture, such as rotten fruit, damp sinks, or garbage cans. To get rid of eggs, you first need to understand where the food sources of adult insects are in your kitchen.
- Bowls or bags in which fruit has long been contained have been at the top of the preference list for these insects. Even if you put some really fresh fruit, the container you store it in may have some old food residue that still attracts the midges.
- If you are used to keeping the compost bin in the kitchen, know that it can be a source of food for them.
- An open bag of recyclable materials can also be inviting, especially if it contains cans with traces of beer or sugary drinks in them.
- When was the last time you washed the garbage can? Even if you take it out often, the container itself could be the source of the problem.
- Kitchen sink drains often attract fruit flies, as food debris can get trapped inside and start to rot.
- Wet sponges and rags can also be an interesting environment for these insects.
Step 2. Store food carefully
When you have an infestation of this genus of midges, you shouldn't leave the fruit exposed to room temperature on the kitchen counter. Place it in brown paper bags, tightly closed, or store it in the refrigerator until you are rid of the annoying and unwanted presence of these invaders. Even a single piece of overripe fruit can survive the infestation, providing an ideal breeding ground for insects.
Don't throw fruit scraps in the trash. Unless you throw out your trash every day, avoid putting peach pits, apple cores, and other fruit scraps in your kitchen bucket, as they easily become a haven for midges to nest. Take food scraps directly outside, to the compost pile or to the outdoor bin
Step 3. Wash the waste containers
The dustbin, recyclable bin, and compost bin may hide fruit fly eggs. Any waste container you keep in your home should be cleaned with warm soapy water as soon as you notice the first signs of infestation. Bring the bags of various rubbish outside often to prevent the problem from recurring.
- Wash the containers regularly, at least every week or so, especially towards the end of the summer when the insect populations are more numerous.
- Make sure you always rinse bottles and other containers with hot water before throwing them in the trash. The residues inside these objects could otherwise leak into the garbage cans and aggravate the presence of the annoying insects.
- You should also make sure that all waste containers have an airtight seal.
Step 4. Clean the sink drain
You can check if it's a breeding ground for fruit flies by covering it with a piece of cling film and spreading a thin layer of honey over it. Place the film over the drain, with the honey facing down, and check the situation again after about an hour. If you see insects glued to honey, it means that the drain is part of the problem.
- Make sure the drain is draining properly. If it is clogged or if the garbage disposal is not working (if you have this device in your home), there may be some decaying food residue left in the pipes that are attracting fruit flies.
- To kill the eggs, pour a pot of boiling soapy water down the drain and use a brush to scrub the walls of the drain.
- Do not pour bleach down the drain, as it will not solve your infestation problem and is harmful to the environment.
Step 5. Throw away any other potential sources that attract colonies of these insects
Old sponges, damp rags, old rags, and any other items you use to clean your kitchen counter and floors may contain gnat eggs. Throw them away or wash them in the washing machine by setting a high temperature wash cycle.
Step 6. Clean the kitchen surfaces
Use warm water and detergent to clean the counter. Make sure you don't overlook any crevices or crevices where insects might settle. Clean the cabinets, cabinets, pantry, and any other areas where you have stored fruit, juices, or other sugary substances.
- Also check the floor. If a drink has been spilled under the refrigerator, for example, it could be responsible for your infestation. Clean any spots that feel particularly sticky.
- Keep kitchen surfaces clean every day. Make sure you clean up thoroughly after each meal and make this a daily habit.
- Wash all dishes immediately after eating; avoid leaving them with dirt residues (if you have a dishwasher, put them inside and close the door while waiting to do a wash).
Method 6 of 6: Preventing it from Returning
Step 1. Carefully check the fruit you store in the kitchen
Carefully inspect any berries, cherries, and other fruit you bring home. Any bruised fruit must be disposed of outside, as it may contain fruit fly eggs that were still present in the greengrocer's shop or at the farmer's market. Wash fresh fruit thoroughly with water and dry it completely before storing.
Step 2. Always keep a "holding" trap near the fruit bowl
Any small container with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of water and a drop or two of dish soap is enough to attract and drown the fruit flies. All this allows you to keep the population of these unwanted guests in check. Rinse the bowl and fill it with a new mixture every day during the warm and favorable season for the presence of these insects.
Step 3. Install mosquito nets on doors and windows
Fruit flies easily find food sources even outdoors; covering the entrances of the house with mosquito nets prevent them from entering your kitchen. This is even more important if you have fruit trees in your garden.
Step 4. Manage the factors outside the home that attract insects
If you have fruit trees, harvest when the production is at the peak of ripeness and don't let it rot on the branch or under the tree. Collect any debris that has fallen to the ground under the tree to discourage possible infestations.
- You can also hang special fruit protection bags directly on the branches to prevent it from being attacked by midges. Make sure that the light continues to reach the fruit and that the air circulates freely, while preventing the midges from accessing it. You can generally find these bags or sheets at garden centers that organic growers supply.
- Purchase organic spray insecticides from major garden centers or from organic growers' suppliers. These products need to be reapplied regularly, due to the fact that they contain natural substances, but this is the best non-toxic approach to growing healthy fruit.
Step 5. Dissuade fruit flies with essential oils
The scent of some essential oils, which are pleasant for humans, are actually unpleasant for fruit flies. The oils won't kill them, but they will prevent insects from settling and settling near your fruit. Fill a spray bottle with 240ml of water and 5-10 drops of lemongrass, eucalyptus, or mint essential oil. Spray the entire area of the kitchen where fruit flies are particularly attracted, such as near the sink and the garbage can.
Advice
- When using vinegar, make sure you choose the right one. White vinegar is not effective, while malt and red wine vinegar are particularly useful, although not as much as apple vinegar. Sometimes beer works too, as does balsamic vinegar. Wine is very effective and you can use a bottle with about 2.5cm of wine even without adding the funnel.
- Potted plants can be kept safe from midges by letting the soil dry completely between waterings. This precaution allows to kill most of the larvae; adults do not live long and in a short time they stop reproducing. Check the humidity of the soil in particular and water the plants promptly if the leaves are stiff, as these often dry out and die.
- Cover liquor bottles with spouts with cellophane and wipe them under the spout with an ammonia-based cleaner every other day.
- Hang a few old fly paper rolls all over the infested area. They are definitely unsightly, but effective. But be aware that they can be poisonous, depending on the type you got. Use them with caution and keep them out of the reach of children.
Warnings
- If you decide to spray a toxic substance, such as a bleach-based all-purpose cleaning product, make sure the room is well ventilated. Also consider wearing a mask to protect yourself. However, this method is not recommended if you want to keep the indoor air healthy and breathable.
- Never put your hands in a garbage disposal; instead make sure to push each substance down with only a wooden spoon or similar object provided with the appliance. Follow the manufacturer's instructions before you start using it.
