Fruit Fly Season?

[digitS']

For many of you, I'm a little late with this suggestion. Shoot. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

It may not be banana season, unless you are like DW who thinks bananas are one of the 5 food groups . Our peaches are still not ripe but it seems to happen as soon as DW brings some home from the market. And then, I've got melons --- Katy! Bar the Door! In come the fruit flies!!!

There are tomatoes ripening on the counter, oh they love those, but they are in ecstasy over those melons. You don't need to cut one, they already have the little umbrellas, tables and chairs set up on the rind!

What are Ya gonna do?? Just try opening a door and trying to shoo them out ....

You know those little yellow sticky cards we use for pests on our indoor plants. Try those .

I'm not sure if the fruit flies are attracted to them but after awhile, a fly will get careless. Waving your hand above your basket every time you pass increases the odds. Once you've got one fly, the others must get curious. It works pretty good.

Steve

 

[journey11]

I make a little trap out of a 2-liter bottle...cut it in half and invert the top into the bottom to make a funnel. I fill it with a little ACV (cheap kind works fine), water, a teaspoon or two of sugar, and a piece of banana peel if I have it. They go right in and drown.

And my other trick is to put a stockpot with some fruit/veggie peelings in the bottom of it on the stove under the little light that is on the vent hood at night, turn off all the other kitchen lights. First thing in the morning sneak up on them and slam the lid onto the pot before they realize what you are up to and fly away. Haul the little buggers outside and release them.

They drive my DH absolutely nuts, but for the most part, I just expect to see them this time of year and ignore them. Keeping all fruit and veggies out of the kitchen until you're ready to prepare them helps if you have some place out on the porch to store them instead.

Good luck, have fun!

 

[digitS']

I remember you writing about that bottle and the vinegar/sugar, @journey11 !

That's a clever idea.

I assume you have one of those screened porches.
I'm constantly fighting with them on the deck because the compost bucket is out there. I just sneaked up on them and stuffed a double handful of onion peels followed by another of strawflower/statice leaves down on top of their melon rind. haHA!

Steve

 

[journey11]

I wish I had a screened porch. Maybe that would help with all the jumpy katydids that keep sneaking into the house as well. And the other evening I was standing at the kitchen sink snapping green beans and heard a rustling in the curtain over the window, looked up and saw a huge 5-lined skink up there. What is the deal!? Can't imagine how that found its way inside. Ava thought he was cool though.

My DH has gone after the fruit flies with the vacuum hose before. Now that's desperation...