Indoors

[digitS']

With ripe tomatoes, cucumbers and melons in the kitchen, a few fruit flies were noticed this past week. Yesterday morning, I set out a bowl of vinegar with a drop of detergent in it. Covered the bowl with plastic wrap and punched several holes in the plastic with a knife.


In a couple of hours, there were 4 drowned flies in the bowl.

This morning, there are fourteen! If I had been asked how many fruit flies were in the house, I might have guessed half that number. Expecting more, today and continuing.

Steve

 

[SPedigrees]

That's remarkable. It seems odd that either vinegar or detergent would attract fruit flies, yet the proof is in the pudding (or in the vinegar bowl).

 

[flowerbug]

That's remarkable. It seems odd that either vinegar or detergent would attract fruit flies, yet the proof is in the pudding (or in the vinegar bowl).

another name for them that i didn't hear until more recently is vinegar flies. i've since used a similar recipe as @digitS' for luring them to their doom as otherwise they hover around looking for moisture or are off getting into any things i may have out drying. i don't put plastic wrap over it but just a few holes in the lid so it doesn't evaporate so quickly.

 

[flowerbug]

With ripe tomatoes, cucumbers and melons in the kitchen, a few fruit flies were noticed this past week. Yesterday morning, I set out a bowl of vinegar with a drop of detergent in it. Covered the bowl with plastic wrap and punched several holes in the plastic with a knife.

View attachment 59521
In a couple of hours, there were 4 drowned flies in the bowl.

This morning, there are fourteen!

mmmmM! pickles flies!

 

[digitS']

detergent

The detergent is to "break the tension" of the water surface that allows a bug to land on the water and not sink into it.

So, 18 are now sunk.

 

[heirloomgal]

I detest those little flies too and there are plenty that show up when temptations abound. I use the same technique with apple cider vinegar and 3 drops of dish soap. I don't cover the little bowl though, they don't seem to be able to fly out once they go in. I find the technique of putting a piece of banana or tomato in a glass, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and poke a few tiny holes on top to work even better, but disposing of the contents is not as pleasant as the bowl of vinegar.

 

[Dahlia]

I detest those little flies too and there are plenty that show up when temptations abound. I use the same technique with apple cider vinegar and 3 drops of dish soap. I don't cover the little bowl though, they don't seem to be able to fly out once they go in. I find the technique of putting a piece of banana or tomato in a glass, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and poke a few tiny holes on top to work even better, but disposing of the contents is not as pleasant as the bowl of vinegar.

A bit of cheap wine attracts knats also using the same plastic wrap over the top of the cup technique. I don't add soap and I still catch those buggers!