Fresh produce in the kitchen attracts fruit flies when ripe.
Fruit flies, also known as pomace or vinegar flies, become uninvited guests in your home when ripened fruit is stored out in the open. As the fruit ripens and progresses toward the fermentation process, flies are attracted to the immediate area. One overly ripe piece of fruit in a fruit bowl is enough to cause a swarm of fruit flies to gather. If these tiny pests are making it difficult to store fresh fruit on the countertop, homemade fruit fly traps can redirect the pests, sending them away from your produce. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Vinegar Fruit Fly Trap
1. Pour cider vinegar into the bottom of a glass jar. Use enough to fill the bottom to the depth of an inch.
2. Dish detergent weighs fruit flies down so they drown in the vinegar.
Add a couple of drops of liquid dishwashing detergent. The detergent serves to break the tension of the vinegar's surface so fruit flies can't just sit on the vinegar.
3. Lay a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the jar to completely cover the top. Secure the plastic wrap in place with a rubber band.
4. Push the tines of a fork into the tightened plastic wrap to make several holes in the top of the lid. Place the fruit fly trap near fruit stored on the countertop to keep the flies away.
Beer Fruit Fly Trap
5. Fruit flies are attracted to fermented beer.
Pour a few inches of beer into a glass jar.
6. Cover the beer-filled jar with plastic wrap. Pull the plastic tight as you push the excess over the edges.
7. Place a rubber band around the mouth of the jar to secure the plastic wrap. Poke holes in the top of the plastic wrap with the tines of a fork. Set up your fruit fly bait trap in areas where fruit flies are being a nuisance.
Tags: plastic wrap, fruit flies, flies attracted, Fruit flies, fruit stored, rubber band, tines fork