Do you know about the apple cider vinegar trap thing? Jam jar, fill half to three quarters with apple cider vinegar, put a little squeeze of liquid dish detergent in it, and then wait. The fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar, dive in there, and the dish soap creates too much resistance for them to get back out. Some people also make a paper funnel on the jar top for good measure but I always have success with just the jar.
Oh, Janice...HAHAHA!! I'm afraid to tell you that they are regular late summer / fall visitors here. Coincidentally, I remember them being far less abundant last season, for reasons I could not determine. But they are making up for it this year!
We keep bowls of fruit out (and I'm including tomatoes in that category for the purpose of this discussion) all summer long, but it's always this time of year that the fruit flies become peskiest. Talk about funny, just last night, we once again called our old cat food can covers into service (haven't had cats in two years - wah!) as they sit quite nicely on top of a glass of wine and act as something of a shield. I also take great amusement from fishing the little rascals out of said beverage to recover from their debauchery on the kitchen counter. I find they often walk in circles for a while before they fly off!
The trap described by another of your readers is a useful tool. Here's someone who that rated that style against three others and found a clear winner.
Oh! And your mouthwash has sugar / alcohol it it, which is an attractant. Maybe try storing that and your toothbrushes in the fridge for a short while? Worth a shot.
Hey Elizabeth! I don't deny them a dunk or two into some delish local treats but I have never seen the bathroom fetish.
Early in the morning I foresee trouble locating toothbrush in fridge! 😆 but most changes can eventually be learned. Perhaps if I put it next to the hald n half.
This season, too shall fly by....pun, yes, intended.
Your thoughts and wisdom are always appreciated! J
In Southern Africa, we had wall spiders. They were big, flat and creepy, but they also ate mosquitoes and other annoying insects. In fact, there were so many critters fighting against us, like weevils, meal worms, arrogant cockroaches, swarms of flying ants after a rain and vast hordes of others, we decided we could live with the wall spiders because they were kind of on our side and we simply didn’t have time to kill everything.
The other option is to leave your windows open and heater off for a few nights when the temperature drops below freezing. That’ll nuke ‘em
I knew that you would have a story in your repertoire that would minimize even my equatorial travels and certainly my East Coast heebies. I need to Google Images wall spiders. Whoa. Lesser of the evils. Or Weevils, if you're familiar.
Heater off? Ah, a second use of my 1950s Hudson Bay.
“Always choose the lesser of two weevils.” Russell Crowe!
Cockroaches were the worst, in my opinion. In Madagascar, they were big, aggressive, and mean. They also barked, sort of. But the cowardly hoards that roamed my hotel room in Kosovo in herds were also disgusting. At least they ran back into the walls when I turned on the light.
Pro tip: We learned that they don’t like the smell of fresh paint, so I painted the baseboards of our house in Malawi all the time.
OMG Yes! The fruit flies are relentless this year. I've taken to hiding my toothbrush and rinsing with boiling water when I make my tea. Never had that problem before. When I read at night on my tablet, the glow of the screen attracts them. I agree, lots of extra spent energy on something so tiny 🙄
Thank you. This week I am grateful that I have a house for the fruit flies to visit. And hugs to you Janice. I know even though we weren't effected by Helene, we were. Water connects us. 💜
Goodness yes we need to be grateful just to be in one piece for certain. So funny after I wrote this post and had it scheduled a friend turned to me and said, I have fruit flies in my bathroom....and burst out laughing. Many things co ect us, as it turns out!! Thanks Tania and stay safe. I'm very glad you are.
Fruit Fly Update- I used my camelback for a long hike today, and when I got home and emptied the remaining water, there was a fruit fly inside the f ing bladder! Fruit flies win!
Do you know about the apple cider vinegar trap thing? Jam jar, fill half to three quarters with apple cider vinegar, put a little squeeze of liquid dish detergent in it, and then wait. The fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar, dive in there, and the dish soap creates too much resistance for them to get back out. Some people also make a paper funnel on the jar top for good measure but I always have success with just the jar.
Aware and have found this unappealing to the little devils!! Worked for you,Elizabeth??
Perhaps mine are special??!
It has worked for me. I hope you find a solution! They are SO pesky.
Science them to death!
Oh, Janice...HAHAHA!! I'm afraid to tell you that they are regular late summer / fall visitors here. Coincidentally, I remember them being far less abundant last season, for reasons I could not determine. But they are making up for it this year!
We keep bowls of fruit out (and I'm including tomatoes in that category for the purpose of this discussion) all summer long, but it's always this time of year that the fruit flies become peskiest. Talk about funny, just last night, we once again called our old cat food can covers into service (haven't had cats in two years - wah!) as they sit quite nicely on top of a glass of wine and act as something of a shield. I also take great amusement from fishing the little rascals out of said beverage to recover from their debauchery on the kitchen counter. I find they often walk in circles for a while before they fly off!
The trap described by another of your readers is a useful tool. Here's someone who that rated that style against three others and found a clear winner.
https://www.thekitchn.com/diy-fruit-fly-traps-22942130
Oh! And your mouthwash has sugar / alcohol it it, which is an attractant. Maybe try storing that and your toothbrushes in the fridge for a short while? Worth a shot.
Hey Elizabeth! I don't deny them a dunk or two into some delish local treats but I have never seen the bathroom fetish.
Early in the morning I foresee trouble locating toothbrush in fridge! 😆 but most changes can eventually be learned. Perhaps if I put it next to the hald n half.
This season, too shall fly by....pun, yes, intended.
Your thoughts and wisdom are always appreciated! J
J
Maybe see if things simmer down by just cordoning off the mouthwash?...she says, waving a Drosophila away from her eyeballs. 😬
It comes down to picking your fights, Janice.
In Southern Africa, we had wall spiders. They were big, flat and creepy, but they also ate mosquitoes and other annoying insects. In fact, there were so many critters fighting against us, like weevils, meal worms, arrogant cockroaches, swarms of flying ants after a rain and vast hordes of others, we decided we could live with the wall spiders because they were kind of on our side and we simply didn’t have time to kill everything.
The other option is to leave your windows open and heater off for a few nights when the temperature drops below freezing. That’ll nuke ‘em
I knew that you would have a story in your repertoire that would minimize even my equatorial travels and certainly my East Coast heebies. I need to Google Images wall spiders. Whoa. Lesser of the evils. Or Weevils, if you're familiar.
Heater off? Ah, a second use of my 1950s Hudson Bay.
Thank you as always. J
“Always choose the lesser of two weevils.” Russell Crowe!
Cockroaches were the worst, in my opinion. In Madagascar, they were big, aggressive, and mean. They also barked, sort of. But the cowardly hoards that roamed my hotel room in Kosovo in herds were also disgusting. At least they ran back into the walls when I turned on the light.
Pro tip: We learned that they don’t like the smell of fresh paint, so I painted the baseboards of our house in Malawi all the time.
Very nicely
OMG Yes! The fruit flies are relentless this year. I've taken to hiding my toothbrush and rinsing with boiling water when I make my tea. Never had that problem before. When I read at night on my tablet, the glow of the screen attracts them. I agree, lots of extra spent energy on something so tiny 🙄
Thank you. This week I am grateful that I have a house for the fruit flies to visit. And hugs to you Janice. I know even though we weren't effected by Helene, we were. Water connects us. 💜
Goodness yes we need to be grateful just to be in one piece for certain. So funny after I wrote this post and had it scheduled a friend turned to me and said, I have fruit flies in my bathroom....and burst out laughing. Many things co ect us, as it turns out!! Thanks Tania and stay safe. I'm very glad you are.
Snakes and mice are my heebie jeebie thingys. I will agree with you that fruit flies are so annoying and gross.
Mice have that same ability to surprise you by which direction they will run, most of which are illogical! I'm with you.
Fruit Fly Update- I used my camelback for a long hike today, and when I got home and emptied the remaining water, there was a fruit fly inside the f ing bladder! Fruit flies win!
Keith 0
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