It sometimes seems that homemade fruit fly trap are particularly persistent and invasive. Either you have left bananas on the counter or have thought of having some fruits on a nice sunny day, these little creatures just come out of nowhere and make themselves quite comfortable.
But yet, for a fruit fly, they are quite annoying and unhygienically uncurable to have around the house. Luckily you do not need fancy sprays or complex gadgets to keep these tiny bugs off your house.
It is possible to come up with very effective fruit fly traps without having to purchase anything from the markets, so read on.
Understanding the Fruit Fly Problem
What Attracts Fruit Flies?
In general, one starts to release fruit flies during ripening or some vegetables that are in the process of rotting.
They feed on the fermenting sugars in these foods which is why your kitchen can turn into a play zone for them very soon if you leave the produce in free access.
Not only do they breed near the food but are also commonly found in areas that are moist, drains, and even garbage bins as they can always get food particles on the bins.
How come fruit flies generate thus badly?
Because the fruit flies are extraordinarily exasperating due to their high turnover resulting from a short generation time.
A female fruit fly can lay between 400 and 500 eggs in her lifespan which is rather short. Those eggs take a day or two to hatch and within one week, there are fresh adult flies to start the plan all over again.
This makes even one pair of flies reproduce very fast which if not controlled, can lead to the formation of very many swarms of the flies.
The Importance of Homemade Fruit Fly Trap
Why Traps are Effective for Managing Infestations
Unfortunately, once these flies invade your home, it is incredibly challenging to get rid of them completely.
Fruit fly traps are very effective in controlling the breeding of the fly since they should be set as soon as signs of an infestation emerge.
Through placing traps you can catch the mature adult flies before they even lay eggs hence eradicating the problem.
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Advantages of the Homemade Agents over the Purchased Ones
This is especially true for homemade fruit fly traps which not only cost a lesser amount of money to prepare but also have no ill effects of chemicals commonly used in commercial preparations.
Unfortunately, commercial traps often have unknown and unappreciated effects on the surrounding air quality near your food, and with DIY traps, you get to decide what is in the air around your food.
Besides, they are easy to produce and can be designed from materials likely to be found around your home.
Things Required to Make Homemade Fruit Fly Trap
Just to create a homemade fruit fly trap no need to purchase fancy items as explained below. For most DIY traps, all you need are:
- A receptacle (a small jar or cup for instance)
- Plastic wrap or paper
- Apple cider vinegar or another liquid attractant
- Dish soap
- A rubber band (to secure the plastic wrap)
- These items can be customized to make various types of traps, each with its unique twist. Let’s go through some popular, proven options for trapping fruit flies.
List of Homemade Fruit Fly Traps
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
Fruit fly traps prepared from apple cider vinegar are one of the most effective when it comes to this matter.
Since fruit flies are attracted to fermenting odors, apple cider vinegar works perfectly for ensnaring them: an ordinary drop of dishwashing liquid which weakens the surface tension of the liquid will pull down any fly that falls into it.
2. Dish Soap and Vinegar Trap
This trap uses the concept found in the vinegar trap but this time using plain white vinegar and not the apple cider one.
The addition of dish soap is important here as it makes the flies sink faster. This pair is best for trapping flies which makes it good if apple cider vinegar cannot be used.
3. Fruit and Plastic Wrap Trap
This trap takes advantage of the flies being attracted to anything that resembles a potential food source, and in this case, it is a container filled with overripe fruit.
When you place a piece of plastic wrap over a jar and make a few penetrations on top, you get one door to the flies’ kingdom. Once in there, they cannot figure out how to exit.
4. Red Wine Trap
Subsequently, in case, you possess a bottle of red wine for a long time you may use it to trap fruit flies.
Fruit flies are especially attracted to the smell of fermenting alcohol, so using some residue of wine at the bottom of the bottle or a glass might be helpful.
5. Milk and Sugar Trap
This trap is less frequent but nearly as efficient as those presented above. Milk, sugar, and a little dish soap make a sweet smell that attracts the fruit flies.
The soap once more ensures that the flies are unable to fly off after coming into contact with the liquid.
Basic instruction on how Each trap should be made
Apple Cider Vinegar Trap Instructions
- Put about half a cup of apple cider vinegar in a small jar for a small bottle and a cup for a large one.
- Add a few drops of dish soap.
- Place the jar with a tight lid cover it with food foil and fix it tightly with a rubber band.
- Insert a few small punctures on the top plastic foil to let the flies in.
- Put the jar where you have seen fruit fly like most of the time.
Dish Soap and Vinegar Trap Instructions
- In a small bowl or jar, add a quarter cup of white vinegar into the bowl or jar. Next use 5-6 drops of the dish soap and swirl the container to roll the contents for mixing.
- Put the bowl in an area that is infested with fruit flies.
Fruit and Plastic Wrap Trap Instructions
- Snap overripe fruit and put it in a small jar.
- Place the jar on top and ensure the plastic wrap is tight to the lid by using a rubber band.
- With the help of a toothpick, you should pierce small holes at the top of the plastic wrap.
- Place the trap in a suitable location that has the fruit fly activity.
Red Wine Trap Instructions
- Sip the remaining red wine in a glass or pour it into a jar if there is a small amount left.
- Mix the liquid with a couple of drops of dish soap.
- Put the glass in the infected portion.
There are different stations students will complete to play out the Milk and Sugar Trap.
- In a saucepan, mix 1/2 cup milk and 2 tbsp of sugar.
- Stir this together over low heat on the stove until the sugar has dissolved in the mixture.
- Mix a drop or two of dish soap and pour this mixture into a jar or a bowl.
- You should always position the trap where the presence of fruit flies is most noticed.
Why These Ingredients Work
The components used in these homemade traps include apple cider vinegar, dish soap, fruit, and wine — all natural sediments that capture fruit flies.
For example, vinegar resembles the smell of fermenting fruits while dish soap helps the liquid not to have a ‘skin’ through which the flies cannot escape.
Red wine and ripe fruit contain sugars and aromas that lure flies in and create effective bait.
How to position and use fruit fly traps correctly
Places to Locate Traps in the House
As with any trap it is best to put it in areas where the flies are most likely to gather, for example near the fruits, dust bins, or sinks.
In doing so, fruit flies will be trapped in these areas because they are near the primary sources of the smells that attract the flies.
How Often to Change the Traps
Traps last about two weeks when properly maintained, however, for optimal performance, you should change your traps after two or three days.
What can happen is that the flies get caught in the trap once it has started collecting them this is because the trap’s scent of vinegar or wine barely lasts long enough to attract more flies.
To replace your traps you guarantee that the bait is still fresh and attractive for other flies within the vicinity.
Preventive Measures to Keep Fruit Flies Away
Proper Storage of Fruits and Vegetables
The best way you can prevent fruit flies is to ensure that whatever fruits or vegetables you have you take them inside the refrigerator rather than exposing them to nature.
Regular Cleaning Routines
To curb the presence of fruit flies, simple things like washing your kitchen regularly will go a long way. Clean up all surfaces daily, scrub your sink plugholes, and always toss out your rubbish bins to prevent food scraps from attracting flies.
Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Space
Trapping fruit flies using home made traps for a useful, cheap, and efficient way of dealing with a constant nuisance.
Here is how you can in a few simple steps using household products make traps that will catch the fruit flies and interrupt their breeding cycle, thus the numbers will soon be down.
Apart from the traps, when it comes to practical measures to keep your home free of these pests in the foreseeable future, one should practice more consistent cleaning and always store all the foods properly.
Experiment with the traps you have, maybe one of the types is more effective in your kitchen, and you have your fly-free kitchen back!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who and how does it take for a homemade fruit fly trap to work?
The great majority of homemade traps start to capture flies a few hours later, although the prime outcome is normally observed in 24-48 hours.
This means it is ideal to change out the traps after two days so that the home remains effective at trapping all the pests.
Q2: Is it possible that instead of apple cider vinegar I use something else in the trap?
Yes, Red wine, White vinegar, overripe fruits, etc., all can be used as attractants.
Plain white vinegar is a favorite for many people due to its powerful smell of apple cider vinegar but practically any home product that has the sweet smell will attract fruit flies.
Q3: Why is it necessary to put dish soap in the vinegar trap?
The dish soap eliminates the surface tension of the liquid so flies cannot just alight on the liquid’s surface and fly off as they please.
This results in them sinking and in essence traps them properly.
Q4: Apart from the use of traps are there other natural methods that can be used to control fruit flies?
Washing utensils used in preparing fruits and vegetables, storing overripe fruits in refrigerators, and cleaning siphons and garbage bins with the same regularity are some of the effective measures that can be taken to prevent the breeding of fruit flies.
The essential natural oils that can be used to act as repellents include; lemongrass oil, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil.
Q5: If fruit flies continue to breed even after several uses of trap, then what should one do?
If fruit flies are still present after a few days, search your kitchen and other areas for residue or spills, or remnants of old food or garbage pails that might still be attracting fruit flies.
Pests and rats also bring diseases that are why an eradication process must be applied with consistencies such as cleaning and trap placement to eradicate these pests until the last one is gotten rid of.
