How to Catch Fruit Flies, Easy and Effective Home Solutions

Overview 

Fruit flies are tiny insects, but it is a nuisance that can become huge within a short time. Assuming that you have ever failed to put a banana in the fridge soon enough or left a plate in the sink, you have likely been met with these miniscule raiders. Fortunately, it is not so hard to trap fruit flies, given that an individual understands what they like and how their trapping can be done. 

In this guide, we will discuss the most effective ways to trap fruit flies with those items that you probably have in your house, and also how to prevent the re-infestation.

What Are Fruit Flies?

Drosophila melanogaster or fruit flies refer to small insects that fly and are normally 1/8 inches long. They get drawn to fermenting fruits and sugar water, and so those are the culprits because they get drawn to this. One female fruit fly can produce several hundreds of eggs and it is important to detect and kill them fast before they finish infesting them.

Why Do Fruit Flies Invade Your Home?

Fruit flies enter homes looking for food and a place to breed. They love:

• Ripened or rotting fruit
• Juice, wine, beer, and soda
• Organic matter in drains or garbage disposals
• Damp mops, sponges, and cleaning rags

Once inside, they reproduce rapidly. You might notice them around fruit bowls, sinks, garbage bins, or empty bottles and cans.

The Best Homemade Fruit Fly Traps

Below are some of the most effective DIY traps that actually work and are easy to create at home.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap Trap

Why it works: Fruit flies are irresistibly attracted to the smell of fermented apple.

What you need:

• A small glass or bowl
• Apple cider vinegar
• Dish soap
• Plastic wrap (optional)

How to make it:

1. Add apple cider vinegar in the container.
2. Place 3-4 drops of dish soap (this would break surface tension and cause the flies to drown).
3. You may cover it with a sheet of plastic wrap with small holes in it or you do not cover it.
4. Place the trap by the side of fruit or garbage cans.

Result: Flies land on the surface and sink to the bottom.

2. Overripe Fruit Trap

Why it works: This trap uses what they love most overripe fruit.

What you need:

• A jar or small bowl
• An overripe banana or piece of fruit
• Plastic wrap
• Toothpick

How to make it:

1. Put a piece of overripe fruit in the container.
2. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap.
3. Use a toothpick to poke several small holes in the top.

Result: Flies enter to feed on the fruit but can’t get out.

3. Red Wine Trap

Why it works: Fruit flies are also drawn to wine and beer.

What you need:

• Leftover red wine or beer
• A jar or wine glass
• Dish soap

How to make it:

1. Pour an inch of wine or beer into the container.
2. Add 1–2 drops of dish soap.
3. Leave the glass uncovered near the problem area.
   

Result: The flies will fly in and drown.

4. Milk, Sugar, and Pepper Trap

An old-fashioned remedy from the 1800s.

What you need:

• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• Shallow bowl or dish

How to make it:

1. Heat the milk and mix in sugar and pepper.
2. Pour it into the bowl and leave it out overnight.

Result: Fruit flies are drawn in and trapped on the surface.

5. Funnel Trap with Paper

Why it works: The funnel allows fruit flies in, but not back out.

What you need:

• a jar or a cup
• Bait (such as apple cider vinegar, or fruit)
• A sheet of paper

How to make it:

1. Put the bait at the bottom of the jar.
2. Make the paper roll into the shape of a funnel, and push it into the jar, funnel down.
3. The funnel will be taped in order not to fall in.

Outcome: Flies can find their way in but are not able to come out of the small aperture.

Homemade Fruit Fly Trap, Easy, Effective, and Chemical Free Solutions

Where to Place Fruit Fly Traps

To make these traps effective, placement is key. Put them in areas where fruit flies gather most:

• Near fruit bowls or produce baskets
• Beside the kitchen sink or drain
• Close to trash bins or recycling
• Near compost containers

Keep traps out overnight for maximum results.

Additional Tips to Catch and Eliminate Fruit Flies

Traps help you catch them, but prevention is just as important. Here are some extra tips:

• Make Your Kitchen Clean: Clean counters, tables and appliances under chemically. Clear any sugar spills as well as crumbs.
• Properly storing Produce: Store fruits that are ripe in the refrigerator or in air tight bags. Do not leave bananas and tomatoes standing outside.
• Empty the trash everyday: After fruit flies breed, they are usually found in trash cans. They should be kept empty and clean particularly when there is food waste.
• Empty your pipes: Pour boiling water or baking soda and vinegar solution to your kitchen drain to kill the larvae that might have gone into the drain.
• Rinse Recyclables: Always remember to rinse soda cans, juice boxes and wine bottles and put them into your recycling bin.
• Coverage of the Compost Bin: When you transfer food scrap into a compost container, use a well covered compost bin or keep it outdoors.

Commercial Fruit Fly Traps (If DIY Isn’t Enough)

When your invention of traps is not settling the problem then you can purchase readily made traps. Among them are such:

• Terro Fruit Fly Trap: Non-toxic and apple in shape, it uses a non-toxic liquid bait.
• Aunt Fannie FlyPunch!: A trap of natural composition, and made with vinegar.
• Raid Fruit Fly Trap: Simple and non-replenishing; does not require any refill.

These are traps that are easy and long lasting, at times even lasting more than a week.

What NOT to Do

• Never put bleach in drains because you are likely to think that it will help the situation. Bleach does not stick to organic matter which flies breed.
• Do not take a long time to solve the problem. Once a few fruit flies are produced, their number becomes hundreds within a short period of time.
• You should not swat them; you might kill a few, but the eggs and, still, more, the breeding-grounds are the whole trouble.

When to Call an Expert

In case you have tried out all these tricks and yet you still have flocks of fruit flies even after a week or two, the infestation may be grave. A professional pest control of pests may assist in finding secret breeding sites and use intense types of control.

Final Thoughts

Fruit flies do not need any special equipment and/or chemicals to trap them. You have the opportunity to easily trap and eradicate them by getting some kitchen essentials and the correct position. However, know that the key to fighting fruit flies is prevention: avoid piling things up, make them dry and well covered.

It does not matter whether you are utilizing vinegar, wine or fruit bait, consistency is the perfect formula. Put several traps, be vigilant and soon, your kitchen will bid good-bye to the fruit flies.