In the kitchen, a fruit fly infestation can be a truly annoying experience. Here’s how to get rid of fruit flies, including how to make your own fruit fly trap!
Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?
Reach for a peach, and what happens? A squadron of fruit flies takes to the air above the fruit bowl! But where the heck did they come from?
They probably didn’t come from your grocery store produce. They tend to wander into your home from the outside when they catch the scent of fruit that’s ripening, especially if it was starting to get a bit overripe. (In fact, fruit flies actually prefer wine and beer to fruit because they like food that has fermented.)
What Are Fruit Flies?
The tiny, yellowish, red-eyed insects are part of a large family of small flies that has about 3,000 species. Unlike houseflies, which may spread disease, fruit flies are harmless. They can live and breed in drains and garbage cans, and on damp mops and rags. Spilled juice under the refrigerator or a rotten potato at the bottom of a bin can be a happy home for the fruit fly’s larvae.
Fruit flies lay their eggs near the surface of your ripe fruit—and they can lay up to 500 eggs at a time! About 30 hours later, tiny larvae emerge and feed on the fruit, eventually turning into pupae. A week later, they are ready to take to the air.
Luckily for us, the entire life span of a fruit fly is only about two weeks. However, researchers have discovered that drinking a fermented beverage will enable a fruit fly to live a day or two longer—and a day or two is quite a bit when your life is only two weeks total!
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Eliminate Fruit Fly Breeding Grounds
The key to preventing fruit flies is to not attract them in the first place, so keeping your kitchen and dining area clean and free of potential fruit fly breeding grounds will go a long way in stopping an infestation before it begins. Some tips:
- Refrigerate or throw away ripened or damaged fruit instead of leaving it out where the fruit flies can access it. Check it regularly for blemishes or rot, too.
- Make sure you take out the garbage regularly, and consider putting a secure-fitting lid on your trash can.
- Completely clean up any spilled fruit juice, beer, or wine, and don’t leave half-empty drinks out.
- Be sure to clean your drains regularly, as flies can live there if grime builds up. Use these tips for clearing drains.
Build Fruit Fly Traps
You can buy fruit fly traps or make your own, and either way, they should be effective. One of the most common traps is the cider vinegar trap:
- Fill several glasses or jars with apple cider vinegar (or old beer) to about ½ full. The flies will be attracted to the smell of the fermented liquids.
- Add a drop of liquid dish soap to each glass and mix gently with a spoon. This breaks the surface tension of the liquid, making it so the flies can’t just float on the surface.
- Put plastic wrap on top of each glass so that it is tight, and hold the plastic wrap in place with a rubber band.
- Punch about ten holes in the plastic wrap with a toothpick, and put the glasses in an area frequented by fruit flies. Make sure the holes are wide enough for the flies to crawl through. They’ll be enticed by the smell, crawl in, and drown in the mixture.
- Tip: No plastic wrap or aluminum foil? Take several pieces of paper and roll them into funnels (taping the sides of each funnel so they don’t unravel), then place a funnel into each glass. Flies will be able to get in, but not out.
Learn More
See more tips on managing other insects and pests.
Have you ever gotten fruit flies? Share your solutions in the comments below!
Reader Comments
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Fruit flies
I had a jug of sweet tea that I was going to throw out cuz it was old, but I noticed my garrison of fruit flies were very attracted to it ....so I took a sticky fly strip and set it so if they try to fly into the jug o tea...they get stuck. If they manage to get in...when they go to get out they get stuck...I cannot for the life of me find where they are coming from...I've put soapy boiling water down my drains .. no effect...I clean my trash cans regularly and if they get full before I can take em out or if I notice fruit flies around em I'll put a trash bag over the top of the can and tie it so they cannot get out..usually only do this when getting to the dumpster is difficult, like it's storming or something.....I'm about to resort to the most lethal toxic death spray I can find.
Fruit flies, knats,
If you work outside a lot and have a knat problem you know how annoying they are,
I've found smoke helps the best I've even used those little metal tea dunkers and put cotton balls in them lit them and blew them out and the smoke for a little while and it really helps, and another thing that helps is Rosemary oil I've tried many but rosemary works the best for me I put a little on the brim of my hat some around my ears and neck, when it's real bad it only works for about half an hour, but it really does help.
I've used this trap with red
I've used this trap with red wine vinegar and added a small chunk of overripe banana to the mix. It took about a week, but the traps eliminated all the fruit flies in the house!
Methol
Use spray mixing Menthol with water
Block fruit flies in the garden
We put pantyhose on our squash and other veggies that get stung and that protects them. I’ve ordered mesh bags from amazon since we don’t have a lot of pantyhose anymore. For years I had a collection box in the office for the ladies to put their runs in - got a lot of strange comments on that practice! Retired now
Nasty gnats
Tried the vinegar and soap setting them around the house it doesn't Work. Also, house flies are out in forc. Tried strips and home made remedies. Help.
Fruit fly control
With Fruit flies, start taking out the trash more often and always remove any unrefrigerated, overripe fruit, or rotting vegetables. Locating and eliminating other breeding sites can sometimes be more challenging. Using traps or sprays may provide temporary relief from fruit flies, but eliminating the breeding site (the rotting fruit and garbage) is essential for complete control.
Fruit Fly Trap
Thank you! I remembered that they were attracted to Apple Cider Vinegar - but must have missed the part about placing plastic wrap with holes on top. Probably explains why the flies had a bit of trouble flying straight after the visit - and also why no flies at all were found dead near the dish before it dried up.
High-end Fruit Fly Trap
I accidentally discovered a very effective fruit fly trap. I was sipping on a glass of cognac, found myself getting tired, and decided to go to sleep, leaving the half-full glass on my nightstand.
When I awoke, I discovered a half dozen fruit flies floating in the cognac. Well, at least they died happy.
Naturally I removed them with a spoon, and finished the drink later. No sense in wasting fine cognac!
Fruit Flies
Use a shop vac to vacuum them. Vacuum the infested area two or three times a day, around garbage or compost bins, anywhere they congregate. After a day or two the population will be down to almost zero, or completely eradicated. Using a used wine glass or empty beer can will attract them to a target spot where you can efficiently vaccuum most at one time. The idea is to eliminate one generation before it can breed the next.
FruitFly infestation
I tried all the methods I could to get rid of the Flies but they kept coming. Finally, i saw Hot Shot No Pest Strip-2 at Walmart. On Monday I placed the strip in the kitchen where I had seen most flies. As of Friday The only bug of any kind that I have seen was a common house fly and it was on its back DEAD.
Two Fruit Fly Controls
Placing a branch of rosemary (or another strong-smelling herb like sage) on top of the fruit bowl drives them away, then create a trap with an empty Parmesan cheese container. One side has three small holes for shaking out the cheese, the other side is has a larger lid for adding your bait. Place rotting fruit/tomato pieces and beer or vinegar in. Leave the three-holed side open. When cutting fruit, add the small pieces through the larger side of the lid. Every couple of days quickly close the top (there are always a few flies hanging around the holes) and shake vigorously. Every week throw away the contents and start again so you eliminate the larva and eggs inside the container. In a couple of weeks you may find you have no more or just a few flies.
Common flies
Would like a remedy for flies out of doors. Anytime we cook on the grill, we can’t eat out of doors because the flies decend once the food is done, though we don’t have much trouble with them any other time. Any suggestions?
flies
To deter flies in general, you might try planting lavender or basil near where you eat outdoors. Or, during a cookout, it’s said that placing a sprig of rosemary on the grill will help repel flies and mosquitoes.
rue
I have a rue bush growing in my garden and I find that putting a small branch of rue on our fruit bowl keeps it free of flies. They hate the scent.
Fruit Flies
I cook with wine and always have a bottle that can't be finished before it goes off. That is my bait with a couple drops of dish soap. Works a treat.
Fruit flies
I have 2 ways to combat them. I put some apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. When I'm ready to run the dishwasher I spray the inside with the vinegar and leave the dishwasher door open. Watch tv for an hour. Then I close the door and turn it on. Gone.
If you are a bit evil, buy an electric flyswatter. Great fun. Or buy several and put the kids to work.
Fruit Flies
I make sure to rinse all of my fruit and vegetables as soon as I get home from shopping-- I have had them come in on tomatoes and onions in addition to bananas -- just toss everything into the sink and run cold water over them while unloading your groceries then let everything air dry in the dish drainer -- this has kept me fruit fly free.
Uses for salt...
Copper bottom pots (Revereware and the like) can be cleaned with a salt and lemon juice mix.
Super simple fruit flies gone
Evening: Put a few pieces of fruit into a wide-mouth Mason jar in the evening.
(Keep the lid nearby for the morning).
Remove any other distractions--clean up. They will focus on the goodies in the jar.
Morning: Very quietly, clasp the seal lid over the jar. Everyone will be there. Take them outside and release.
Problem solved.
new way to kill flies & gnats
Put 70% alcohol in a spray bottle, when they light or in window or flight, just spray them & they drop! & if they are in your windows, take a paper towel & finish cleaning your window!! Alcohol (straight) is great for cleaning glass surfaces, cuts grease in the kitchen!
Spraying Fruit Flies
Spray them enough with plain water and they'll drop!
Spraying with a mild soapy water or even just plain water doesn't necessarily kill fruit flies, but they *will* drop. Then you can gently them wipe them off the counter or backsplash with a bit of paper towel and slip it into a sealable plastic bag (I wash and save ziptops for this purpose.) When bag is full, discard.
Fruit Flies
I bought a cheese shaker at the dollar store. It works great.
Fruit flies
The battle is on ! Have a dish of vinegar in the kitchen and bathroom. Each day I am amazed at the number. Are they breeding in that confined space ? It's unbelievable !
French Flies
I have an ongoing 3 year friendship with the fruit flies that arrive for a short while each summer. It all started back when they were being a real nuisance and one day I thought *maybe I'm going about this all wrong* with all the traps that weren't working. I asked one if it had a name *I have telepathy, so I get to do things like that ^^ * and it responded "Je suis Charlie" and told me they are actually all named Charlie, THAT was when I realized *these little guys are pesky, but I can't just murder and smack them around* they became my pets... and it's crazy but they actually started reducing in numbers and stopped buzzing all disrespectful in front of my face. I've only got a few currently... left out some empty beer cans so they are chillin around the rims drinking up fumes. ;) The french flies thing is actually a double joke because one almost went in my mouth on accident once and I said to it *You are a French fly not a French fry! You don't want to be eaten!* ;D
Use Similar Technique
This also works on common house flies (all named Henry) and big roaches (all named Yugo). Offer relocation package to outside to all insects. The flies and roaches usually will take advantage of this offer. Put down small box then invite roaches to relocate outside. In morning give them a swift trip outside away from house to finish their lives away from you. Flies can be easier if you are vigilant. Before you open door to outside, call to flies to relocate. Most Henrys will be curious and go out door. Good use of imagination and humor can relieve lots of stress filled situations.
Fruit flies
I have had fruit flies appear in the middle of winter here in SE Wisconsin when we are making home-made wine. Where could they possibly be coming from? The grape product for making the wine is purchased and comes as a mash in a sealed bag. Any ideas? I usually have bananas sitting on the kitchen table. Fruit flies coming from the grocery store on the bananas, I'm thinking.
where are the fruit flies coming from?
We’ve had the same experience in the dead of winter here in New England, Nina. The bananas are the culprit!
How to get rid of fruit flies
The sweet compounds of Corn Syrup & Sugar attract the flies. This is the best way to get rid of fruit flies.
My grandma told me to put a
My grandma told me to put a small container of apple cider vinegar on top of the fridge! Its worked for me for years!
Leave an open bottle of wine
Leave an open bottle of wine near where the fruit was. I suggest waiving off all the fruit flys then moving the fruit making it more likely they find the wine. They'll go down into the bottle and then they're trapped.
I recycled a sour cream
I recycled a sour cream container and lid, marked the lid with "fruit fly catcher" and the recipe, store it under the sink when the house is fruit fly free (basically, winter), just so it doesn't get thrown out. I punched a row of small holes in the lid, put a couple tablespoons of balsamic vinegar in the container along with a dab of liquid dish detergent and a little water. This has worked like a charm for several years. When the flies are thick, I will even tuck the container into the middle of the fruit tray, and from the number of gnats I collect in the container, I think they are drawn away from the fruit by the strong balsamic.
We put a small amount of
We put a small amount of cider vinegar in a little dish, add a few drops of liquid dish soap. They are attracted to the vinegar, but cannot fly off with dish soap on their wings, and drown in the solution. Works every time.
I fill a shallow container
I fill a shallow container with a few drops of dish soap mixed into 1:1 warm water and cider vinegar. They can't resist the smell and the soap prevent them from using surface tension to land on the water. They just sink.
I put apple cider vinegar in
I put apple cider vinegar in a small container, wrap with plastic wrap, slit a hole with a knife, leave on kitchen counter. Fruit flies go in, can't get out and drown. Works every time!