So I bought fruit at my local grocery store just like I always do last month, but now my kitchen is a big swarm of fruit flies. I’ve tried just swatting them when I see them and those sticky fly strips, but they just will not go away. They are driving me crazy! Please tell me what can you use to get rid of fruit flies?
Danielle Melton, Memphis
Flies are annoying, and fruit flies may be the single most annoying pest alive. They can be hard to get rid because of how quickly (and plentifully) they breed. While there are commercial options available, it’s pretty easy to take care of the problem yourself. Luckily, some traps are very effective against them and are some of the ideal natural ways to kill fruit flies. Take a look at the rundown.
You wantto use a jar trap or a funnel trap to get rid of fruit flies quickly. For a jar trap, you’ll want to put fruit in the bottom of a jar,covering the top with plastic wrap. You’ll need to make little holes in the wrap for the flies to enter. Luckily,they aren’t smart enough to figure out how to get out.
For a funnel trap, use garden vinegar and fruit to lure the fruit flies into the glass. A rolled up piece of paper serves as a funnel blocking all other exits, and the fruit flies drown. For a more detailed guide on these traps and others, check our post on how to repel flies and our full article here:https://www.tipsbulletin.com/the-ultimate-guide-on-how-to-get-rid-of-flies/
Similar methods work for getting rid of other garden pests like earwigs and slugs. To make a DIY earwig trap, use a shallow lid and add white or apple cider vinegar. Bury the lid to the rim in the soil near the plants where the pests lurk. They are drawn to the trap rather than your plants and drown in the liquid. Replace it as needed.
Of course, the best way to get rid of fruit flies is to never have them in the first place. So make sure you always thoroughly wash any fruit you buy once you get it home. Fruit flies usually end up in your kitchen because the egg sacks have stowed away on the fruit, so washing the fruit will remove the sacks.