Flavorista

How to Kill a Fruit Fly

August 4th, 2010

Anyone else having fruit fly issues?

With all of the gorgeous summer produce out on the counter, it is understandable that fruit flies might find your kitchen an attractive place to hang out.  I can tolerate a few fruits flies but just one single fly can drive Marco crazy bonkers.

I cannot remember where I learned this trick but it is cheap and super effective.  Even a fruit fly infestation can be cured with these simple traps over the course of a few days. 

Place some ripe fruit into a glass.  I have had great luck with bananas, peaches and nectarines.  A small amount of red wine mixed with some sugar also works.

Cover the glass with taught plastic wrap and use a rubber band to hold it in place.  Poke one small hole in the top of the plastic wrap using a skewer or pencil tip.  Set the glass in the area where you have seen fruit flies.

Sit back and watch (or in Marco’s case get on with life and stop obsessing).  Flies are drawn to the scent of the fruit.  They can get in but they can’t get out.

Fruit flies only live about 24 hours but they reproduce rapidly.  After a few days, place the glass and all its inhabitants into your fridge or freezer.  Once all the fruit flies have died in the chilled air, clean out the glass and start over.

I promise that you will be amazed at the effectiveness of this simple trap.  Fruit flies be gone!

Entry Filed under: In Season,Uncategorized