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Thursday, September 22, 2011

How to Trap Fruit Flies...

Last night as I was cleaning up from dessert, I noticed that there were a few fruit flies hanging out in our kitchen. I clean the kitchen sink about a million times a day, so I knew they weren't coming from there. I went through the fruit bowl and found not one piece to be rotting. Still, I took everything out of the bowl, cleaned the bowl and washed the fruit down (again).

I went to bed thinking the little guys would be gone in search of something else. What I should have known was that while we were sleeping, they were just inviting more of their friends.

I can't find the source of how they got into my home but this morning, I was on a mission to let them know it is OUR fruit, not THEIRS!

So, I did some research and I set a trap. I got out a small, shallow baking dish, plastic wrap, two chunks of nectarine, fruit punch and a knife (no, the knife was not for stabbing at the intruders).


The nectarine that sacrificed itself for my sanity.

I put the two chunks of nectarine in the dish and poured enough fruit punch to fill the bottom. Then I wrapped the dish tightly in plastic wrap. Next, I poked a few very small holes in the plastic wrap (see, I told you the knife wasn't going to be used to slay the beasts).


I know if I was a fruit fly, I would definitely fall for this trap!

The small holes allow the fruit flies in but by the time they try to fly out, they are so doped up on sugar that they can't find or figure out how to get back through the holes from which they entered.


I even went one step further and rested the bowl on some sturdy fruit.
I really wanted to entice these annoying tiny things with wings!
This is set up is like a smorgasbord to them.

The sting was actually set up about an hour ago and let me just tell you...this bust may make it to the Fruits & Vegetables Times. I currently have 9 fruit flies trapped under the plastic wrap and I do not see anymore flying around. I'm not taking it as a win just yet, but I would definitely say I am on my way there.

I can't tell you how happy I am that the solution was this simple and I didn't have to use anything made from chemicals.

Are there any chemical free tips you use to keep your family, home, food and yard safe from unwanted intruders? Please share them with me. I would love to know and appreciate your comments!

If you do not know how to leave a comment, please check out one of my previous blogs on how to do so.

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5 Comments:

At September 22, 2011 at 8:07 PM , Blogger cyndi said...

Hey Kristen,
We put a small amount of juice in a custard cup on the counter....in the morning they have either drown or are hanging on the rim - vaccum sucks them up!! (the trick is to not let them hear or see the vaccum until it's too late - move slow).

 
At September 22, 2011 at 10:11 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I cant wait til you figure out how to trap the mosquitos!

 
At September 23, 2011 at 11:04 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

You can put apple cider vinegar and a couple drops of dish detergent in a cup (we use glass so D can count how fruit flies he gets) and it works great. Organic apple cider vinegar works better for some reason.
*my first comment!!!

eryn

 
At September 25, 2011 at 9:33 PM , Blogger The Preppy Girl in Pink said...

Cyndi & Eryn, Thanks for the tips! Next time some of those annoying little guys try to fly away with my fruit, I will give them a try.

 
At September 27, 2011 at 2:37 PM , Anonymous lislawlor said...

Yes- apple cider vinegar is our trick too. YUM on the nectarine- I am hungry!

 

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