pamkasperi

Living in south texas with an orange, bannana and a grapefruit tree in my back yard we periodically get fruit flies when it warms up.

In the 20 years I've lived in this house, I have tried everything and usually have to let them live their cycle while pouring clorex down the drains for about a month. Well I read a tip to put flower or citrus scented dish soap in a cup of water with the suds at the top and it will kill them...they are attracted to it and when they get to the water they drown...well I thought why not...so I did it - after 3 days I have no more fruit flies....

The first day there were 50 or so dead ones in the cup and I refilled the cup at least 3 times (even dead fruit flies in my kitchen creeped me out). Each day less and less until today NO MORE!! It works....I wish I could remember where I found this tip - apparently I looked at over 100 websites that day on fruit flies....but they were right!!!

so thought I would share!!

wolfkitty

Always good to know! Thanks!

rusty quilter

Thanks for the info. Sometimes when I can peaches, the same thing happens here--I agree, it is gross. I will try your soap idea this year.

cjomomma

Thank you so much for sharing this tip. I get fruit flies al the time and have tried many things without luck. I am gonns try this 1.

erstan947

Thanks for the tip:)

MaryStoaks

Thanks Pam, I have them too! :thumbup:

pamkasperi

I really thought I was about the only person with this problem and I keep a clean house and it just makes you feel dirty and they are always in the kitchen...I've tried everything and I mean everything from double sided tape to chemicals...this is the only thing I have found that attracts and kills them (forget the apple vinegar - it didn't work for me) I got the citrus palmolive - I did use a non see through mug...hope it works for ya'll because they are annoying little buggers!

earthwalker

We sometimes get mediterranean fruit flies on our fruit trees. We find this helps:
Get large 2 litre soft drink bottles (the plastic kind), heat a skewer and make holes large enough to allow the flies in. Don't make the holes too near the bottom of the bottle. Unscrew the lid pour in some water, add some sugar, chopped banana peels and yeast if you like, you don't fill more than 1/4 the way up. Shake and hang the bottle on the trees, fruit fly get attracted to the mix fly in, can't fly out, then drown.....stops the breeding cycle and no chemicals.

QuiltnNan

excellent tip. thanks for sharing

emerald46

My sister fought fruit flies for months last year. Even an exterminator only got rid of them for a couple of weeks. They were apparently living around the plumbing of the condo upstairs. Once those people sold, no more fruit flies...go figure.