Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Use Household Vinegar to Trap Fruit Flies
How to Use Household Vinegar to Trap Fruit Flies. Fruit flies are tiny flying insects often confused with gnats. These bugs infest your kitchen when you have fruit sitting out, such as bananas, melons and grapes. Fruit flies also like potatoes, onions and squashes. Since fermented fruits and vegetables also attract fruit flies, vinegar, a fermented...
Fruit flies are tiny flying insects often confused with gnats. These bugs infest your kitchen when you have fruit sitting out, such as bananas, melons and grapes. Fruit flies also like potatoes, onions and squashes. Since fermented fruits and vegetables also attract fruit flies, vinegar, a fermented liquid, attracts the flies as well. Making traps using household vinegar to attract fruit flies is an effective method of removing an infestation.
Things You'll Need
Notebook paper
Stapler
Household vinegar
Mason jar
20 oz. soda bottle
Box cutter
Citrus dish-washing liquid
Plastic wrap
Rubber band
Mason Jar
Roll a piece of notebook paper on an angle to create a cone, leaving a 1/2-inch hole in the bottom of the cone. Staple the edges of the cone together to hold its shape.
Pour 2 to 3 ounces of household vinegar into a small mason jar.
Place the notebook paper cone into the mouth of the mason jar. Fruit flies will fly through the cone and become trapped inside, eventually drowning in the vinegar.
Soda Bottle
Using a box cutter, cut off the top third of a clean, plastic, 20 oz. soda bottle.
Add 1 to 2 inches of household vinegar to the bottle.
Invert the top third of the bottle, and place it inside the bottom two-thirds. Staple along the top edge of the inverted bottle top to secure it to the bottom.
Discard the bottle when it becomes full of fruit flies. Create a new bottle when needed.
Small Bowl
Mix 1 cup each of household vinegar and water.
Stir in 2 tsp. citrus dish-washing liquid.
Stretch a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the bowl. Secure it in place with a rubber band.
Poke the plastic wrap two or three times with a fork to make holes for the fruit flies to pass through.
Tips & Warnings
Making fruit fly traps is not enough to get rid of infestations completely. Clean your kitchen thoroughly using soap and water. Clean counters of spilled food. Throw away fermented food. Take all trash outside to keep the flies from finding the food in the trash can. Keep lids on beverages as well.
Household vinegar is also referred to as white distilled vinegar. However, any vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar, may be used in these traps.
