It fruit fly time how to eradicate?

[Robin Rastle]

Its the season for those tiny fruit flies that want to dance in front of your eyes - very annoying. I have been told that these can also spread microbes to spoil your brewing. They get everywhere.

Canned Fly spray doesnt work on them

Tried a jar with little syrup with a paper lid and some pin holes and this does catch them but how many jars to scatter round my place?

Anyone have some remedies?

 

[Lampy]

I have used the jar trick, but with a bit of vinegar, water, and dish soap. The vinegar smells like fermented/rotted fruits and attracts the flies. I suppose you could also put beer with soap in the jar. I cover them with plastic wrap and poke little holes for the flies to find their way in.

 

[doublejef]

Bananas are by far their favorite fruit.

 

[Broken Crow]

 

[Bobby_M]

Cups or jars with either wine or apple cider vinegar and a drop of dish soap (no more than one drop).

Instead of a flat paper with holes, make paper cones that sit in the jar like a funnel. Tape it all the way around. Ideally, the pointy end of the cone should be about 1/2" above the liquid. They fly in and then can't figure out how to find the escape hole because the clear glass looks like the better option. They get tired and hit the water and that's that.

I typically have an issue once a year and this has always fixed it in a matter of a couple days.

 

[Maylar]

These work too...

fruit fly traps

 

[FloppyKnockers]

These have always been my go-to. A piece of fruit, a couple ounces of beer, keg dredges, etc. will collect all of them.

Cut the top off a plastic bottle, invert the top, tape around if there are gaps.

 

[jdubdvdt]

You need to use a bait and trap system like others have suggested.

If you have eliminated their food source (fruit, bananas usually) they're hanging out in your drains and breeding. You will need another method most likely. I would recommend Gentrol IGR (insect growth regulator) or even better Nibor Insecticide Foam + IGR.

 

[Deadalus]

They hung around forever last year, even with vinegar/water/soap traps. Seemed like a deep clean of the kitchen finally offed them. We did a complete wipe down of all the cabinets, walls, and appliances using mostly Fantastic. They are so small and quick breeding.