
Received little bugs buzzing round your kitchen? Congratulations, you will have fruit flies! Don’t fret. These annoying pests are fairly frequent however fortunately, it doesn’t take some huge cash, provides, or effort to eliminate them. Actually, you possibly can most likely discover the whole lot you want in your cupboards! We just lately had a fruit fly drawback in our dwelling (the primary time in over 4 years right here – we do not know what introduced them in). So I seized the chance to check 7 totally different strategies of eliminating them. Sure, there have been copious notes taken and even a spreadsheet. So immediately I’m sharing one of the best fruit fly traps and the best way to make them.
Every selfmade entice is simple to make and makes use of pure substances that we already had round the home. So let’s simply name this extraordinarily D.I.Y pleasant and chemical free. You can too set the fruit flies free exterior in case you’d somewhat not allow them to perish. Humaine fruit fly entice choices is the secret right here. We’ll additionally share some suggestions for stopping a fruit fly infestation within the first place.
What Are Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies are small flying pests which might be interested in candy fruits and a few greens (identical to their title suggests). They’re additionally drawn to sugary or fermented drinks like beer, wine, or juice. It’s possible you’ll spot them swarming round fruit bowls, rubbish cans, and even kitchen drains. They’re concerning the measurement of a grain of rice and seem like small, tan, or brownish houseflies with pink eyes. They have a tendency to point out up in the summertime or late fall when many fruits are in season.

Your fruit fly drawback could start when a number of bugs hitch a trip dwelling on a bit of fruit. However females can lay lots of of eggs of their quick lives, hatching inside as little as 12 hours. They will attain maturity in only a few days, that means a number of pests can shortly flip right into a swarm. That’s why it’s vital to eliminate fruit flies as shortly as doable.
Fruit Flies Vs. Fungus Gnats Vs. Drain Flies
Fruit flies are straightforward to confuse with different frequent family pets, particularly fungus gnats and drain flies. All are small flying bugs however appropriately figuring out them will make sure you decide the best method to eliminate them. We’ve discovered the best method to distinguish them is by the place you see them and what bigger insect they resemble.
- Fruit flies seem like small flies. They’re discovered close to fruit bowls, trash, or different smelly meals sources.
- Drain flies seem like small fuzzy moths. They’re usually discovered close to sinks and drains.
- Fungus gnats seem like small mosquitos. They’re usually discovered close to houseplants, since they breed in damp soil.
If you happen to’re not sure, you possibly can attempt one of many traps under and if it attracts the pests in your house, you’ve received fruit flies!
4 DIY Fruit Fly Traps
Eliminating fruit flies isn’t difficult or costly. All you want are some family provides and a little bit little bit of persistence. Every entice follows the identical primary components: entice the fruit fly + preserve it from escaping. We tried the next 4 DIY strategies and undoubtedly had a transparent winner in the long run. However since every methodology entails objects you most likely already personal, it doesn’t damage to attempt multiple. It’s enjoyable to be a fruit fry scientist – belief me on this. Listed below are the primary 4 strategies I examined out:
- Funnel Lure
- Plastic Wrap Lure
- Dish Cleaning soap Lure
- Rotting Fruit Lure

I’ll share extra particulars about every methodology under, together with our verdict on the backside. Simply be ready that some traps work quicker than others, and all methods could take a number of days to completely eradicate your subject.
#1: Funnel Fruit Fly Lure
This entice attracts fruit flies right into a container via a small gap within the backside of a selfmade paper funnel. The flies discover their approach in however have issue getting again out via the small gap.

Provides wanted:
- Small clear jar, cup, or container, ideally with a small or slender opening
- Piece of paper or cardstock
- Tape
- Scissors
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
- Select your container. Discover a small (ideally clear) container like an previous meals jar or plastic soda bottle. For this methodology, it’s simpler if it has a small or slender opening.
- Add apple cider vinegar. Pour a little bit little bit of apple cider vinegar, previous beer, or wine into the underside of the container. The scent will entice the fruit flies.
- Make your funnel. Wrap a small piece of paper or cardstock right into a cone form with a really small opening on the tip. Safe the form with tape. You can too reduce this opening on the finish if that’s simpler. It solely must be concerning the measurement of a grain of rice.
- Set your funnel. Place your paper cone into the opening of your container. It’s possible you’ll must reshape your funnel so it’s huge sufficient to relaxation on high of the opening of your container with out touching the ACV. Be sure that it rests firmly towards all edges of the opening, so flies can’t escape via any gaps.
- Non-obligatory out of doors ending. Carry the complete contraption exterior rigorously with out shifting the funnel (or they’ll all escape earlier than you make it out the door) after which take away the funnel and allow them to fly away.
You can too do this methodology with a storebought funnel, nonetheless you might discover that the opening on the backside of storebought funnels is just too giant and lets too many fruit flies out of your entice.
#2: Plastic Wrap Fruit Fly Lure
This entice works by attracting fruit flies with the scent of apple cider vinegar. They enter the entice via small holes within the plastic-wrapped high, however then have bother discovering their approach again out, identical to the entice above.
Provides wanted:
- Small clear jar, cup, or container
- Rubber band
- Plastic wrap or plastic bag
- Toothpick
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)

The steps to creating this plastic wrap entice are similar to the funnel entice described above. Listed below are the steps:
- Select your container. Discover a small clear, jar, cup, or different glass container. Absolutely anything works and it doesn’t have to be giant. Utilizing one thing clear makes it simpler to see the flies your trapping, however an previous soda or beer can works too.
- Add apple cider vinegar. Pour apple cider vinegar into your container. The scent will entice the flies. Previous beer or wine additionally works too, however not common white vinegar.
- Cowl with plastic. Wrap the opening tightly with plastic wrap and safe it with a rubber band. Saran wrap works, however you may as well reduce scraps from a plastic bag.
- Poke small holes. Use a toothpick to poke a number of small holes within the high of the plastic. You don’t want lots, however ensure that they’re sufficiently big for a fly to suit via.
- Non-obligatory out of doors ending. Carry the complete contraption exterior rigorously with out eradicating the plastic wrap cowl (or they’ll all escape earlier than you make it out the door) after which take away that and allow them to fly away.
This method will also be executed by poking a gap within the lid of a steel jar lid. You should utilize a mason jar or previous meals jar for this. Use a hammer and nail to puncture the highest.
#3: Dish Cleaning soap Fruit Fly Lure
In contrast to the earlier two strategies, this fruit fly entice doesn’t require making any covers. As a substitute, it depends on a soapy floor to maintain these pets from flying away. Observe: this one doesn’t mean you can set them free exterior, as they get coated within the cleaning soap.

Provides wanted:
- Small container, bowl, or dish
- Dish cleaning soap
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
The steps for making this entice are loopy easy.
- Put out some apple cider vinegar. Like the opposite traps, fill the underside of a small container, bowl, or dish with apple cider vinegar. This scent will entice the fruit flies.
- Add dish cleaning soap & combine. Squirt a number of drops of dish cleaning soap into the ACV and blend to create a soapy answer. Flies will land on the combination however then discover it tough to fly away.
This method will also be mixed with the plastic wrap and funnel methodology. Simply add some dish cleaning soap to the apple cider vinegar earlier than you cowl the highest. This introduces one other approach the flies can get caught in your contraption.
#4: Rotting Fruit Lure
We additionally examined out a few of these traps the place we swapping out apple cider vinegar for what fruit flies love most: precise fruit!

Provides wanted:
- Small glass jar, cup, or container
- Plastic wrap or paper funnel, relying in your chosen entice mechanism
- A small fruit scrap like a banana peel or apple slice
To create a rotting fruit entice, simply substitute apple cider vinegar for a bit of banana peel, apple slice, or peach in both the Plastic Wrap or Funnel entice. You can too add this fruit scrap to your ACV as nicely. Simply be ready to swap out your fruit scrap every single day or two so that you don’t introduce undesirable smells to your kitchen.
The Greatest Fruit Fly Lure
As you possibly can see in these images, we set out 4 totally different DIY traps to see which carried out one of the best. The 4 selfmade traps we examined have been a mixture of methods. They have been:
- Plastic Wrap Lure with banana peel
- Funnel Lure with ACV + banana peel
- Plastic Wrap Lure with ACV + cleaning soap
- Dish Cleaning soap Lure with ACV

For us, the clear winner was much less about what kind of entice we used and extra concerning the lure. Something with banana peel carried out MUCH higher than apple cider vinegar. Our two Plastic Wrap Traps have been practically similar, however the one with the banana peel dramatically outperformed the one with the ACV + cleaning soap. Perhaps ACV is much less engaging when there’s actual fruit close by?
So our suggestion can be – it doesn’t matter what entice you arrange – add a fruit scrap to it! We had a slight choice for the plastic wrap entice as a result of it was simpler to make and fewer liable to disruption. I by chance knocked over our funnel as soon as and launched half of the flies again into the kitchen. Oops!
What Attracts Fruit Flies Greatest?
Right here’s the place I jumped on the probability to proceed this bizarre little experiment. Since we had such good luck utilizing fruit scraps, we wished to check which form of fruit was one of the best bait. We used three fruits we already had readily available: a banana peel, apple slices, and a strawberry. We put every in a Plastic Wrap Lure side-by-side on our countertop for twenty-four hours.

Though the banana peel began off sturdy (it was essentially the most rotten originally), the fruit flies ended up being the most interested in the strawberry. The banana peel nonetheless snagged a number of flies, however the longer the strawberry rotted, the extra flies it caught. The apple slices didn’t catch a single one!
Storebought Fruit Fly Traps
If you happen to’re not having any luck with these DIY options or don’t have the time or supplies to make them, there are premade traps you should buy as a substitute. All have hundreds of constructive opinions and price lower than $20. They is perhaps price contemplating in order for you one thing that catches different forms of flying bugs, or in order for you one thing extra discreet than than a DIY entice.

- Zevo Flying Insect Lure ($19): This entice plugs into an outlet and makes use of UV mild to seize fruit flies, fungus gnats, houseflies, and extra.
- Landisun Sticky Traps ($12): These small sticky traps may be staked near the supply of the issue, whether or not they’re fruit flies in your countertop, mosquitos exterior, or fungus gnats close to your crops.
- Terro Fruit Fly Traps ($15): Apple-shaped traps that lure fruit flies in with liquid bait and forestall them from escaping. This works just for fruit flies.
- Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch ($8): This plant-based liquid bait entice appears like a trendy spice jar full of a pungent punch that fruit flies are drawn to.
- Sur La Desk Fly Lure ($15): This fashionable entice disguises its less-than-pretty operate, however doesn’t include any lure (you should add your individual ACV or fruit).
Throughout our little experiment, I picked up a pack of Terro Traps to see in the event that they carried out higher than my selfmade strategies. I left one out for twenty-four hours subsequent to our banana & strawberry traps to see which of the three carried out greatest.

As soon as once more, our selfmade strawberry entice did greatest, adopted intently by the selfmade banana peel entice. The storebought entice caught just one. HOWEVER…

Simply to make sure, we discarded each of our DIY traps and left the storebought entice out for one more 24 hours. That’s when it caught the gathering you see above. So it undoubtedly labored, simply not as nicely or as quick as our selfmade traps did. Our verdict? Use storebought traps in order for you one thing extra discreet wanting, particularly in case you plan to depart it out indefinitely… however there’s nothing dangerous concerning the selfmade ones, in reality we discovered them to be one of the simplest ways to get the fruit flies instantly!
How To Forestall Fruit Flies
Eliminating fruit flies is fairly easy, however the best-case situation is to cease them from invading within the first place. Listed below are some easy methods you possibly can stop fruit flies from taking over residence in your house.
- Clear kitchen surfaces. Wipe down kitchen counters, stovetops, tables, and another surfaces which will accumulate meals residue or spilled liquids. Fruit flies are particularly interested in fruit, candy juices, and alcohol so don’t let these sit!
- Take out your trash. Leaving meals scraps in your rubbish in a single day can shortly flip your trash can right into a fruit fly breeding floor.
- Get rid of overripe fruit. Monitor your fruit bowl for browning or rotting apples, bananas, and so on so you possibly can eliminate them earlier than they turn into an issue.
- Wash your fruit as quickly as you get it dwelling. You possibly can get rid of eggs or larvae that may come dwelling from the shop by washing produce instantly (apart from berries, which may rot quicker from the moisture).
- Retailer produce within the fridge when doable. Fruit flies received’t flourish within the chilly, so when unsure, attempt storing your fruit and greens within the fridge.
- Clear your sink drain. Meals scraps left in your drain may entice fruit flies, so be sure to run your rubbish disposal and/or flush the drain often.
Lastly, don’t panic while you spot fruit flies in your house. Sure, you wish to take motion shortly to stop the issue from getting worse. However the options on this submit are straightforward, efficient, and fast-acting. You would possibly even have some enjoyable changing into a fruit fly scientist like I did.
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