How to Trap Fruit Flies
I have an ingenious solution to a fruit fly problem that seems unavoidable. If you love keeping bowls of fresh fruit on my counter, sadly, the fruit flies come as a package deal. But once you learn how to make this dead simple fruit fly trap, they will no longer be a problem.
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I've made a million different types of DIY traps for fruit flies, and this one is by far the best way. Trust me - I've tried them all. From using rotting fruit, ripe fruit, different vinegars, fruit juice, dish soap in a small bowl to the inverted plastic bottle and the paper cone... you name it, we've tried it.
If you've been searching for the ultimate fruit fly trap for years, this one is the best by far. Don't let these pesky fruit flies ruin another summer!
This DIY trap is the easiest way to keep these little buggers at bay. It’s rid my kitchen of fruit flies time and time again and it will do the same for you!
Keep reading learn how to make the simplest, yet most effective homemade fruit fly trap with simple household materials in less than 5 minutes.
Fruit flies love the sweet tomatoes in this easy no cook sun gold tomato pasta! Using up your produce helps to keep bugs away in the first place!
Why This homemade Fruit fly trap Works
- It attracts the fruit flies and then prevents them from escaping.
- It's simple, yet effective.
- Uses all natural, common household products.
- Takes just a few minutes to make.
What you'll need to make a DIY fruit fly trap
A Clear Glass - Use a short glass rather than a tall glass or highball glass. This way the vinegar scent will be more enticing. I find glass works better than plastic, and the more transparent the glass, the better it will work. Avoid frosted glasses, or glasses with etching or designs.
Apple Cider Vinegar - I have experimented with all different types of ingredients from wine to rotting fruit to honey, but none of them work as well as apple cider vinegar. It makes really good bait. You can use it with the mother or without, it doesn't really make a difference.
Plastic Wrap - Just regular old sedan wrap or cling wrap. Don't use Press n Seal or anything that isn't crystal clear.
Toothpick, Skewer, Safety Pin, Sewing Needle, etc. - You will need something very small and pointy to make tiny little holes in the plastic wrap. This will allow the fruit flies to enter, but not escape.
How to make a Fruit Flies Trap
- Pour the apple cider vinegar into a glass - I call for a ¼ cup apple cider vinegar but you only need a little bit.
- Cover the glass with a piece of plastic wrap, making sure it's tight and flush to the glass. Secure the reaming pieces to the sides of the glass, using a rubber band if needed.
- Use a toothpick or other sharp object to poke holes in the plastic wrap. You want to make the holes big enough so the flies can get in, but not so big that they can find their way out. About 10-15 small holes should do.
- Put your nifty little fly trap right next to your fruit bowl, and give it a day or so to work its magic. Overnight is best!
Fruit Fly Trap DIY Tips
- A shorter glass will help the scent of the bait more easily entice the fruit flies, and a clear glass will make it more difficult for them to find their way out. Avoid using a mason jar.
- Make sure the plastic wrap is very taught against the top of the cup.
- Don't make the holes too big or it could allow the fruit flies to escape.
- Place your diy fruit fly trap right next to your fruit bowl for best results. You may need multiple traps in different locations.
- To speed up the trapping, shine a light on your trap overnight, making sure all other lights are turned off.
How to keep fruit flies from coming back
- The traps only work for so long and will need to get replaced every 1-2 weeks. Once the bait stops working effectively, it's time to make a new one.
- Always wash and dry your produce in soapy water before leaving it on the counter. Female fruit flies lay eggs on the outsides of fruit (especially ripe banana and stone fruit!), so doing this can lower the number of new fruit flies entering your home.
- If your infestation is particularly bad, it's best to remove all fruit from your counter and store it in the refrigerator. It's also a good idea to throw out any old fruit that's over ripe.
- Fruit flies will also lay eggs in your garbage disposal, so be sure to clean and disinfect your sink regularly to keep the flies away.
How to Trap Fruit Flies FAQs
You can use any type of vinegar, but apple cider vinegar works the best.
It may have lost it's attractiveness to the flies. Try making a new trap, in a different glass, and place it in a different area. If it's still not working, try using a different liquid from the list below.
You can use any type of vinegar, sugar water, bruised pieces of fruit, fruit juice, or leftover wine in place of the ACV.
I think this trap works better than the ones that use dish soap. I find the pure apple cider vinegar is better at attracting the flies, and the plastic wrap does a better job at preventing them from escaping.
Did you try this fruit fly trap? Please leave a star ⭐️ rating and comment and tag your creations @ColeyCooks on Instagram!
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Homemade Fruit Flies Trap
Materials
- 1 clear drinking glass *short, not frosted or etched
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 toothpick, skewer, safety pin, sewing needle, etc. *anything small and sharp for poking holes
- 1 sheet plastic wrap *not press n seal, must be clear
Instructions
- Pour the apple cider vinegar into a glass.
- Cover the glass with plastic wrap, making sure it's tight and flush to the glass. Secure the reaming pieces to the sides of the glass.
- Use a toothpick or other sharp object to poke several tiny holes in the plastic wrap. You want to make the holes big enough so the flies can get in, but not so big that they can find their way out. About 10-15 holes should do.
- Put your nifty little fly trap right next to your fruit bowl, and give it a day or so to work its magic. Overnight is best!
Notes
- A shorter glass will help the scent of the ACV more easily entice the fruit flies, and a clear glass will make it more difficult for them to find their way out.
- Make sure the plastic wrap is very taught against the top of the cup.
- Don't make the holes too big or it could allow the fruit flies to escape.
- Place your trap right next to your fruit bowl for best results. You may need multiple traps in multiple places.
- To speed up the trapping, shine a light on your trap overnight, making sure all other lights are turned off.
- The traps need to get replaced every 1-2 weeks. Once they stop working effectively, it's time to make a new one.
- Always wash and dry your produce in soapy water before leaving it on the counter. Fruit fly eggs live on the outsides of fruit, so doing this can lower the number of new fruit flies entering your home.
- If your infestation is particularly bad, it's best to remove all fruit from your counter and store it in the refrigerator.
THIS WORKS. I'm so glad I found your page becuase my fruit fly problem was out of control. I made this last night and today I can't get over how many are in there. It's gross but satisfying!!!! Thank you!!!!
SO glad it worked for you Jill! It's a game changer!
one thing we do is add a few drops of dishwashing liquid, it coats their wings.
Yup, I do this too. If you mix a little dishwashing liquid to the ACV, the fruit flies won't fly out because it sticks to their wings, making it difficult to fly.back up. They can crawl out, but few have ever done that.
The only way I will believe that is if you video yourself drinking it. *waits*
awesome! haha, thanks. Its magic!
Hehehe!! My mom used to say (about ANY insects in the house), “all unwelcome guests will be killed on the spot!” as she took a fly swatter to the picture window. I pretty much concur! We’ve been fortunate so far with fruit flies (or lack thereof), but in previous years, if the infestation (I really dislike that word) got out of hand, I’d take the vacuum hose to the kitchen area. I like the ACV idea as a preventative, though. Thanks, Coley!
I got close to the vacuum this week as my cherry tomatoes were going bad quicker than I could use them! The fruit flies were out of control. But the ACV totally works. Give it a shot!! See you soon!