A small fruit fly quickly turns into hundreds. Especially in summer, the troublemakers are particularly annoying and difficult to get rid of. This prevents fruit flies and effectively protects the fruit from them.
If you grab an apple from the fruit basket in summer, a swarm of dozens of small flies usually fly towards you and quickly spread throughout the room. How do you get rid of those pesky fruit flies and prevent them from settling in the kitchen in the first place?
The female lays up to 400 eggs at a time, leading to rapid reproduction. They prefer to use ripe fruit as a breeding ground – which has earned them the nickname fruit flies. But residual or organic waste are also popular for laying eggs. After only nine days, the larva has developed into a fly and the cycle begins again. However, they do not pose any danger. Unlike some other fly species, fruit flies do not transmit diseases.
To prevent fruit flies from getting into the kitchen in the first place, there are a few things to keep in mind in summer. Prevention starts with shopping. Fruit flies buzzing over the fruit in the supermarket – hands off! Because it is very likely that the insects have already laid their eggs on it. These then hatch in the apartment and trigger a plague. Once the fruit has been bought, it is best to store it under a net or in the refrigerator. That way the fruit flies can’t get to it. Low temperatures also deter insects.
Fruit that begins to rot should be discarded immediately. The foul smell attracts the little flies as they rely primarily on their sense of smell. This tip also makes a big difference: Take out the garbage more often in the summer. Because the fruit flies also get into it. Just like over leftovers lying openly in the kitchen. Wine, fruit juices and vinegar also attract fruit flies. Always close bottles tightly and wash empties thoroughly.
A fruit fly infestation will be relatively easy to combat, unlike carpet beetles, clothes moths or bed bugs. Under no circumstances should you use chemicals. In doing so, we harm ourselves and our roommates the most when in doubt. Since the flies live mainly on the spoiled fruit in the bowl or the leftovers in the garbage can, one thing above all helps at first: take out the garbage. But there are also a number of home remedies and fruit fly traps that can help get rid of fruit flies.
Once the fruit flies are in the apartment, a homemade fruit fly trap will help. Simply fill a bowl with vinegar (e.g. apple cider vinegar), fruit juice and a dash of washing-up liquid. The smell of the vinegar and fruit juice attracts the fruit flies. The detergent, on the other hand, takes away the surface tension of the liquids. The flies can no longer hold on and drown in the mixture. It is best to place the trap next to the fruit bowl. Alcohol such as wine or liqueur can be used instead of vinegar.
A jar of pickles next to the fruit basket also works perfectly as a trap for fruit flies. When all the cucumbers have been eaten, poke small holes in the lid. Then seal well and place next to the fruit. The sweet smell of the cucumber water attracts the flies. They get in through the holes, but can’t find their way out. The same principle works with a wine bottle. Just leave a sip and set the bottle up in the kitchen. The flies buzz in and either drown in the wine or they can’t find their way out of the bottle.
There are carnivorous plants that can help fight fruit flies. These include butterwort, sundew and the Venus flytrap. Butterwort and sundew have small glands on their leaves that secrete a sticky secretion. The flies stick to it. The Venus flytrap, on the other hand, catches the flies with a snap trap. When the fruit fly enters the plant’s “mouth,” the trap slams shut and locks it in. After that, the Venus flytrap releases a secretion that it uses to digest its prey. All three pest controllers need a bright location.
Herbs can also help against fruit flies. Such as the holy herb, also known as olive herb. If the herb is dried, the strong smell deters the flies. Just hang the bouquet in the kitchen and the little pests say goodbye. The smell of basil or cloves is also not well received by fruit flies. Either put a basil plant in front of the window or put a lemon studded with cloves next to the fruit basket.
If you want to get rid of the fruit flies but not kill them, you should use live traps. Simply put a bait like a banana peel in a glass. Then cover with a perforated cellophane film. If you have caught a few animals, take the jar outside and release the fruit flies. The same works with a small bag as well. Just put the bait in and wait for some fruit flies to pounce on it. Then close the bag and take it to the door.