Fruit Flies! ugh...

[alfsmith]

Does anyone know how to get rid of fruit flies indoors? I'm at my wits end finding them in my drink & flitting around while I'm breastfeeding!

I have an infant, so I'm not really wanting to use pesticides. I have a ciallis (sp?) plant - could this be the problem? Can I put it outdoors (I'm in Victoria, BC)?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Cheers,
Alison

[The Helpful Gardener]

Hi Allison,

We're pretty green here, so anything we offer as first line defence would be harmless unless drunk (and even then most of iut won't hurt you...

We like neem oil for a LOT of problems, but the scent can be a little strong for indoor use. Pyrethrin based insecticides are great for the flying stage, and it's made from daisies, so plenty safe (I like Safers or Schultz's Indoor).

The real problem is the stage lying in wait in the soil of the plant (or your garbage or fruit bowl or...) If it is in the soil, using BT (a harmless microbe unless you are a fly or butterfly larvae). All found at ANY good garden center...

Scott

[JulieR]

To trap fruit flies - take a piece of plain white paper, form it into a cone, as in a sno-cone cup, with the pointy end having a very small opening. Tape it so it stays in that shape, then place it in a jar that has a couple tablespoons of vinegar (i think any kind of vinegar will do) in the bottom. The flies are EXTREMELY attracted to the vinegar, will fly down the cone, into the jar and then won't be able to get out. This has worked well for me. Of course, the best way to prevent them altogether is not to leave any fruit sitting out on your cupboards.

[The Helpful Gardener]

BOTH good tips. Thanks Julie!

[opabinia51]

Try going to The Bug Lady's website, she lives in Victoria and has a locally based business dealing with insects. I'm sure that she will have an organic solution for you.

I think the web adreess is something like:

www.thebuglady.com

but, if that doesn't work just do a google search for the same title. You'll find her.
If she doesn't have a solution for you; email Richaard Ring or Neville Winchester at UVIC. They'll know what to do.

www.uvic.ca

go to the directories button and look up their names.

[The Helpful Gardener]

It may not be fruit flies but fungus gnats, a look-a-like that can be in greenhouse soils; then you really would need the BT...

[NZG]

Would one of those sticky strips work? They're bright yellow (which attracts the bugs to them) and they trap the bugs to the sticky solution on the yellow board.

[The Helpful Gardener]

We use those to track what is in the greenhouses, but that is not a curative...

[joeline11]

Alison,

I think I have a solution here. After some research on the web I see the little things are also named vinegar flies and drain flies. Whatever they are called I found a way to get rid of them for good. These homemade fruitfly traps worked for us.

http://fruitflytraps.com/hometrap.htm

And they are available in Victoria. You can pick a pre-made one up at Wellburn's Market for like $5.

Good luck!

Joeline

[The Helpful Gardener]

Thanks Joeline!

[cathynv]

Does anyone know how to get rid of fruit flies indoors? I'm at my wits end finding them in my drink & flitting around while I'm breastfeeding!

I have an infant, so I'm not really wanting to use pesticides. I have a ciallis (sp?) plant - could this be the problem? Can I put it outdoors (I'm in Victoria, BC)?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Cheers,
Alison

I had this same problem in my house and the little buggers came because I had some basil growing on my window cill. What I did was,,,,take a few cotton balls and soak in peppermint extract and place in little dishes around where the fruit flies are. I did this and I never got them back. Apparently fruit flies don`t like the smell. I think they very next day they were gone.
It would also help if you don`t store any fresh fruits or veggies on your counter top etc...
Good luck.