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Fruit fly solutions?
The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly
problem. We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a bowl on the counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. The counter tops and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. Glasses of orange juice used to get a quick rinse before being put in the dishwasher. Now they're getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the dishwasher. The garbage has a plastic liner and is behind a closet door. The fruit flies aren't gathering there. And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't drink a glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget to wash the glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing it appropriately. Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on poisons. Fly paper? It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? (The windows have screens, but we all know how much good those do.) (Jim suggested that they've been evolving to find sweets longer than we've been evolving to do away with fruit flies.) Help! --Lia |
Fruit fly solutions?
Julia Altshuler wrote:
> > The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly > problem. We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a > bowl on the counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. > The counter tops and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. Glasses of > orange juice used to get a quick rinse before being put in the > dishwasher. Now they're getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the > dishwasher. The garbage has a plastic liner and is behind a closet > door. The fruit flies aren't gathering there. > > And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't drink > a glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget to wash > the glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. > > We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing > it appropriately. > > Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on > poisons. Fly paper? > > It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? > (The windows have screens, but we all know how much good those do.) > (Jim suggested that they've been evolving to find sweets longer than > we've been evolving to do away with fruit flies.) > > Help! > > --Lia Make a 'fruit fly trap'. Basically, place a funnel inside a glass that's baited with favorite choice of fruit (juice). Secure the edges of the glass around the funnel. Make sure the bottom of the funnel is a couple or three inches above the bait. The flies will go through the funnel to get the bait, but they won't be able to escape. Hope this makes sense. Sky, who's dealing with FFs too -- Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer! Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice |
Fruit fly solutions?
"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message . .. > The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly problem. > We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a bowl on the > counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. The counter tops > and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. Glasses of orange juice used > to get a quick rinse before being put in the dishwasher. Now they're > getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the dishwasher. The garbage has a > plastic liner and is behind a closet door. The fruit flies aren't > gathering there. > > > And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't drink a > glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget to wash the > glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. > > > We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing it > appropriately. > > > Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on poisons. > Fly paper? > > > It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? (The > windows have screens, but we all know how much good those do.) (Jim > suggested that they've been evolving to find sweets longer than we've been > evolving to do away with fruit flies.) > > > Help! > > > --Lia A few years back we had a similar problem with fruit flies. Eventually we found out they were hatching new ones, which was why there always seemed to be more! What I did was make a simple fruit syrup and put it in a bottle, then make a paper funnel and put it in the top. The fruit flies would go in, but weren't very adept at getting back out, so it was pretty good at catching most of them. The rest I killed the old fashioned way...with a fly swatter. It worked for us, so I hope it works for you! kimberly -- http://eating-sandiego.blogspot.com/ http://www.revver.com/video/1100047/patriot-pilot/# > |
Fruit fly solutions?
On Aug 22, 3:33*pm, Sky > wrote:
> Julia Altshuler wrote: > > > The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly > > problem. *We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a > > bowl on the counter to ripen. *Now everything is in the refrigerator. > > The counter tops and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. *Glasses of > > orange juice used to get a quick rinse before being put in the > > dishwasher. *Now they're getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the > > dishwasher. *The garbage has a plastic liner and is behind a closet > > door. *The fruit flies aren't gathering there. > > > And still the fruit flies persist. *It's gotten to where we can't drink > > a glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. *If we forget to wash > > the glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. > > > We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing > > it appropriately. > > > Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? *Naturally, we're not big on > > poisons. *Fly paper? > > > It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? > > (The windows have screens, but we all know how much good those do.) > > (Jim suggested that they've been evolving to find sweets longer than > > we've been evolving to do away with fruit flies.) > > > Help! > > > --Lia > > Make a 'fruit fly trap'. *Basically, place a funnel inside a glass > that's baited with favorite choice of fruit (juice). *Secure the edges > of the glass around the funnel. *Make sure the bottom of the funnel is a > couple or three inches above the bait. *The flies will go through the > funnel to get the bait, but they won't be able to escape. *Hope this > makes sense. > > Sky, who's dealing with FFs too > > -- > Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer! > Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - Add a little yeast & sugar to the fruit or juice to drive them wild! I make a paper funnel- that way, you can adjust it to fit your glass or jar... |
Fruit fly solutions?
merryb wrote:
> > On Aug 22, 3:33 pm, Sky > wrote: > > Julia Altshuler wrote: > > > > > The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly > > > problem. We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a > > > bowl on the counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. > > > The counter tops and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. Glasses of > > > orange juice used to get a quick rinse before being put in the > > > dishwasher. Now they're getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the > > > dishwasher. The garbage has a plastic liner and is behind a closet > > > door. The fruit flies aren't gathering there. > > > > > And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't drink > > > a glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget to wash > > > the glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. > > > > > We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing > > > it appropriately. > > > > > Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on > > > poisons. Fly paper? > > > > > It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? > > > (The windows have screens, but we all know how much good those do.) > > > (Jim suggested that they've been evolving to find sweets longer than > > > we've been evolving to do away with fruit flies.) > > > > > Help! > > > > > --Lia > > > > Make a 'fruit fly trap'. Basically, place a funnel inside a glass > > that's baited with favorite choice of fruit (juice). Secure the edges > > of the glass around the funnel. Make sure the bottom of the funnel is a > > couple or three inches above the bait. The flies will go through the > > funnel to get the bait, but they won't be able to escape. Hope this > > makes sense. > > > > Sky, who's dealing with FFs too > > > > -- > > Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer! > > Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text - > > Add a little yeast & sugar to the fruit or juice to drive them wild! I > make a paper funnel- that way, you can adjust it to fit your glass or > jar... I found a website that might help -- http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef621.asp -- I just used a large plastic funnel because I wasn't so adept at making a paper funnel <G>. Sky -- Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer! Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice |
Fruit fly solutions?
Julia Altshuler wrote:
> Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on > poisons. Fly paper? Nothing ever worked better for me than a glass of dry white wine in a wine glass, just left out to sit. Worked better than beer. > It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? One time I had a fruit fly infestation that didn't want to quit. Eventually I found a bag of liquidized potatoes that had hidden themselves in a cabinet. Once that disgusting mess was cleaned up, problem solved. If you have a continuing problem, they are still hatching somewhere, I'm sorry to say. You need to find the source in your house. nancy |
Fruit fly solutions?
On Aug 22, 3:20�pm, Julia Altshuler > wrote:
> The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a > summer fruit fly problem... � > Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? �Naturally, > we're not big on poisons. �Fly paper? I bought a pitcher plant (carnivorous) at a farmers market. It's cheap, not particularly attractive, but it works. |
Fruit fly solutions?
Julia Altshuler wrote:
> > And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't > drink a glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget > to wash the glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. Rinse out the empty wine bottles as soon as they're empty. |
Fruit fly solutions?
On Aug 22, 3:54*pm, Nina > wrote:
> On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:50:22 -0400, "Nancy Young" > > wrote: > > >Julia Altshuler wrote: > > >> Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? *Naturally, we're not big on > >> poisons. *Fly paper? > > >Nothing ever worked better for me than a glass of dry white > >wine in a wine glass, just left out to sit. *Worked better than > >beer. * > > >> It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? > > >One time I had a fruit fly infestation that didn't want to quit. > >Eventually I found a bag of liquidized potatoes that had hidden > >themselves in a cabinet. *Once that disgusting mess was cleaned > >up, problem solved. > > This has been my experience, too. *There's something somewhere that > they're eating. *Eliminate that and the problem will (eventually) go > away. > > Flour moths are even worse... I had those in my last house, and we > never completely got rid of them. *(We had kind of a nasty selling > experience with that house, so part of me has this evil wish that they > are still tormenting the current owners.) > > Nina OMG! We had those, too. Little brown moths, right? We had a HELLUVA time getting rid of them. I finally got a pheromone thing that got them. I threw soooo much stuff out trying to get rid of them. You will never guess where they were - in a ziplock bag of white chocolate. It was disgusting- a bunch of moth wormy things.....ewwwwww! |
Flour/woollie bugs/moths; was Fruit fly solutions?
merryb wrote:
> > On Aug 22, 3:54 pm, Nina > wrote: > > > > Flour moths are even worse... I had those in my last house, and we > > never completely got rid of them. (We had kind of a nasty selling > > experience with that house, so part of me has this evil wish that they > > are still tormenting the current owners.) > > > > Nina > > OMG! We had those, too. Little brown moths, right? We had a HELLUVA > time getting rid of them. I finally got a pheromone thing that got > them. I threw soooo much stuff out trying to get rid of them. You will > never guess where they were - in a ziplock bag of white chocolate. It > was disgusting- a bunch of moth wormy things.....ewwwwww! I think I read here on RFC that placing bay leaves in drawers, closets, shelving, and such can help to keep those flour moths/woollie bugs at bay (pun intended <g>). I haven't tried this trick yet. Does anyone know for sure? Sky, who'll probably soon buy some bay leaves in bulk -- Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer! Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice |
Fruit fly solutions?
On Aug 22, 4:09*pm, Nina > wrote:
> On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:01:59 -0700 (PDT), merryb > > wrote: > > > > > > >On Aug 22, 3:54*pm, Nina > wrote: > >> On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:50:22 -0400, "Nancy Young" > > >> wrote: > > >> >Julia Altshuler wrote: > > >> >> Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? *Naturally, we're not big on > >> >> poisons. *Fly paper? > > >> >Nothing ever worked better for me than a glass of dry white > >> >wine in a wine glass, just left out to sit. *Worked better than > >> >beer. * > > >> >> It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? > > >> >One time I had a fruit fly infestation that didn't want to quit. > >> >Eventually I found a bag of liquidized potatoes that had hidden > >> >themselves in a cabinet. *Once that disgusting mess was cleaned > >> >up, problem solved. > > >> This has been my experience, too. *There's something somewhere that > >> they're eating. *Eliminate that and the problem will (eventually) go > >> away. > > >> Flour moths are even worse... I had those in my last house, and we > >> never completely got rid of them. *(We had kind of a nasty selling > >> experience with that house, so part of me has this evil wish that they > >> are still tormenting the current owners.) > > >> Nina > > >OMG! We had those, too. Little brown moths, right? We had a HELLUVA > >time getting rid of them. I finally got a pheromone thing that got > >them. I threw soooo much stuff out trying to get rid of them. You will > >never guess where they were - in a ziplock bag of white chocolate. It > >was disgusting- a bunch of moth wormy things.....ewwwwww! > > The pheromone thing was the best thing we ever tried, and it still > only mostly got rid of them. *And they ate enormous Belgian chocolate > bar that my chef sister had gotten for me... that meant WAR. *They > love chocolate, and as far as I can tell, they can get through > anything. > > Nina- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - That really surprised me to find them in chocolate- the *******s!! At least mine was white chocolate- you lost a dark one :( |
Flour/woollie bugs/moths; was Fruit fly solutions?
Sky wrote:
> > I think I read here on RFC that placing bay leaves in drawers, closets, > shelving, and such can help to keep those flour moths/woollie bugs at > bay (pun intended <g>). I haven't tried this trick yet. Does anyone > know for sure? > > Sky, who'll probably soon buy some bay leaves in bulk It might help a tiny bit if you have a tiny problem. I'd say your best bet is to go through your cupboards carefully, discard anything that seems old to you, and keep everything else in the pasta-grain-bean-rice family in the freezer for a year. Meanwhile, clean the cupboards with a solution of 4:1 water:bleach. You get flour moths when you import the eggs with a purchase. From there, they lay and hatch, lay and hatch. The freezer doesn't do anything except keep the eggs from hatching for the time they're frozen. They thaw and hatch when you remove them. So cleaning the cupboards and keeping anything edible out of them for a while is your best bet in halting the infestation. --Lia |
Flour/woollie bugs/moths; was Fruit fly solutions?
Julia Altshuler wrote:
> > Sky wrote: > > > > I think I read here on RFC that placing bay leaves in drawers, closets, > > shelving, and such can help to keep those flour moths/woollie bugs at > > bay (pun intended <g>). I haven't tried this trick yet. Does anyone > > know for sure? > > > > Sky, who'll probably soon buy some bay leaves in bulk > > It might help a tiny bit if you have a tiny problem. I'd say your best > bet is to go through your cupboards carefully, discard anything that > seems old to you, and keep everything else in the pasta-grain-bean-rice > family in the freezer for a year. Meanwhile, clean the cupboards with a > solution of 4:1 water:bleach. You get flour moths when you import the > eggs with a purchase. From there, they lay and hatch, lay and hatch. > The freezer doesn't do anything except keep the eggs from hatching for > the time they're frozen. They thaw and hatch when you remove them. So > cleaning the cupboards and keeping anything edible out of them for a > while is your best bet in halting the infestation. > > --Lia Thanks for the advice, Lia. I'll go through my pantry soon anywho, as I intend to do some major painting there. Sky, who hopes intentions come to fruition ;\ -- Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer! Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice |
Fruit fly solutions?
"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message . .. > The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly problem. > We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a bowl on the > counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. The counter tops > and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. Glasses of orange juice used > to get a quick rinse before being put in the dishwasher. Now they're > getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the dishwasher. The garbage has a > plastic liner and is behind a closet door. The fruit flies aren't > gathering there. > > > And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't drink a > glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget to wash the > glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. > > > We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing it > appropriately. > > > Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on poisons. > Fly paper? > > > It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? (The > windows have screens, but we all know how much good those do.) (Jim > suggested that they've been evolving to find sweets longer than we've been > evolving to do away with fruit flies.) > > > Help! > > > --Lia Apple cider vinegar works great for a bait too and it kills them when they land in it. Can be watered down a bit. DH |
Flour/woollie bugs/moths; was Fruit fly solutions?
> Sky wrote: > > > I think I read here on RFC that placing bay leaves in drawers, closets, > > shelving, and such can help to keep those flour moths/woollie bugs at > > bay (pun intended <g>). *I haven't tried this trick yet. *Does anyone > > know for sure? ================================================== =========== Go ahead and put the bay leaves in your canisters of anything floury, Worked for me, You might notice a bay leaf smell to the flour but I never minded it and I couldn't taste it at all, (but then I rarely bake sweets). Avoid refrigerating peaches - that's how they get mooshy and woody. I used to taste the sample peaches in the store, pick them out soooooooo carefully - making certain they smelled good and peachy. Then I'd take them home and put them in the fridge. By the next day they'd be inedible. Now I put them in a brown paper bag on the counter and every one has been perfect! Learned that from Lynn Rosetto Casper on the Splendid Table (NPR). Lynn in Fargo No longer refrigerating fruits including tomatoes |
Fruit fly solutions?
"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message . .. > The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly problem. > We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a bowl on the > counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. The counter tops > and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. Glasses of orange juice used > to get a quick rinse before being put in the dishwasher. Now they're > getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the dishwasher. The garbage has a > plastic liner and is behind a closet door. The fruit flies aren't > gathering there. > > > And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't drink a > glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget to wash the > glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. > > > We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing it > appropriately. > > > Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on poisons. > Fly paper? > > > It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? (The > windows have screens, but we all know how much good those do.) (Jim > suggested that they've been evolving to find sweets longer than we've been > evolving to do away with fruit flies.) Well it ain't just you. This summer in SoCal has been remarkably mild. So far we are almost done with summer and I can count the 100+ days on one hand. Mildest August I think I have ever known in these parts. I have had no less than 3 huge fly infestations. They have been the worst ever. Great big huge fat green flys. Utterly disgusting. I spent hours sucking them up with the vacum cleaner. Also, huge problem with tiny black flies that almost feel like they are biting. Gnats are a big problem too. This has been a banner year for flies. Maybe the mild weather? I don't know. Paul |
Keeping peaches, was Flour/woollie bugs/moths
Lynn from Fargo wrote:
> > > Sky wrote: > > > > > I think I read here on RFC that placing bay leaves in drawers, closets, > > > shelving, and such can help to keep those flour moths/woollie bugs at > > > bay (pun intended <g>). I haven't tried this trick yet. Does anyone > > > know for sure? > ================================================== =========== > > Go ahead and put the bay leaves in your canisters of anything floury, > Worked for me, You might notice a bay leaf smell to the flour but I > never minded it and I couldn't taste it at all, (but then I rarely > bake sweets). > > Avoid refrigerating peaches - that's how they get mooshy and woody. I > used to taste the sample peaches in the store, pick them out soooooooo > carefully - making certain they smelled good and peachy. Then I'd > take them home and put them in the fridge. By the next day they'd be > inedible. Now I put them in a brown paper bag on the counter and every > one has been perfect! Learned that from Lynn Rosetto Casper on the > Splendid Table (NPR). > > Lynn in Fargo > No longer refrigerating fruits including tomatoes Well no wonder why the peaches I've purchased this year didn't fare so well. I'd put them in the fridge! Thanks for the tip, Lynn. At least I do know not to put tomatoes in the fridge - my grandmother taught me that some years ago. Sky -- Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer! Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice |
Fruit fly solutions?
Julia Altshuler wrote:
> The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly > problem. We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a > bowl on the counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. > The counter tops and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. Glasses of > orange juice used to get a quick rinse before being put in the > dishwasher. Now they're getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the > dishwasher. The garbage has a plastic liner and is behind a closet > door. The fruit flies aren't gathering there. > > > And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't drink > a glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget to wash > the glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. > > > We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing > it appropriately. > > > Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on > poisons. Fly paper? > > Many garden centers have sticky yellow strips you can put in a plant pot to trap whitefly. I don't see why they wouldn't also attract and trap fruit flies. I wonder if your fruit flies are coming home with you right on the fruit as eggs that hatch when they get in the house. Do you have houseplants with possibly the flies lurking in the plant soil? When we lived on the east coast we often had them on fruit, mostly bananas, but in desert-dry Colorado I don't think I've ever seen one. gloria p |
Fruit fly solutions?
Sky > wrote in
: > Julia Altshuler wrote: >> >> The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly >> problem. We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a >> bowl on the counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. >> The counter tops and sinks are scrubbed to unusually clean. Glasses of >> orange juice used to get a quick rinse before being put in the >> dishwasher. Now they're getting washed thoroughly, THEN put in the >> dishwasher. The garbage has a plastic liner and is behind a closet >> door. The fruit flies aren't gathering there. >> >> And still the fruit flies persist. It's gotten to where we can't drink >> a glass of wine with dinner without them hovering. If we forget to wash >> the glass, they're all over it when we turn our backs. >> >> We're starting to suspect the garbage disposal, but we've been rinsing >> it appropriately. >> >> Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on >> poisons. Fly paper? >> >> It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? >> (The windows have screens, but we all know how much good those do.) >> (Jim suggested that they've been evolving to find sweets longer than >> we've been evolving to do away with fruit flies.) >> >> Help! >> >> --Lia > > Make a 'fruit fly trap'. Basically, place a funnel inside a glass > that's baited with favorite choice of fruit (juice). I have found that adding a little apple cider vinegar works well, too. > Secure the edges > of the glass around the funnel. Make sure the bottom of the funnel is a > couple or three inches above the bait. The flies will go through the > funnel to get the bait, but they won't be able to escape. Hope this > makes sense. > Putting plastic wrap with small holes cut in also works. Saerah |
Fruit fly solutions?
"Nancy Young" > wrote in
: > Julia Altshuler wrote: > >> Would vacuuming the AIR do any good? Naturally, we're not big on >> poisons. Fly paper? > > Nothing ever worked better for me than a glass of dry white > wine in a wine glass, just left out to sit. Worked better than > beer. > >> It makes sense that they're outside, but what's bringing them inside? > > One time I had a fruit fly infestation that didn't want to quit. > Eventually I found a bag of liquidized potatoes that had hidden > themselves in a cabinet. Once that disgusting mess was cleaned > up, problem solved. > ugh, rotten potatoes are one of the worst smells, IMO. Saerah |
Fruit fly solutions?- The funnel trap
We tried the funnel trap.
Results so far: The flies like the outside of the trap far more than the inside. They seem stuck to the outside of the paper until you tap it. Then they go back to hover mode. I swear I was seeing those slow hovering un-slappable fruit flies in my sleep. We baited one trap with water, orange juice, and a drop of dishwashing liquid. The soap was to help them drown if they did land on the water, as opposed to finding their way out. We baited the other trap with some red wine that was unfinished when we left for the trip. We thought it would be good for cooking. We put the traps on either side of sink before bed. The distance and bait made no difference. We're going to try cutting down the size of the paper to only a few inches above the lip of the bottle (actually a plastic sports bottle that I used to take with me to the gym). Today we roll the refrigerator away from the wall to clean behind it. And we clean the garbage area which is behind a closet door anyway. We'll do the whole floor again. Other than the drains, we can't think of anywhere else to clean. We tried the tape over the drain trick. It didn't work. I have a friend coming over tonight. We were going to spend the day cleaning anyway. I'll try to find some fly paper when we go out for groceries. --Lia |
Fruit fly solutions?- fruit fly life cycle
Sky wrote:
> > I found a website that might help -- > http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef621.asp -- I just used a > large plastic funnel because I wasn't so adept at making a paper funnel > <G>. Thanks. If anyone missed it, that's a great webpage. Reading it over, I see that it's possible that they're coming from outside. We do have a garden, and we do have a few rotting tomatoes in the compost pile. We now have the windows shut in the kitchen, but they could be coming in through the bedroom screens. --Lia |
Fruit fly solutions?- The weather?
Paul M. Cook wrote:
> > Well it ain't just you. This summer in SoCal has been remarkably mild. So > far we are almost done with summer and I can count the 100+ days on one > hand. Mildest August I think I have ever known in these parts. > > I have had no less than 3 huge fly infestations. They have been the worst > ever. Great big huge fat green flys. Utterly disgusting. I spent hours > sucking them up with the vacum cleaner. Also, huge problem with tiny black > flies that almost feel like they are biting. Gnats are a big problem too. > This has been a banner year for flies. > > Maybe the mild weather? I don't know. I don't know, either. In New England, the weather has been tropical. That's hot (which means up to the high 80s or into the 90s for us), with rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon. The information I've been finding on the web suggests that the weather is only a factor in as much as it leads to overripe or rotting fruit. (That's if we're talking about fruit flies. Those other flies are another story.) --Lia |
Fruit fly solutions? Houseplants?
Gloria P wrote:
> > Many garden centers have sticky yellow strips you can put in a plant pot > to trap whitefly. I don't see why they wouldn't also attract and trap > fruit flies. I wonder if your fruit flies are coming home with you > right on the fruit as eggs that hatch when they get in the house. Do > you have houseplants with possibly the flies lurking in the plant soil? Good idea for another place to clean! I didn't think of it until this second, but I keep seeds and flower bulbs that didn't get planted in the closet with the garbage. That could do with a good going over. I doubt it's the source of the problem, but I'm getting desperate. We have no houseplants. I'm becoming more sure that the flies came home with us originally in bananas or peaches, but we've been so good about keeping everything in the refrigerator now that I'm not sure where they're coming from. When we shop today, we look for fly paper. --Lia |
Storing peaches, was Fruit fly solutions?
Lynn from Fargo wrote:
> Go ahead and put the bay leaves in your canisters of anything floury, > Worked for me, You might notice a bay leaf smell to the flour but I > never minded it and I couldn't taste it at all, (but then I rarely > bake sweets). > > Avoid refrigerating peaches - that's how they get mooshy and woody. I > used to taste the sample peaches in the store, pick them out soooooooo > carefully - making certain they smelled good and peachy. Then I'd > take them home and put them in the fridge. By the next day they'd be > inedible. Now I put them in a brown paper bag on the counter and every > one has been perfect! Learned that from Lynn Rosetto Casper on the > Splendid Table (NPR). Here's a puzzle. I know that peaches and tomatoes shouldn't be refrigerated, but what if they're responsible for the fruit fly infestation? Peaches are something we look forward to all year. We live relatively near an orchard. During the season, we go twice a week to get perfect peaches at exactly the right ripeness. We know to leave them out on a plate so that they're not touching as they ripen. I'll try putting them in a paper bag, but I don't think that will keep fruit flies from hatching (if the eggs are on the peaches) or from finding them (if the fruit flies are on something else). --Lia |
Fruit fly solutions?- Pitcher plant
KevinS wrote:
> I bought a pitcher plant (carnivorous) at a farmers market. > It's cheap, not particularly attractive, but it works. Now there's a novel solution I never thought of. I don't know where I'd begin looking for one. Don't they act slowly and snap on each bug individually, then take a while before opening for the next one? I'm not running out to find and buy one, but I am intrigued by the idea. --Lia |
Flour/woollie bugs/moths; was Fruit fly solutions?
Sky wrote:
> merryb wrote: >> >> On Aug 22, 3:54 pm, Nina > wrote: >>> >>> Flour moths are even worse... I had those in my last house, and we >>> never completely got rid of them. (We had kind of a nasty selling >>> experience with that house, so part of me has this evil wish that >>> they are still tormenting the current owners.) >>> >>> Nina >> >> OMG! We had those, too. Little brown moths, right? We had a HELLUVA >> time getting rid of them. I finally got a pheromone thing that got >> them. I threw soooo much stuff out trying to get rid of them. You >> will never guess where they were - in a ziplock bag of white >> chocolate. It was disgusting- a bunch of moth wormy >> things.....ewwwwww! > > I think I read here on RFC that placing bay leaves in drawers, > closets, shelving, and such can help to keep those flour > moths/woollie bugs at bay (pun intended <g>). I haven't tried this > trick yet. Does anyone know for sure? > > Sky, who'll probably soon buy some bay leaves in bulk I don't have room (at home) to store flour or cornmeal in the freezer. The bay leaf trick works. Jill |
Fruit fly solutions?- Pitcher plant
Julia Altshuler wrote:
> KevinS wrote: > >> I bought a pitcher plant (carnivorous) at a farmers market. >> It's cheap, not particularly attractive, but it works. > > > Now there's a novel solution I never thought of. I don't know where > I'd begin looking for one. Don't they act slowly and snap on each bug > individually, then take a while before opening for the next one? I'm > not running out to find and buy one, but I am intrigued by the idea. > > > --Lia You're thinking of a venus fly trap. There are several kinds but basically a pitcher plant looks like this: http://www.steve.gb.com/images/plant..._cv_maxima.jpg They have very sweet sticky sap that attracts insects into the "pitcher". The bugs get stuck and the plant eats them. Not sure if it would help with a large infestation of fruit flies, though. Jill |
Fruit fly solutions?
"sarah gray" > wrote > "Nancy Young" > wrote >> One time I had a fruit fly infestation that didn't want to quit. >> Eventually I found a bag of liquidized potatoes that had hidden >> themselves in a cabinet. Once that disgusting mess was cleaned >> up, problem solved. > ugh, rotten potatoes are one of the worst smells, IMO. Ugh, it was a horror story. What it that awful stench??? I would have known there were rotten potatoes if they'd smelled while they were rotting. They waited till the bag was moved. Ack. nancy |
Fruit fly solutions?- Pitcher plant
On Aug 23, 5:57�am, Julia Altshuler > wrote:
> Now there's a novel solution [pitcher plant] I never > thought of. �I don't know where I'd begin looking for > one. � I just came across them by chance. The lady had lots of them, and she has made a small side business out of selling unusual novelty plants. I had seen her at this particular market before. > Don't they act slowly and snap on each bug > individually, then take a while before opening for > the next one? �I'm not running out to find and buy > one, but I am intrigued by the idea. This is not like a Venus flytrap. There is no mechanical action. There is a roughly conical blossom (sometimes more than one) lined with downward pointing hairlike structures. There is a little pool of what I guess I'd call nectar at the bottom of the cone. The bugs are attracted to the nectar, go into the blossom and never come back out. Most of my fruit flies were gone overnight. |
Fruit fly solutions?- The funnel trap
"Julia Altshuler" > wrote > Results so far: The flies like the outside of the trap far more than > the inside. They seem stuck to the outside of the paper until you tap > it. Then they go back to hover mode. Here's the thing about using a wine glass ... no paper cone obstacle course. They fly in, drink some wine and become unable to fly out or climb out. The inward curving sides seem to do the job. If they are coming in from outside, you have to wonder why. There is something making them think there's food in there, because why else leave the rotting tomatoes? nancy |
Fruit fly solutions?
"Nancy Young" wrote... > Eventually I found a bag of liquidized potatoes that had hidden > themselves in a cabinet. > nancy Eeewwww! Nothing's worse than liquidized potatoes. Why can't you (not "you", but anybody, 'you') smell them rotting before they get to that point? BOB |
Fruit fly solutions?- Pitcher plant
On Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:27:00 -0700 (PDT), KevinS wrote:
> On Aug 23, 5:57�am, Julia Altshuler > wrote: > >> Now there's a novel solution [pitcher plant] I never >> thought of. �I don't know where I'd begin looking for >> one. � > > I just came across them by chance. The lady had lots > of them, and she has made a small side business out > of selling unusual novelty plants. I had seen her at this > particular market before. > >> Don't they act slowly and snap on each bug >> individually, then take a while before opening for >> the next one? �I'm not running out to find and buy >> one, but I am intrigued by the idea. > > This is not like a Venus flytrap. There is no mechanical > action. There is a roughly conical blossom (sometimes > more than one) lined with downward pointing hairlike > structures. There is a little pool of what I guess I'd > call nectar at the bottom of the cone. The bugs are > attracted to the nectar, go into the blossom and never > come back out. Most of my fruit flies were gone > overnight. that is really cool. once they wiped out the flies, did you have to feed them something else? your pal, blake |
Fruit fly solutions?
" BOB" > wrote > "Nancy Young" wrote... >> Eventually I found a bag of liquidized potatoes that had hidden >> themselves in a cabinet. > Eeewwww! Nothing's worse than liquidized potatoes. Why can't you (not > "you", but anybody, 'you') smell them rotting before they get to that > point? My thought, exactly! I'm not the most meticulous housekeeper around, but my house doesn't smell like rotting potatoes! It probably smells a little but until you move it and disturb the stink bomb, it's not that noticeable. I guess. nancy |
Fruit fly solutions?- The funnel trap
Nancy Young wrote:
> Here's the thing about using a wine glass ... no paper cone > obstacle course. They fly in, drink some wine and become unable to fly > out or climb out. The inward curving sides seem to do the job. > > If they are coming in from outside, you have to wonder why. > There is something making them think there's food in there, > because why else leave the rotting tomatoes? It's driving me nuts. This morning we've vacuumed, done the bathrooms, cleared away the papers that accumulate, and I'm about to start a load of laundry. That's not to say I accuse any of those things as being the source of the fruit fly problem. It's just to say that we've cleaned and inspected and can't find the source. I'm about to attack cupboards. We've even moved the refrigerator out and cleaned behind it. --Lia |
Fruit fly solutions?
On Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:20:42 -0400, Julia Altshuler
> wrote: > >Help! > > >--Lia Hi Lia, I wrote this for Instructables a while back: http://www.instructables.com/id/Supe...ruit-fly-trap/ Hope this helps -- Terry |
Fruit fly solutions?
"Julia Altshuler" > wrote in message . .. > The summer joy of summer fruits has brought us a summer fruit fly problem. > We used to be in the habit of leaving peaches and pears in a bowl on the > counter to ripen. Now everything is in the refrigerator. Shallow dish with soapy water, pour some wine in, little boogers get drunk and drown, no surface tension to hold em afloat. Sticky traps in the green house. But mine called their friends who hitched a ride on the fruit we got from the stores who are vacationing from some foreign country and think this is some "all-inclusive" vacation cruise. We have had these little guests all summer long from a bunch of bananas. (where is HLS when ya need em) |
Fruit fly solutions?
Terry wrote:
> > Hi Lia, > > I wrote this for Instructables a while back: > > http://www.instructables.com/id/Supe...ruit-fly-trap/ > > Hope this helps -- Terry Thanks. It does help. That's pretty close to the way I'd done it. I'm going to go back and make the mouth a little wider and the hole a little smaller. We're now back from the store with old fashioned fly paper too. (My fingertips are just a tad sticky as I type this. Must wash with vegetable oil.) --Lia |
Fruit fly solutions?- Pitcher plant
On Aug 23, 8:26�am, blake murphy > wrote:
> that is really cool. �once they [pitcher plant] wiped > out the flies, did you have to feed them something > else? Good question. I haven't had the plant long enough to know. I have a place that sometimes attracts sugar ants, so I'm going to see if it works on them. The lady said they are bog plants and can winter over pretty well in a damp area short of a sustained hard freeze. |
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