DIY Fruit Fly Traps

[The Preserver]

After the gnats started becoming insufferable around the house, I started gathering some old used 16oz plastic Solo Cups* and refilling them with liquids believed to attract them. I added a dash of Stevia to them the first time around on the assumption that they like sweets although it seemed like this would just attract ants. Following the advice of video tutorials, I mixed dish liquid into them as well to help them sink once caught. I sealed the cups using large rubber bands and cling wrap with small holes poked into it using pushpins to allow entry. I started out using some cheap red wine with mostly unremarkable results, though I saw a few inside.

The second time I tried using white wine mixed with cane sugar. The gnats seem even less interested in this than they were the red wine.

I am about to try the more widely recommended apple cider vinegar to see if that does any better.

Is there anything that I am missing? Is there something else that I should know about fruit flies to set better improvised traps for them?

Here are some videos about the subject...

The lady rambles a bit but she seems to have some good tips.


* actually our cups are made from plant resin ( PLA ); I try to stay away from traditional petroleum plastic these days for health reasons.

 

[Mrsclem]

I use lemons, limes or banana peeling in my traps. I have lids that I got online that go on canning jars that are supposed to catch fruit flies. I had to enlarge the holes but they work

 

[The Preserver]

I use lemons, limes or banana peeling in my traps. I have lids that I got online that go on canning jars that are supposed to catch fruit flies. I had to enlarge the holes but they work

Are you using canning jars as the actual vessel for the trap?

 

[Mrsclem]

Yes, half pint size.

 

[Anniekay]

They LOVE apple cider vinegar. Sweet they are not interested, sourish, vinegary is what they like. Just put some in a shallow bowl and they dive in and drown, viola' dead.

 

[Ostrodamus]

I, too, have the best luck using something tangy/sour like beer or vinegar.

 

[The Preserver]

I have tried the apple cider vinegar using some from an old jug that was laying around and which appears to have turned a little funky. It hasn't caught as many as I had hoped it would. I did put a pinch of dish liquid into each of them - could this have repelled some of them? It was unscented dish liquid too. Maybe I will try lemon juice next time.

 

[Anniekay]

I have tried the apple cider vinegar using some from an old jug that was laying around and which appears to have turned a little funky. It hasn't caught as many as I had hoped it would. I did put a pinch of dish liquid into each of them - could this have repelled some of them? It was unscented dish liquid too. Maybe I will try lemon juice next time.

No dish soap. Just keep the apple cider vinegar topped off. Works perfectly without addatives.

 

[The Preserver]

I found this article among the featureds recently. Some of the information is at odds with the recommends I received here. Feel free to debunk or tear it apart...

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a25042/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/