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Post by molly on Jul 28, 2009 15:46:18 GMT -5
How can I get rid of fruit flies? The kitchen is clean, no foods, or anything left out. I'm at a loss here. HOW can I get rid of these things???
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Post by clutterfree on Jul 28, 2009 17:17:25 GMT -5
If you've made sure there's nothing left to draw them like rotting veggies or fruit, then put some peeled fruit like a banana or anything that will draw them into a container and tightly cover it with plastic wrap. A coffee mug, bowl, really anything will work. Poke a tiny hole in the plastic wrap so they can get inside. This works as a fruit fly trap and for me it has always worked like a charm. They flock to the fruit and pretty soon you'll have a container full of fruit flies that you can take outside and empty.
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Post by mellowyellow on Jul 28, 2009 17:19:56 GMT -5
ETA: That's what I get for being too chatty... While I was typing Clutterfree beat me to the punch * * Had some this week. It happens sometimes. Not to worry. 1. Get a clear glass cup/jar. 2. Place a piece of fruit inside (the mushier or rottener the better). *Bonus but not needed: Add some vinegar or juice or lemon or wine to make things more liquidy. 3. Put a bit of plastic wrap over the cup opening to cover it. 4. Poke holes in the plastic (not big ones, just big enough for the fruit flies to go in. Voila. P.S. We raised fruit flies in class this year. We had wild ones, and mutated ones that came from a strain isolated by David Susuki. (A parent was a research professor). Pretty cool. The wild ones were hard to kill. The mutated ones were hard to keep alive. They fed off a mixture of cornmeal, cornstarch and some liquidy substance... Interesting facts ... Opposite to humans and normal object (that go down with gravity)... fruit flies like to settle up at high as they can get in a space, even if that means they are upside down. That is why they cling to the tops and sides of cupboards, or the tops of garbage heaps, etc. They are difficult to catch because they have tiny hairs on their bodies that move when there is a minute change in pressure (a hand trying to trap them for instance). Their eyes are red. Useless but "hmm interesting" fact.
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Post by phoebepj on Jul 28, 2009 20:54:45 GMT -5
sometimes fruitflies multiply in drains.. i'd recommend pouring some bleach or something down the drain.. maybe some drano.. to clear any debris that might harbor flies.
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Post by yearning4order on Jul 29, 2009 13:04:35 GMT -5
The other thing to watch out for--these days some cosmetics are made with sweeteners as a base. For instance I have a leg shaving cream that has rice syrup as a base, and recently received a body scrub with coarse sugar as a base.
I tried using the scrub just once, and apparently the shower moisture caused a fine layer to spatter on the walls. Although I couldn't see it, the ants sure found it! It took me some time to figure out what they were after.
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Post by molly on Jul 29, 2009 17:34:33 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. I'm trying the cup idea right now. It looks like I've caught three so far. I've also poured bleach down the drains.
I can't stand having these little things flying around my house.
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