Fruit flies - I think

Auntie_Sceb

I've got loads of little flies unfortunately I have an open plan kitchen/lounge/diner so I'm sure this is not helping.

I'm growing Basil which is supposed to keep them at bay - but they seem to like it. They also seem to like my Parsley and Coriander.

I have a small amount of red in a bottle which I've tried for a few days to no avail.

I've heard vinegar works well but I think it needs to be cider or wine vinegar (I have malt and white) - I don't want to buy some just for this.

Any ideas - short of a trilby with dog poo? (Vic and Bob see below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vItroudv2fU

laurel7172

If you have fruit flies, then somewhere there's a reason for it.

A soggy potato behind the dishwasher tablets...

A mouldy satsuma under the fridge...

A rotten apple behind a kickboard...

Find it, and the flies will be gone in three days.

(Ask me how I know )

RAS

Get a venus fly trap or a sundew plant?

Auntie_Sceb

laurel7172 I've heard that but I've been following the Flylady thread so my kitchen is pretty good. Though I must admit I didn't move the fridge (it's big and heavy) so maybe worth a look. They seem to be hovering around my herbs.

RAS I like that idea though I do manage to kill most plants (not the herbs yet).

RosyRed

I was plagued last summer,our council gives you a food waste caddy which I had on the worktop & had to stop using.I searched online and found a remedy-cider vinegar with a drop or two of washing up liquid in it and mixed.I put it in a glass near to the caddy and was shocked how many it caught. Some people put cling film over with just a small opening to stop them getting back out.They are attracted to the smelly cider vinegar and fly in, & the washing up liquid apparently makes their wings to heavy to fly out again ,bit yukky but it worked for me.

softpad

Also fly window stickers are good

Auntie_Sceb

I've just moved washing machine and fridge/freezer - though not pleasant no rotting fruit - gave them a clean anyway. My kickboards are screwed on - I will have to have look once I can move the fridge and WM back.

Thanks RosyRed I saw this in the same place I saw red wine - but the red wine didn't work. I expect it needs to be cider vinegar rather than whatever vinegar you've got in the house but if it works I don't mind so much buying it.

Auntie_Sceb

softpad wrote: »

Also fly window stickers are good

. Are they like fly paper?

delain

RosyRed wrote: »

I was plagued last summer,our council gives you a food waste caddy which I had on the worktop & had to stop using.I searched online and found a remedy-cider vinegar with a drop or two of washing up liquid in it and mixed.I put it in a glass near to the caddy and was shocked how many it caught. Some people put cling film over with just a small opening to stop them getting back out.They are attracted to the smelly cider vinegar and fly in, & the washing up liquid apparently makes their wings to heavy to fly out again ,bit yukky but it worked for me.

Yeah and the food thingy has little holes in the top?

I had fruit flies in their hundreds last year (never had any before) since we've had the food waste thingy :mad:

Auntie_Sceb

Sorry I won't use the food caddy though I know I should but that is one of the reasons. In my old house the council started using food caddies but then scrapped it. They had a very simple system: Garden waste, domestic waste and recycling - no food caddy. My current council is the same but has a food caddy.

Auntie_Sceb

Well one of the kickboards was screwed on the others were pretending to be and were actually glued on so nothing fond.

I've made a trap with white vinegar and washing up liquid just in case.

I managed to crack a kitchen tile pushing the fridge back!