Trap Fruit Flies With Little More Than An Ordinary Glass Jar And Beer

Have you been noticing fruit flies enjoying your store-bought or homegrown fruits before you? Don't ignore the problem. This is because you run the risk of contamination, especially if the fruit has begun fermenting. Plus, they breed quickly (in as little as 10 days). Planning a pest control for your home might be your go-to option in such cases, but why spend hundreds of dollars on a single visit when your favorite chilled beverage — beer — can give you the same results?

As it happens, fruit flies find the scent of beer irresistible. It happens because during fermentation (be it beer or ripe fruit) acetic acid is formed. And these pests associate the resultant pungent aroma with food. Since it's this acetic acid they're after when they're famished, fruit flies won't be able to resist this handy DIY trap. The best part, though? You don't have to use the expensive stuff. A cheap beer or one gone bad works for this hack.

To completely get rid of fruit flies, you need to eliminate their breeding sites, as the adults might have already laid their eggs around your home (most likely in a damp area with easy access to food). The easiest way to do this is to remove ripened foods from your kitchen. And when you bring fruits or veggies home, don't forget to wash them to remove any organic matter that might become a breeding site. Remove damp cloths from the kitchen and rinse your organic waste trash can daily. Undertake this exercise particularly during the fall or late summer months, as they tend to show up in full force during this period.

Take a small jar, glass, or bottle and pour in beer till it's about 0.5 to 1 inch deep. Now, place it near the fruit bowl or another hotspot. Then, put a funnel over it. If you don't have one handy or want flies using it as a gateway, DIY one by rolling a piece of paper into a wide cone. Just make sure that the opening at the bottom is less than a quarter inch wide. Though the conical shape will make it difficult for them to crawl out, they may try to escape anyway. Also, it should fit snugly and there shouldn't be any space between the walls of the jar and the funnel, or the "trapped fruit flies" will get out, upending your hard work. Use some tape to hold it in place if needed.

Alternatively, put a thin film on the jar and hold it in place using a rubber band. Poke a little over a dozen holes using a toothpick to let the sweet aroma attract the flies inside the trap. Since fruit flies are attracted to beer, they'll fly right in but won't be able to find their way out. For better results, put an overripe banana or another fruit near the beer. This will further serve as a dinner bell for starving flies. Consider adding in a few drops of dish soap to help break the surface tension of the beer, so the trapped flies can sink to their doom rather than try to escape. And if you don't have beer at home, build this trap with some leftover wine to attract adult flies. Either way, be sure to replace the fermented beverage every day and empty your trap as needed.