I'm being over-run by fruit flies. Can you help?

Answer 1

The key to controlling fruit fly infestations is to locate and eliminate their breeding sources. Although there are several sprays and traps used to kill flies in a home, restaurant or other structure, the infestation cannot be eliminated without eliminating their source. A space spray (Pyrethrin spray) can be used as a quick kill, reducing populations of flying insects. Pyrethrin spray is also a crack and crevice tool that is used by pest control operators to spray the tiny areas where fruit flies and other insect pests breed. To monitor the area, use a Gold Stick trap. These traps use a fly sex lure to attract flies to their doom. Every fruit fly caught is one less breeding adult!
Professional fly traps use pheromones in combination with powerful ultraviolet bulbs in lighted fly traps. There are several sizes with varying power to choose from. Different designs offer options for the proper trap to be used in public areas, commercial kitchens, hospitals, offices and homes. The use of ultraviolet bulbs increases the numbers of flying insects captured while drastically reducing the need for use of sprays and other pesticides.
Use the powerful Fly Trap Professional in commercial kitchens or other areas that are not usually accessed by the public or your customers. In high profile areas, the Cento Fly Traps and Luralite Fly Traps are much more discreet.

If you locate a drain that is a breeding ground for fruit flies, use Drain Gel (Fly Gel) to destroy the film in which the fly eggs and larvae are developing. A surface spray is not recommended in this situation, unless there are great numbers of flies resting on the surface of trash cans, dumpsters or exterior walls. Fruit Fly Traps are also an excellent tool for capturing fruit flies. Attach the trap to the inside lid of garbage cans, dumpsters or compost bins to capture adult flies before they breed. Dispose of traps when full of flies or after 3 months. Click here to see fly elimination products. Inspecting the area for possible breeding sources is the key for fruit fly elimination.

Inspecting for Fruit Flies
When searching for fruit fly breeding sources, remember that the larva can only survive in decaying organic matter that is moist. The first obvious place to check is where any fruits or vegetables or stored outside of refrigerators or coolers. Other areas to inspect would be recycling bins, seldom used (or cleaned) garbage cans, underneath and behind large appliances. Do not overlook drains where small flies are often found breeding in the super thin layer or film of debris that naturally accumulates in pipes, traps and drains.

In commercial and residential structures, tiny amounts of organic debris are often found where the legs or feet of appliances, tables or cabinets touch the floor. These tiny spaces can harbor thousands of fly larvae. All small cracks and crevices at floor level need to be inspected and thoroughly cleaned.

Once one source has been located, continue with your inspection. Fruit flies easily follow air currents and usually have several breeding places in any structure. Do not assume that all of your breeding sources are indoors; fruit flies will wander in from nearby dumpsters, outdoor garbage cans or even damp compost piles where fruits and vegetables are disposed.

Answer 2

They may not be fruit flies. Obviously if you have ripen fruit or veggies in the house, yes, they could be fruit flies. If you have fruit outside a window, yes they could be fruit flies. If no to both, you may have other critters.

First is a soil fungus gnat. It lives in the soil of house plants. Mainly they eat the soil micorflora and aren't much of a concern..sometime they can get a bit greedy and start eating roots. Elimination is easy, make up a solution of soapy dish water and pour it through the pots. A dilute soap solution is murder on soft bodied insects such as the gnat larvae...so it will take a day or two before you see big results. After letting the soap sit for about 15-20 minutes, you can water again with plain water to wash out soap residue. Do this in the sink so you can get plenty of soapy water into the soil and plenty to get it back out.

Second thought is the critters are coming from your plumbing. The water trap might be breeding something. Before you leave the house, pour some PineSol or other cleaner down each sink and put the stopper in. When you come home, run water down each sink. Gone.

Critters that live in carpets don't usually fly and with regular vacuuming they are easily eliminated.

Answer 3

Fill a small glass bowl 1/3 full of red wine. Stretch saran or glad wrap tight over the top of the bowl, and use a sharp knife to pierce a few small slits in the wrap. Put the bowl in the area you notice the flies the most. Once they go in, they drink the wine, drown (as they are drunk), and die happy. When you have "collected" enough to cover the bottom of the bowl, tap the wrap to make sure they are all dead, and flush them. You can repeat the whole process as long as you have flies. Good luck, and remember to have some of the wine yourself. Why should the flies have all the fun.

Answer 4

You can kill them with a Fly trap:
Fill a quart jar with this mixture.
3 cups of water
¼ (one quarter) cup sugar
¼ (one quarter) cup white vinegar
Mix, punch holes in the lid, and set it where needed.

Try to double wrap spoiled fruit or garbage & keep it in an enclosed garbage can with a tight lid. The quicker you get rid of the it the better.

You can then use things that are said to repel flies.
Here's some fly repellent ideas :
http://www.moniteausaddleclub.com/flyspray_recipes.htm
Flypaper, traps, Citrus or vinegar repellents, Bounce fabric softener sheets, using BASIC H. or liquid soap & water. Some add vinegar &/or Eucalyptus oil to spray flies.
Sweet Basil is said to keep flies away. This site has an interesting discussion about using Basil, among other things, to help them keep flies away:
http://ask.metafilter.com/19342/flies

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Wash the bananas off yourself.

Seriously, you aren't giving us any help. You need to describe your situation, with at least a detail or two.

Answer 6

Get a house gecko.