Is anybody else having this problem right now? I had the same problem at this time last year, too, but it was the first time ever. My kitchen is swarming with tiny fruit flies. I don't know why. I keep all of my fruit, except for bananas, in the fridge, and the bananas get consumed very quickly in this house. I don't have dirty dishes in my sink or leave open food out. I googled them and I guess they breed at this time of year and look for warmer quarters once it starts getting cold outside. Fortunately, they don't bite, but they are annoying, and I have to assume, unsanitary.

Last year and today, I followed instructions from the web on making a trap for them. I filled a glass beer bottle half full of acpple cider vinegar. Then I made a funnel out of a coffee filter and put it in the neck of the bottle. The idea is that they are drawn by the vinegar and go in the bottle. The paper funnel keeps them from coming back out. It worked last year, but I didn't know if anyone else had a better idea.

I don't like chemical sparys in my house or yard. I also read to get some lemongrass essential oil and put a few drops in a squirt bottle of hot water. It said to spray and wipe counter tops, stove top, etc. It kills the bugs and makes the house smell really good. It is also natural and harmless to humans and animals.

Any other ideas? I'd sure appreciate it.

By Mommyof5 on Saturday, October 4, 2008 - 08:24 pm:

i have a problem with these as well. I don't have any help to offer you but I will be watching the post to see if anyone else does. :-)

By Tunnia on Saturday, October 4, 2008 - 08:53 pm:

I had a major fruit fly problem this summer. I have never had it happen before so I looked it up on the internet and found the suggestion to put cider vinegar in a bowl, mix in just a few drops of dish detergent to reduce the surface tension of the vinegar and leave it out on the counter. I used that method and also washed all my fruits and veggies in cool, soapy water (it turned the banana peels black, but didn't seem to bother anything else). I replaced the solution once a day and for the first two or three days the bottom of the bowl was literally filled with dead fruit flies. I noticed after those first two or three days that the problem was much improved and by the end of the week it was gone. When my best friend had the same problem I told her about the vinegar and soap in the bowl and she was able to get rid of all her fruit flies as well. Good luck!

By Hol on Saturday, October 4, 2008 - 10:10 pm:

Thanks. I will add the dish detergent to the vinegar.

By Kate on Saturday, October 4, 2008 - 11:01 pm:

This may be a stupid question, but are they ONLY present if fruit is around? Where do they come from? Are there eggs on the produce or something?

By Marcia on Saturday, October 4, 2008 - 11:48 pm:

I heard that the eggs are on the produce when you buy it.

If they are flying around, you can quickly kill them by spraying them with soapy water. Actually, you can kill almost any winged bug like that. It makes it impossible for them to fly, so you can just wipe them away when they fall.

By Hol on Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 12:21 am:

I just read online that there is gnat that resembles the fruit fly. They come in in the soil of your houseplants when you bring them indoors for the winter. The larvae hatch in the warmth of the house. DH just did bring in the plants last weekend.

I sure hope they leave soon.

By Karen~admin on Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 06:45 am:

Ditto Marcia - I've bought produce more than once and a couple days later I had them flying around the kitchen. UGH! They really give me the creeps. LOL Never had a swarm though - a handful at most - and I killed them as I saw them.

By Reds9298 on Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 09:36 am:

Major problem right before we moved out of our house. I didn't know about the vinegar solution - thanks!

By Missbookworm on Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 01:16 pm:

I've also had them show up for damp cloths although this was at work and it was co-workers leaving them under the sink at work...