Monday, July 25, 2011

Lord of the flies....


We have a compost pile. Actually have several compost piles, but only one where kitchen scraps go. I keep a white porcelain pot on my counter and compost goodies go in there.
Yesterday it was pretty full, so I grabbed it to lug it up the hill when suddenly a bazillion fruit flies took flight.

I came back with an empty container, but the fruit flies, with rather perplexed looks on their faces because  their lunch was suddenly gone, were still there.

What to do?

I did what any normal 29 plus old person would do.....Google it!

One site I found said to take a cup and fill it 1/4th of the way with water, squirt in a little dish soap and splash in some vinegar. Then cover this cocktail with cling wrap and poke a few little holes in it.

Apparently the fruit flies, smart as they are, will find the itty bitty holes and because they thirst for vinegar martinis, will dive right in.

And then the fruit flies, dumb as they are, cannot find their way out again. So the next thing they know is that they are in the drink, without life jackets.

Voila.
No more fruit flies. (Where do they come from anyway?)

Thank you, once again,  Google.

8 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

oh and i love your counter top too!

smiles, bee
xoxoxooxox

Unknown said...

I read somewhere that their eggs are on the produce you buy, and if you wash it thoroughly when you bring it in the house, you will rid yourself of them before they hatch. I don't know if that's true or not.

Elenka said...

Yuk...I heard that too. Thing is, I do wash the fruit and they are not hanging around the bowl of bananas and plums on the other side of the room...just the compost bowl. Maybe I really don't want to know....

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Clever solution - and yes indeed, the eggs are already in the fruit that we bring home. They multiply so fast that it seems there are hundreds in just minutes.

brattcat said...

I am all a twitter at this solution to fruit fly infestation. You are so smart, girlie! Thanks for sharing and documenting the results of this little experiment. (my word verification is "tablegag". i kid you not).

Traveling Bells said...

What would we do without google? Smart!

Sharon Creech said...

Love this tip! Thank you.

Lili said...

Fruit flies are so annoying and I agree, where in the world do they come from so fast!! My Mom bought a really nice clear plastic container at Target that has a lid that is hinged and locks shut so you don't have to even mess with emptying the compost scraps every day. This reminds me I wanted to pick up one of them, plus it reminds me how annoying fruit flies are too! ~Lili