What is the best homemade fruit fly trap?

ASSEMBLE! Combining two tablespoons of dish soap, four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and six tablespoons of water involves nothing more than a quick stir. After that, we're adding a piece of plastic wrap and securing it with a rubber band. Last step is to poke the wrap a few times with a toothpick.

What is the best bait to catch fruit flies?

An effective baiting solution consists of 4 Tablespoons (1/4 cup) or 1/2 inch worth of apple cider vinegar or wine plus a few drops of dishwashing liquid . The dish detergent affects the surface tension of the liquid and fruit flies that land on it will drown.

What can I use instead of apple cider vinegar to get rid of fruit flies?

Do you need apple cider vinegar for a fruit fly trap? You can make a homemade fruit fly trap without apple cider vinegar. We find that apple cider vinegar works best, but you can substitute beer, wine, fruit juice, or a piece of old fruit like banana or apple . Fruit flies are attracted to any fermented smell.

What scent makes fruit flies go away?

What Smell Do Fruit Flies Hate? Fruit flies dislike the smell of herbs, such as lavender, basil, mint, and rosemary . Hang or grind up these natural strong scents to help repel fruit flies and keep your kitchen smelling clean.

Do you need saran wrap for fruit fly trap?

Pour about half an inch of apple cider vinegar into a bowl or jar. Add a drop of dish soap to the container with vinegar. The dish soap will break the surface tension of the apple cider vinegar, causing the fruit flies to sink when they land on it. Cover the bowl or jar using a plastic wrap secured with a rubber band .

What repels fruit flies the most?

Fruit flies hate several rather nice smelling natural scents, including peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and clove .

What liquid attracts fruit flies the most?

Vinegar (or acetic acid) is the ultimate product of the fermentation process in fruit, which is why fruit flies are attracted to vinegar odor. However, both low and high concentrations of vinegar odor leave flies indifferent (left).

Which bait works best for a homemade fly trap?

The best homemade fly trap is one that can attract both house flies and fruit flies. To lure both outdoors, mix scraps of rotting meat, like fish or chicken, with sugar or honey. When indoors, the best bait is old fruit or honey .

Why are fruit flies not attracted to vinegar?

'Plain white vinegar does will not attract fruit flies because it has no fruity scent ,' says Diane Kuthy. And if it is the right sort of vinegar, don't use it cold. 'If your apple cider vinegar was refrigerated prior to use, it may not be pungent enough to attract the flies,' Diane continues.

What kills fruit flies and their eggs?

But a simple spritz with alcohol kills the eggs instantly. And if you still find yourself sharing space with fruit flies (they will make a beeline for any ripe fruit they can smell), this same alcohol spray will get rid of them, too.

What kills fruit flies on contact?

"Instead of dangerous and toxic pesticide spray, use 91 percent isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle," says Timothy Wong, technical director at MMPC, an environmentally sensitive pest control company. "It is effective at killing the flies on contact and less harmful than conventional pesticide."

How long does it take to get rid of fruit fly infestation?

Once you have a fruit fly infestation, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get rid of the nuisance. By taking proactive steps in cleaning and trash disposal, you can save yourself the time and hassle.

What causes a lot of fruit flies in the house?

Fruit flies are mainly attracted to extra ripe, fermenting fruits and vegetables . However, they are also drawn to things such as drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash bags, cleaning rags and mops. Essentially, they are drawn to food waste and moist environments.

Fruit Fly Trap (2024)

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This fruit fly trap (or gnat trap) literally takes 2 minutes to put together and works AWESOME! Say goodbye to fruit flies!

This gnat trap is a great DIY solution to your fruit fly problem. For more how-to posts check out How to Cut a Watermelon, How to Cook Pasta, or How to Ripen Bananas.

Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

I hate fruit flies.

They are such pests! They have to be one of the most annoying insects out there because they multiply like no other and can be hard to get rid of if you don’t know how.

Last week, we had left some ketchup out on the kitchen counter and by morning there were tons of fruit flies. I swear I don’t know how they just POP up! With this bout of pesky bugs, I immediately made a fruit fly trap, and within a few hours, they were all gone.

I figured I would share how I do it in case you are looking for quick, easy, and natural pest control.

Avoid Fruit Flies in the First Place

I know that fruit flies come around more when fruit is left out, and since there are tons of seasonal fruits, you may be seeing these little guys more often. The process of getting rid of them is SUPER simple. I find that they are more manageable when I have taken precautions.

Throw out overripe fruit in the trash, or better yet compost it.
Take out the garbage regularly.
Keep your sink and garbage disposal clear.
Store fruits and vegetables in the fridge instead of a fruit bowl.
Fruit flies don’t like fresh basil so keep a fresh basil plant in the kitchen or place fresh basil leaves around the fruit basket.

Unfortunately, even with these precautions these pesky things tend to show up. It takes just one female fruit fly to lay dozens of eggs a day that hatch within 2-3 days.

Within a week, they breed even more, and without interference, you will have an infestation in the kitchen. They love warm environments and show up in the spring and summer months.

Houseplants that can help with pest management: Aside from basil there are other plants that you can keep in your kitchen that will help repel flies, gnats, and even mosquitoes such as rosemary, mint, sage, catnip, and lavender.

How the DIY Fruit Fly Trap Works

The jar contains a mixture of apple cider vinegar and dish soap.

The apple cider vinegar attracts all of the fruit flies towards the scent.
The dish soap’s purpose is actually to break the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies can’t just sit on top of the liquid.
The inverted cone made out of paper is what really traps them, though.
A wide top and small bottom make it easy for the flies to enter the jar, and harder for them to get back out once they’re in!
Since they can’t get out, and they can’t sit on the surface of the liquid, it’s only a matter of time before they meet their end. (Unfortunate for them, but a victory for us and our fruit!)

How to Make a Fruit Fly Trap

It seriously takes just about 2 minutes to do. Talk about a quick fix! Here is what you’ll need to make your DIY gnat trap:

16 oz jar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Liquid Dish Soap
8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper
Tape

PAPER CONE. Begin by creating a cone with your piece of paper, making it smaller at the base and wider up top. You want to make sure it’s wide enough that the wide part of the cone sits on the rim and the smaller portion extends about halfway in the jar. Tape the paper so it stays in a cone shape.

VINEGAR MIXTURE. Remove the cone from the jar and add about ½ – 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to the jar. Squeeze a few drops of dish soap into the jar and stir to mix it a bit. Microwave the jar for about 20-30 seconds. This will make the smell of the mixture more potent, which draws the flies in quicker.

PLACEMENT. Add your cone and place it in a spot where the fruit flies have been.

And that’s it! It takes a little bit at first for the little critters to move from where they currently are, but before you know it you’ll see them all over the outside of your jar and then in your jar trying to get out.

How to Clean out the Jar

Take the jar outdoors before removing the cone, that way any insects that may still be able to fly won’t escape back into your house.
I usually pour the contents into the rocks I have outside and then spray the jar out with the hose. You can also pour the contents down the drain.
Either way, rinse the empty jar with hot soapy water. You can also disinfect with a little bleach.

Variations

Lid. The paper cone method is my favorite and I have great results. I have also seen people successfully poke holes in the lid of the jar and screw the lid on. Another idea is to secure a piece of plastic wrap on the top of the jar with a rubber band, then poke a few holes in it.

Mason jars. I always have mason jars on hand, but you can use any similar-sized jar. An empty jam jar or spaghetti sauce jar works just as well.

Catch and release. Instead of using vinegar and dish soap, place overripe fruit in the jar and top with the paper cone. A few flies may be able to find their way back through the cone, but most will stay in the jar. You can then release them outside.

FAQ

Can I make a homemade gnat trap that won’t kill them?

For those who have tender hearts for even the smallest pests, you can place a banana peel into the jar and add the paper cone. Some flies will be able to escape, but many will be stuck inside. Empty the jar outside far away from the house.

Why isn’t my apple cider fruit fly trap working?

If you can tell that the flies are attracted to the trap but aren’t getting stuck inside, try adjusting the size of the cone. If the tip is too small they may not go all the way down inside. If the tip is too large, they can more easily escape.

For More Useful Tips, Be Sure to Check These Out:

5 from 20 votes

DIY Fruit Fly Trap {Gnat Trap}

By: Lil’ Luna

This DIY fruit fly trap literally takes 2 minutes to put together and works AWESOME! Say goodbye to fruit flies!

Servings: 1 trap

Prep: 2 minutes mins

Cook: 2 minutes mins

Total: 4 minutes mins

Ingredients

▢ 1 16 oz mason jar or any similar sized glass jar
▢ 1 cup apple cider vinegar
▢ 3 drops liquid dish soap
▢ 1 piece paper 8.5×11
▢ tape

Instructions

Begin by creating a cone with your piece of paper, making it smaller at the base and wider up top. You want to make sure it's wide enough that the paper sits about halfway in the jar. Tape the paper so it stays in a cone shape.
Remove the cone from the jar and add about 1/2 – 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to the jar. Squeeze a few drops of dish soap into the jar and stir to mix it a bit.
Microwave the jar for about 20-30 seconds. This will make the smell of the mixture more potent, which draws the flies in quicker.
Add your cone and place it in a spot where the fruit flies have been.

Video

Notes

To clean out the jar after you’ve caught fruit flies:

Take the jar outside before removing the cone, that way any insects that may still be able to fly won’t escape back into your house.
I usually pour the contents into the rocks I have outside and then spray it with the hose. You can also pour the contents down the drain.
Either way, rinse the empty jar with hot soapy water.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.