Can You Trap Fruit Flies With Vinegar?

Vinegar is a viable source to trap fruit flies.

Fruit flies are unsanitary nuisances that, upon detection, are better dealt with sooner than later. Fruit flies have the capacity to breed quickly and profusely. A single female fruit fly can lay about 500 eggs, with the life cycle being complete in about a week. Upon attraction to a food source, the possibility of infestation can come quickly. To help eradicate the problem, homeowners can turn to a common household item, vinegar, to trap and resolve the problem.

Commercial Vinegar Trap

According to the University of Rhode Island's website, the commercial vinegar trap, Bio-Logic Natural Catch Plus Fruit Fly Trap is effective at capturing up to 80 percent of a fruit fly population using simple food-grade vinegar. Simply place the ready-to-use traps near the source of the problem, and they are good to use for up to 30 days.

Homemade Vinegar Trap

Similar to the commercial vinegar trap, homeowners can make their own version with some simple materials including a jar, paper funnel and a few ounces of cider vinegar, according to the University of Kentucky website. Set the traps near the source of infestation to attract adult fruit flies.

Other Methods of Control

An alternative to vinegar traps is another homemade remedy that uses a Mason jar, black paint, diluted honey or vegetable oil and bait. Cover or paint the top third of the jar with black paint or paper, then coat the inside with honey or oil. Turn the jar over the bait, such as a crushed banana and set the jar upside down over two pieces of wood allowing enough space for the flies to enter. Upon entering and flying toward the top of the jar, the fruit flies will become stuck or die, according to the University of Rhode Island website.

Prevention

While vinegar can be successfully used at trapping fruit flies, you can avoid them in the first place with proper sanitation. Keep potential areas of attraction clean and regularly inspect these areas. Exclude the pests from the premises by properly sealing points of entry.

References

• University of Rhode Island: Vinegar and Fruit Flies
• Iowa State University: Fruit Flies, Vinegar Flies, Pomace Flies