This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Orkin Ecologist for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
We have an infestation of FRUIT FLIES!! Pretty freaky, huh!? Just the word "infestation" is enough to scare me. But this time of year we always have issues with fruit flies. We had company last week and I was so embarrassed and grossed out as I was swatting them away from all the food. EEK!!
We decided to do a little research about these fruit flies that have infested our home and we learned some pretty interesting facts about them.
-the common fruit flies reproduce rapidly (bad!)
-the first step in addressing a fruit fly infestation is the destruction of their feeding and breeding grounds
-rotten fruit and soft, sweet organic materials attract fruit flies
-accumulated slime in a drain will attract fruit flies
Another thing we learned was that fruit fly traps can help with trapping some of the adult fruit flies. So, we made one! It was really simple and it works great!
This is what you need: a cup, rubberband, plastic wrap, rotten banana, knife
Place the rotten banana in the cup and cover with plastic wrap. Secure the plastic wrap with a rubber band. Cut a small slit in the top of the plastic wrap.
Set the cup in the kitchen and the fruit flies will come. They sneak in through the slit in the plastic wrap and can't find their way out!
I was amazed at how quickly and how many came. I know this doesn't solve the problem but it certainly was a good tempory fix. My son had read this and remembered it…gotta love that!
We researched information on how to keep fruit flies away all together and how to get rid of them and compiled it on a nice Science Fair-like display. It was fun to work on and we learned alot.
My kids and I have been studying insects in school and as a homeschooling mom, I am always looking for educational resources that are both fun and practical.
The Orkin Ecologist site is a storehouse of information for both the student and the adult. While there, we quickly learned about the Dung Beetle (GROSS), and some other pretty serious information like diseases and conditions that can be traced back to a tick bite.
Although insects can be kinda CREEPY, it's always fun to learn. So check out The Orkin Ecologist and let me know what you learned.
I have this ‘trap’ sitting on my counter right now — after reading your post. I keep looking at it, like watching water boil. 🙂
once they start it sure is hard to get rid of them!
We keep food scraps for the compost pile, and now we used a covered container. Bananas are the worst to attract them.
When you start finding them inside your loaves of bread it’s a little sickening.
I need to do this again! I still have a couple little pesky flies about my house
WONDERFUL!! I just bought some bananas so I’m going to have to let one rot – we have a terrible problem with fruit flies! I am sure it doesn’t help that I like to keep the windows open to enjoy the fresh air…..but seriously! Thank you for sharing this idea!