Super Easy Fruit Fly Trap

This time of year, fruit flies can be a major problem in the kitchen. They find their way in through window screens, and on fruits and vegetables we bring in from the garden. Once they are inside, it's difficult to get rid of them.

Super easy fruit fly trap

There are lots of designs for fruit fly traps around the internet. The basic principle is pretty much the same for all of them, and there are many options of things to use for bait. The bait can be anything from a piece of fruit, apple cider vinegar, fruit juice... well, basically anything that attracts fruit flies.

I've tried several types of bait, but have run into two problems. First, the bait has to be more attractive than anything else in the house; otherwise the fruit flies won't be attracted to the trap. The other problem: simply using fruit, juice or vinegar in the trap won't kill the fruit flies. It grosses me out to see them flying and crawling around in there. Bottom line, I want a bait that kills them.

Pesky fruit fly

After much experimentation, I found that balsamic vinegar mixed with vodka works the best. The vinegar attracts them, and when they feed on the mixture, the vodka kills them. I don't know if the alcohol kills them when they drink it, or if they get drunk and drown.

Stuff you need to make a fruit fly trap

I used vodka because we had some on hand, but I'm sure any kind of alcohol would work. Some kinds of wine work well too, but not all wines will attract fruit flies. It seems they can't resist balsamic vinegar. If you don't have alcohol in the house, I've read that a drop or two of dish soap added to the liquid will kill the fruit flies too.

How to build a super easy fruit fly trap:
1. Choose a container - Be sure to use a disposable container, you don't want dead fruit flies floating around in a dish you eat or drink out of. I cut the top off of a plastic water bottle and used the bottom.

2. Add the bait - I use a half and half mixture of vodka and balsamic vinegar, you only need a small amount of liquid in the trap. 

3. Secure plastic wrap over the top - Stretch a thin piece of plastic or plastic wrap over the opening of the trap. Then simply use a rubber band to hold it in place.

4. Poke holes in plastic - Puncture a few small holes in the plastic. The fruit flies can get into the trap through the holes, but can't find their way back out.

Poke small holes in plastic so fruit flies can enter the trap

If you have a problem with fruit flies, try this trap and bait mixture. Within a short time, you'll have dead fruit flies in your trap. It works like a charm.