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"Its strong odor disrupts the ants' pheromone trails, which are their means of communication and navigation," Luca says. Nobody likes finding a trail of ants inside their home. Depending on the type you have, they might simply be a nuisance—or, worse, a destructive force. But not all of these unwanted visitors need to be eliminated with harsh chemicals. There are several homemade ant killer options that can stop these critters in their tracks, experts say.
Fruit flies, drain flies or fungus gnats: what's bugging you?
Be sure that you buy an insecticide specifically for indoor use, ventilate the area well, and follow the directions exactly. When a fly gets in the plant’s trap, it closes around the fly. It then secretes digestive fluid to dissolve the insect’s soft insides. It breaks down the insect over 5 to 12 days, then spits out the exoskeleton. Add a few drops of rosemary, peppermint, or lemongrass oil in 2 cups of water.
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Aunt Fannie's FlyPunch
And if they find an adequate food source in your kitchen, they’re more than happy to set up camp. When purchasing a new product, check thoroughly to ensure there are no cracks or gaps that could harbor fruit flies. Wash and dry as soon as you get home to remove eggs on food surfaces. This can effectively help you prevent future fruit fly infestations.
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Attractant baits and fruit fly traps may also offer an easy and non-toxic alternative to get rid of fruit flies. The fastest way to get rid of fruit flies is to call your local pest control company. If this isn’t an option, remove or seal away produce and garbage and set up one of the DIY fruit fly traps listed above. Remember that fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time (it's gross, we know). It will take a little time and patience to get rid of all of them completely.
Luckily, there are simple ways to deal with these pests. Lemon juice is another ant-fighting ingredient that you can use to create a spray; simply combine 1 part lemon juice and 3 parts water. "This homemade repellent can also be used as an all-purpose spray around your home," Luca says. To make this ant killer, Luca says you'll need to mix equal parts confectioners' sugar and baking soda in a cup. "Using confectioners' sugar is essential in this case. Regular sugar can easily be separated by ants from the baking soda," he says. If an infestation does occur, there are many natural and trapping methods to try.
To prevent future infestation, be sure keep food storage areas clean and dry. Don’t leave out fresh food once it’s been opened or after you’ve taken a bite out of it. Be sure to take out your garbage regularly and clean up any spills inside or on your trash bins. Additionally, after mating, female fruit flies inject batches of eggs into fresh fruit. After mixing your solution, place the container wherever the fruit flies congregate.
"To begin, carefully stir these ingredients together in the container, ensuring that they are thoroughly mixed," Luca says. Add a sprinkle of baking soda to the trap to make it more effective—when ants eat baking soda, it can kill them as well. By keeping your house clean — especially free from food waste — you can help prevent a housefly infestation. Venus flytraps are carnivorous plants that eat insects. If you plant them outside, they’ll naturally eat flies. They lay their eggs on animal feces, garbage, and in rotting organic material.
Visible Signs of a Fruit Fly Infestation
If DIY methods fail, a professional will know how to get rid of fruit flies quickly and effectively. We’ve reviewed the nation’s top providers, all of which have locations spread throughout the country. Here are our recommendations based on our research into experience, price, and customer reviews. If fruit flies are targeting your fruit bowl, move your produce into the crisper drawer. Not only will this keep the fruit flies at bay, but it will also prolong the life of your food. Learn how to identify, remove, and prevent a fruit fly infestation from taking over your home.
Are there extra guests in your kitchen that you didn’t invite? Are they buzzing around your fresh fruit and vegetables, or even your trash can? Maybe you left out some empty beer bottles and they’re flying around those, too? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a fruit fly infestation in your home. If none of these methods work, you may not have fruit flies. Similar looking pests include fungus gnats and drain flies.
Fruit flies are light yellow in color and they're often found near baskets of stone fruits, berries, or any overripe fruits in your kitchen. They'll also be attracted to spills of sticky fermented liquids, like sangria or wine. And even though fruit flies won't give you bug bites, once they make their way into your home, they can be a burden to get rid of.
Prepare some bowls, cans, or bottles that can be covered. Take an old beer or wine bottle, remove the cap, and place it on your kitchen counter. The fruitflies will be attracted to the inside of the bottle. The bottle’s narrow neck will act as a barrier to trap them in the bottle.
Mature female fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs, which will hatch within 24 to 48 hours. Fruit flies have an 8- to 10-day maturity cycle, from egg to adult. Without intervention, each fly lives for about a month. Fruit flies are among the most familiar types of pests that homeowners see. Distinctive bright red eyes and a light yellow to tan body are hallmarks of the fruit fly.
Fill a bowl or glass with apple cider vinegar, cover with plastic wrap, seal the edges with a rubber band, and poke tiny holes in the top. The vinegar will attract the fruit flies, and once they’re inside, they won’t be able to escape the plastic wrap barrier. Pour apple cider vinegar (ACV) into a small bowl, then mix in a few drops of dish soap. Apple cider vinegar works better than white vinegar for fruit flies because it smells like fermenting fruit. Red wine vinegar will also work, but it tends to be more expensive than ACV. Microwave the mixture for 20 seconds or so to enhance the smell of the vinegar, then place the bowl in an area with a lot of flies.
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