Annoying Fruit Fly Problem

[Redcatcher]

While this is not directly related to chickens, I thought here would be the best place to post. PEST is certainly a good work for it. I did my research and tried just about everything and I still cannot get rid of the fruit flies in my house. They are coming in from outside since the problem is from late June to the first hard frost. They are small enough to come in right through the screens. And they are into EVERYTHING. It just is not practical take the trash out every single time I toss a food wrapper, empty can, container or bottle in there. Tossing fruit and vegetable peelings in there is out of the question, they have to go outside. If I do, there will be a swarm of them around the trash within minutes. They are all around the sinks and drains, too (no they are not drain flies, they are fruit flies). Traps work but they only seem to draw in even more flies than I would have without them. They are not breeding in the house although they are trying hard to. What else can I do?

 

[fours2many]

Do you have a septic tank? There is a fly that looks like a fruit fly that comes out of the septic tank, if not properly taken care of.




If not, and they are still around the drains,you can sprinkle baking soda and vinegar down the drain. It will bubble and clean it out. Also works good in the trash cans.

 

[Redcatcher]

I have a septic tank but these flies all have red eyes and they are really attracted to bananas and banana peels.

 

[Imp]

Can you put a bucket of bananas away from the house to lure them away?

Something must be attracting them into the house. At work we had to start storing the onions in the fridge and they also were getting into the balsamic vingrette on the salad bar.

Imp-they always seem intent on getting into your face.

 

[Redcatcher]

Quote:
I just may try that. I will put some overripe bananas in a jar outside. The bananas do not keep long in this weather anyway and might as well put them to use. Yeah, they go crazy over onion too. I left an onion on the counter overnight and when I got near it the next morning I disturbed a swarm of them.