After feasting on juicy strawberries, tomatoes, cherries, plums, and other summer fruits, the remains of a good summer bumper crop produced an inordinate amount of flying objects indoors. I could see black spots darting in and out of my face. Fruit flies, the curse at home or at work.
The early morning news, the anchor has to excuse himself in the middle of the program and then whack his ears. He explained that there was this annoying fruit fly that bee lined into his ears.
Soooo…… fruit flies. What to do and how to get rid of them. With great difficulty.
Last year, at work, we have to get the fruit fly buster. Several traps were placed on each cubicle. I call them the “Las Vegas Hotel.” What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I checked the contraption daily and see what they were doing behind doors. Need I tell you that those flies that checked in did the Vegas

Fruit Fly Las Vegas Hotel ~ Science Project
thing? Yes, sir. I see those little darlings from pupae stage to becoming a tyke. It was very interesting.
Every week, the hotels were replaced with new ones. But it’s very difficult to attract them all. Some must have taken the elevator to the Penthouse, some have hitch hike to another department. What a dilemma we had.
We thought we have eradicated them. After 50 days, a new batch hatched and we have no idea where they came from. Back to the drawing board.
Plan B: no eating on our desk, no throwing of food in our garbage can, eat at the cafeteria and we have to take our plants home. My computer keyboard missed all the crumbs that fall between the keys. This is the best strategy to clear the desk of workers since we love to snack while working as well as losing weight.
The flies were getting smarter. They just hang around on top of the container. So we added another attraction for them, a swimming pool.
Yes, a bowl full of apple cider vinegar covered with plastic wrap. It was such an easy method and the flies died a swimmingly happy death.
If you need to try this experiment, all you need is a bowl or a jar, plastic wrap and toothpick.

Fruit Fly Swimming Pool
Directions
Fill the bowl or jar with apple cider vinegar
Cover with Saran wrap
Poke holes on the wrap with toothpick
Place the bowl in the kitchen.
At work, we placed it on a moving cart where we can roll it from one corner to another. I call it “meals on wheels” for the fruit flies.)
I must admit I killed plenty of fruit flies. As much I hate killing any sentient being, they are getting bigger and I am pretty sure there’s a nest somewhere in one of my plants.
Stay tuned.
Thanks for that advice! I think I need to do that too!
Don’t consider yourself a murderer for killing fruit flies. They’re fair game like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Some of the tiniest creatures are the most ‘demonic’. Good Riddance. LOL>
Instinctive, I just kill them flies when they come close to me. Eeekkk… laughing.
Sometimes, ants come into my house. I see them as the master recyclers, eager and ready to take any treats we accidentally leave for them. I aspire to not kill, so I’ve focused on not feeding them. It takes more effort to clean up food so quickly, yet being mindful that leftovers are an invitation, the work goes quickly and easily.
Less for for ants has meant less ants to crawl on me.
I can imagine this would be tough to bring about in a busy, active office, filled with normally hungry people with their habits. Still, these creatures come for a reason, and hopefully the steps you’re taking will mean fewer invitations to them.
Vincent
You are right about cleanliness and not leaving bread trails around. As for the office, it’s tough battle when there are so many people. The other day, one bee lined into my nose. UGH!
Fruit flies are in my opinion an exception to that life preservation rule, Damn annoying. I’ll be trying your idea next though!
Are they ever the bane of close confines. I do hope you don’t have to try this experiment.
I am going to have to though, damn things still invade my kitchen :-\
Good Luck.
Sometimes, we stuck with annoying things that we can’t get off.
I suppose, you are right. But death to the fruit flies! 🙂