How to Make Fruit Fly Traps

Overview

While fruit flies do not present significant harm or inflict painful bites, their presence in the kitchen is a nuisance that many people prefer to eliminate. Fruit flies desire ripe fruits and vegetables left on the counter, so during the summer months you may attract them with a bowl full of fresh fruit. Once fruit flies find your fruit, the task of eradicating them can present challenges. Make fruit fly traps using the foods they find attractive. You can quickly control a multiplying fruit fly population with homemade fruit fly traps.

Step 1

Peel the ripe banana and slice it in half widthwise and lengthwise.

Step 2

Place the sliced banana into the plastic container.

Step 3

Stretch a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the container tightly and secure it with a rubber band around the upper edge of the container.

Step 4

Insert the tip of the sharp pencil into the plastic wrap to make small holes in the wrap. Do not make the holes larger than 1/8-inch in diameter. Make six to eight holes in the plastic, spaced at even distances over the top of the plastic.

Step 5

Place the fruit fly trap in a location where you see heavy concentrations of fruit flies and leave it undisturbed. The fruit flies will smell the ripe banana inside the container and crawl in through the holes. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection says the fruit flies will be unable to crawl back out.

Step 6

Take the trap outside every evening and remove the plastic wrap from the top of the container to release the fruit flies.

Step 7

Reset the trap to continue catching fruit flies until you successfully eliminate your fruit fly infestation.