Fruit Flies

[ilikebirds]

Dunno if this is the right spot to post this. My home is under attack. Invasion even. Fruit flies are everywhere and multiplying rapidly. Think they were the product of some fruit (duh!) a week ago, but fruit is gone and they are not. I dont know what they are feasting on. They were hanging out all over cabinets, countertops, every surface of the kitchen this morning. I think they want to make friends. They are in the living room. They like the bird cages. I have cleaned the bird cages. We have vacuumed them up, waited for them to settle, vacuum again, repeat, repeat, till none are visable...next day, they are back from the dead! So I just dont know how to attack them. What do they eat? Obviously fruit, but if anyone knows anything about these things, please tell me. My cousin hates them. He knows aerosol is bad for birds, but Im afraid if he gets desperate he may try anything. And I dont know of a safe fly remedy for birds. Please reply before they assemelate me...

 

[Patricia]

get some wasp traps and put in fruit and juice in it and it works very good

 

[ilikebirds]

But what are they eating? I am usually a very scientific person, and would watch them to figure it out, but I am overwhelmed and just want them gone. I would like to be able to prevent it in the future rather then treat it. I found a diy wasp trap. Making them as we speak...

 

[Kristy]

I had a simulair issue, I havd never had fruit flies before but with the bounty of veggies this year we had them flying around all the bird dishes. Ugh gross.

Eventually when I used up all the fresh veggies from that batch they still stayed around another 5 days. But now thankfully they are gone.

Not sure if they do any harm at all? Don't think so.

 

[ilikebirds]

I dont know of any harm they do, but it sure makes you feel like your house is filthy. But I read they breed on moist things, even kitchen sponge. So I must go through house like a great wind and take out anything wet. oh joy! Ill have to tell birdees not to make mess for 2 weeks. Guess thats how long the little fly lives.

 

[dolldid]

but what are they eating? I am usually a very scientific person, and would watch them to figure it out, but i am overwhelmed and just want them gone. I would like to be able to prevent it in the future rather then treat it. I found a diy wasp trap. Making them as we speak...

did you buy fresh bag onions i have found they do it
i use vinivar in a small bottle with a stopper to skake it out they go in but cant get out i used mault as that was all i had at the time i just leave it on my counter havent had a proublem in the past yr hope this helps

 

[Kristy]

Doll had i known that trick I would have used it. Thanks for the tip!

 

[dolldid]

doll had i known that trick i would have used it. Thanks for the tip!

that ugly bottle has been on my counter well over a yr havent seen a fruit fly sisce i put it up dollarama sells them stoppers 2 for a dollar if you have bird rooms set a bottle in a corner behind something they meaning fly will find it..lol mine is loaded with flys soon will wash it out and put fresh in it lol one day

 

[Kristy]

My Sweets was having a "bird" about them, next year I will know what to do.

Thanks for helping to keep the peace.

 

[birdlady]

THey are such pesky buggers...I set dishes of apple cider vinegar all around the house and they go in and eventually drown. I am also good at swatting them!

 

[Kristy]

I am amazed the birds didn't seem to mind them much.

 

[Babybreau]

What an awesome idea Doll!! Thanks! I've seen a couple in the last few days but they are few and far between so no idea where they are coming from.

PS> For those that don't know - they can very easily reproduce in a drain, especially a garburator, no matter how much water you flush down it...

 

[Kristy]

I am sure they were reproducing in our home to, luckily for them they don't bite or I would have been more aggressive.

 

[drop]

Doll, I use a similar contraption. Great minds think alike! I got the stopper and bottle at the Dollar Store, I think it is supposed to be an oil decanter. I use ACV or Red Wine, works great.

They may also breed in your drain from your kitchen sink, lots of yummy (brreuk) stuff can get caught down there as well as the residue (scum) that can build up may attrack them. I think alot had been comming from there in my case because I has a hard time getting the problem under control. It was really bad one year. I have a double sink and usually only use one unless I have alot to do, so they were playing around in the one that was not usually used. I flushed the drain with a sink full of boiling water and plungered it to try to dislodge any tidbits that may have been lingering down there and put the stoppers in when not in use. After that, the infestation cleared up.

Good Luck!

 

[Kristy]

Thanks for the tip Drop.

 

[Tamara]

I only stick to the pest control products (other than all natural ways as suggested) that my avian vet would recommend:
Pest Control

PS all the stuff on my site is endorsed by an avian vet as he owns the wholesale distribution company.

 

[J*M*L]

A few years ago I lived in an apartment building and my upstairs neighbors were so filthy that little roaches were coming to my apartment kitchen through the electrical outlets. I used Boric Acid powder and within a week they were gone. BUT... That was before I had birds.

 

[luvconique]

They like starchy/yeasty stuff, too, so keep your bread bags in a ziplock bag. I found out the hard way.

I usually put a glass with an inch or two of beer, put a funnel in the glass, and they go in and drown.

 

[drop]

I usually put a glass with an inch or two of beer, put a funnel in the glass, and they go in and drown.

I learned that one the hard way, by not rinsing out my empties.

 

[whitewolf3307]

I have had this problem before and thanks to my hubby who left the window open without a screen in it I'm back to fighting this problem. What I use is fly strips, hang them out of reach of the birds ( you really don't want them to get traped in one) the best place is by the garbage can. Don't leave ANY food out. You can also use a cup with a lid, poke small holes in the lid so that it is big enough for the flys and fill it 1/2 way with vinager and put it but the birds cage. They will go into the cup and drowned. It takes time to get them all but you will see less of them by the day.