Best Fruit Fly Trap

The More Hassle, but Works Best Method

(We're convinced this is the best home-made design out there!)

1. Get yourself an empty 2-litre pop bottle.

2. Take the cap off the bottle. This'll be difficult after the next steps, so do it now.

3. Cut the top off the bottle, about an inch (2.5cm) below where the curvy part stops and the straight side of the bottle starts. (Cut the straight part, not an inch above on the curved part.)

4. Put an inch or so of one (or more) of the following into the base of the bottle: Vinegar, Apple Cider, Wine, Orange Juice. (Leave it standing for this, obviously.)

5. Turn the other piece, the top piece, of the bottle upside down, so the spout is pointing into the base of the bottle and jam it in, um carefully. Don't spill it.

6. Make sure the two are sealed where they meet. Tape around it if necessary.

How it works:

1. The flies like the stuff you put in the container.

2. They find it.

3. They go in.

4. They're stupid. They can't find their way out of the "lobster trap" design - they are more likely to crawl around the upper edge than find the opening out.

5. They drown in the bait.

The upside:

1. Cheap.

2. Works better than the simple trap, 'cuz once fruit flies are in they generally don't escape.

3. Also, if you do bump it it is less likely to spill everywhere. (Unless you put too much bait in.)

The downside:

1. A big, ugly bottle containing drowned fruit flies in view of your guests is icky.

Easy Fruit Fly Trap

The simple method:

1. Put out a wine glass, cup, mug, glass, bowl, etc near where the fruit flies are.

2. Put in a half inch to an inch (~ 1-2.5 cm) deep of one (or more) of the following: Vinegar, Apple Cider, Wine, Orange Juice.

How it works:

1. The flies like the stuff you put in the container.

2. They find it.

3. They're stupid. They drown in it.

The upside:

1. Cheap and easy to set up.

2. Works not too badly.

The downside:

1. Drowned fruit flies in view of your guests are icky.

2. If you disturb the trap before they are drowned (the fruit flies, not your guests) then they'll just take flight and swarm you again.

3. Fruit flies may feast on your succulent bait then just fly away again without drowning. Annoying.

4. A bump could spill it. After seeing #1, EEEEEWWWWW!