All summer long, I've been buying up bags of tomatoes, quarts of peaches and at least two melons a week. I can't get enough of the sweet flavors and amazing freshness of the produce from my local farms and markets. I have, however, had more than enough of the fruit flies that often tag along with my edible hauls. For the last two months, my kitchen has offered shelter to these diminutive insects and their flitting around is starting to make me feel truly crazy.
Thankfully, just as I was about to round the bend and consider stripping my kitchen bare in order to free myself of the fruit fly plague, Re-Nest has come through with a technique for getting rid of these pests. It involves a cone-shaped piece of paper and a glass of apple cider vinegar and is apparently supposed to work wonders. I'm planning on setting one up when I get home tonight. Hopefully the fruit flies will soon be no more!
[via The Kitchn]
Second Helping of Slashfood - June 19
Competitive-Eating Contest to Pit Humans Against Elephants
The Backyard Boom - The Hungry Bride
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-05-2008 @ 4:21PM
Fash said...
I've been told that you can get rid of fruit flies with basil. You're supposed to sprinkle about a tsp of dried basil in the bottom of a brown paper lunch bag, stand it on a counter top, and fold the top down to close it. Then use a straight pin or something to punch several holes big enough for a fruit fly to get through.
Then you wait for them to die. It takes a couple days for them to be completely gone. I don't know why this works - or even if it does - but I know several people who insist that it's the best way.
Reply
9-05-2008 @ 9:03PM
Jerome said...
The technique does work, here in Jamaica we have fruits and fruit flies all year round...I tried the cone using sugar cane vinegar and a banana slice...it worked but it worked too well as I soon noticed that more flies were coming into the kitchen following the fruity smell!
Reply
9-07-2008 @ 8:00AM
Andi said...
You don't really even need a cone...just set out a bowl of apple cider vinegar.
Reply