Fruit flies, yuck!

velveena

We have 2 new plants in the family.  Rudy brought home a GIANT banana tree (no fruit) that takes up half our living room.  I have a couple little sprigs of basil (you know the kind you can buy at the grocery store for like $2) that I just planted.  We keep blaming each other for the flies!We have these teeny tiny flies everywhere, kind of like fruit flies or even smaller.  They aren't all over or anything, but they seem to find me whenever I am comfortable on the couch.  I have no idea if they are fruit flies or if they bite.  I have been squashing them, karate-kid style.  This is GROSS! How do I get rid of these?  I like my basil!

ddelo23

Honestly, I don't think it's the basil.  I have an herb grower (no not that kind bad girls! ) and we have no problems with fruit flies when we use it.  It has basil, along with other herbs. I'm not sure about teh banana plant though.  Is it capable of growing actual bananas? or is that just hte name of the plant (maybe a stupid question, sorry)

SnowBabe516

Suck them up with the vacuum. 

jen629

I bought apple cider vinegar and put in in a bowl with saran wrap over it and a rubber band to hold it in place with tiny holes poked it this attracts them and they will die

JeannineG122

I'm actually happy to see I am not the only one having this problem right now.  Never did before.Thanks for the apple cider idea.

FutureMrsF111

They sell this sticky stuff-ive only seen it in yellow-that you attach to a small stick and put in the soil. the fruit flies/gnats/whatever they are get stuck to the tape and when it is full just throw it out and replace it with a new piece. Im pretty sure the tape has some smell that attrack the little fckers and works really well at controlling it but I dont know how you get rid of them for good.

mrs.spunky1508

Put apple cider vinegar in little dishes bowls all throughout your apt. Cover the dishes with plastic wrap and poke holes in the plastic. They will go to the sweet smell of the vinegar and get in but won't be able to get out.

mrs.spunky1508

Ah should've read the posts first

clyde11995

Put a slice of peeled, ripend fruit in a bowl with some balsamic vinegar, cover with saran wrap, and with a fork or toothpick poke tiny holes in it. They'll get in and won't be able to get back out... I remember when I was researching it (when we had the problem) that bananas are the fruit that cause the most fruit flies. Hope it helps :-)

velveena

You guys rock!Kate - I love that you added "put the all over the apartment" knowing what a friggin clutz I am, lol.  Pretty soon they'd be attracted to random spots in the carpet!

mrs.spunky1508

If you secure with rubberbands there will be minimal spillage. Trust me, from one klutz to another