# Fruit Flies or Devils Spawn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 4, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-flies-or-devils-spawn/126976 "2002-09-04T16:17:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-flies-or-devils-spawn/126976/1 "2002-09-04T16:17:48Z")
Does anyone out there in and among the teeming millions enjoy sipping a drink only to find a nice juicy fruit fly sputtering for it’s life inside? I am disgusted, these little flies have provoked Mrs.Phlosphr and I to a loathing, repugnance in our own home. I can not see why we even have fruit flies. We do not keep fruit out to fester, we put everything in the fridge – Mrs. Phlosphr likes having a fruit bowl on the table but since the dawn of the flies we have had to stop! So after a brief two week hiatus from a fruit bowl on the table – most probable cause for the nasty insects – there has been no change in frequency for the little gnits. What do we do? One other thing, we have a TON of plants around the house. The sun room is full and most other rooms have several plants in them. An indoor jungle if you will. And when I took a recent gander of the soil of one of our larger plants I saw some little flies scampering around the bottom. Quite a few to be honest. Could the flies not be breeding on fruit or in some unseen nook? Could they infact be multiplying in the soil? Can someone help up with a solution aside from using explosives? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-flies-or-devils-spawn/126976/2 "2002-09-04T16:33:21Z")
They seem to be attracted to bowls of diluted (~3:1) vinegar. Poor little buggers can’t swim… ---
**Author:** ![YEP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/43a26b/32.png) [@YEP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YEP)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-flies-or-devils-spawn/126976/3 "2002-09-04T17:58:40Z")
Sink drains are well known for breeding these bothersome scamps. If this is the case, foam draino will free you from your unwanted guests. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-flies-or-devils-spawn/126976/4 "2002-09-04T18:53:15Z")
The critters in your plant saucers are possibly not “fruit flies” as such but may be something called “fungus gnats” which are different. Although not by much. :rolleyes: But you can still nuke 'em with an insecticide soil drench. [http://ctr.uvm.edu/ctr/el/el50.htm](http://ctr.uvm.edu/ctr/el/el50.htm) > [@](#): > > Adults: Fungus gnats may be controlled with one of the many house and garden pressurized space or foliage sprays. Treat daily or as needed. (Caution: the repeated use of any pressurized sprays in the home without proper ventilation is not recommended.) Dusting the soil surface lightly with an insecticide dust will also control adults satisfactorily. > > Larvae: Best overall control can be attained by treating the soil. Use an insecticide soil drench. Wet the soil surface thoroughly. Repeat weekly or as needed. Treat plants outdoors and let air and dry during the day before bringing back inside. I’ve had fungus gnats in African violets and they’re a booger to get rid of. IMO spraying the adults doesn’t help at all, you have to drench the soil to kill 'em where they hatch. And you have to repeat a couple of times, too. Some websites recommend malathion, but personally I’d start with a rotenone or pyrethrin soil drench, as it’s marginally less toxic to you and your family than malathion. Also, malathion smells worse. Either way, take it outside on the patio, or put the plant in the shower stall, so the excess can run somewhere besides on the living room floor. Nuke 'em! All of 'em!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-flies-or-devils-spawn/126976/5 "2002-09-04T19:19:27Z")
**Mr or Mrs. Goose** thank you. I am off to my local botanical mecca to pick up some _rotenone_. I hope this works. Also I was told to put some bleach in each drain over night to Nuke the vermin that may be procreating in there. May a slow methodical, agonizing death come to the little F\*\*kers!! ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-flies-or-devils-spawn/126976/6 "2002-09-05T11:39:57Z")
And since you’re a **Phlosphr** , while you’re exterminating the little buggers you can ponder the metaphysical meaning of the old adage: _Time flies like an arrow … but fruit flies like a banana_. ---
**Author:** ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2002, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-flies-or-devils-spawn/126976/7 "2002-09-05T12:16:18Z")
[This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80667) thread might be useful.