# How to kill fruit flies **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 17, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864 "2011-10-17T00:55:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/21 "2011-10-17T19:20:02Z")
> [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](#): > > How many fruit flies can the average human adult consume before suffering ill effects? 2-3 servings daily is recommended. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/22 "2011-10-17T20:42:08Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Y’all sure have a lot of bugs in yer kitchens. If I had that many, I’d freak out and call an exterminator. Why would I pay for an exterminator when I can take care of the problem for 30 cents worth of wine? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/23 "2011-10-17T20:56:06Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Why would I pay for an exterminator when I can take care of the problem for 30 cents worth of wine? And hey! $4 more wine left over for you! 😃 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/24 "2011-10-17T21:02:58Z")
Well, you don’t think I’d crack open the expensive stuff for them, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/25 "2011-10-17T22:05:05Z")
> [@](#): > > How to kill fruit flies Shoot them in the face, as a sign of respect. Put dimes on their eyes, to show that they saw it comin’. Slip a codfish under their suit coats, because…_you know_… The Don will call you “Good People” afterward. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/26 "2011-10-17T22:14:20Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > You would not either call an exterminator for fruit flies. I call shenanigans. My husband talks about calling an exterminator whenever we see three ants in the kitchen during the same week. He is utterly impervious to reason on this issue. It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if he did the same thing for fruit flies. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/27 "2011-10-17T22:55:40Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Why would I pay for an exterminator when I can take care of the problem for 30 cents worth of wine? For you or for the flies? > [@Enderw24](#): > > Inside a dog? Inside a dog is too dark to read. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > You would not either call an exterminator for fruit flies. I call shenanigans. Shenanigans. Isn’t that the bar near O’Reilly’s? ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/28 "2011-10-17T22:59:20Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > For you or for the flies? Why choose? Of course, it’s important to remember which glass is whose. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/29 "2011-10-17T23:32:26Z")
Despite the name, fruit flies don’t really eat fruit - even rotting fruit. They mostly live off of yeasts and fungi that grow on rotting fruit. They’re also attracted to soft, rotting fruit because it’s a nice place to lay their eggs. But since yeasts make ethanol, alcohol is also a strong attractant. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/30 "2011-10-17T23:39:28Z")
One at time. With an ice pick. Just before killing them I unmask myself so they can see who it is taking their life from them. Revenge is a violent game … ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/31 "2011-10-18T00:08:49Z")
I swear to God, I’ll pistol whip the next Doper who says “shenanigans”! I had tried the vinegar thing - I think I used red vinegar - and didn’t have much success. I don’t want to waste my Layer Cake Malbec on them though - I’ll have to grab some Two Buck Chuck next time I’m out that way. Maybe I’ll put out a dish each of vinegar, wine, and bitters and see which one wins. Oh and as to getting rid of the offending fruit, we always need bananas on hand, and it seems fruit flies are never far behind. I do try to keep up with disposing of the overripe ones, but I think when you buy bananas, you’re liable to bring a hitchhiker or two home with you. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/32 "2011-10-18T01:02:00Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Y’all sure have a lot of bugs in yer kitchens. Yeah. Where are they coming from? I know my infestation is because I haven’t washed my dishes in 4 months but I’m guessing that’s not everyone’s situation. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/33 "2011-10-18T01:51:48Z")
Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy does the alcohol trap not work for me? Everyone recommends putting a little wine out in a glass. It does not work for me at all. I have tried this multiple times in the past few weeks. I can count on one hand the fruit flies I’ve caught. It’s a very conservative religious county, it’s true. But surely the _fruit flies_ are not teetotalers! ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/34 "2011-10-18T12:39:25Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I rarely have fruit flies around here, but I use this technique for catching other little flying thingies, like gnats. I find that simply wetting the hands is enough, no need for soap. Just go SNATCH and catch them and they stick. > > Just channelling my inner lizard! Amateur! Use your tongue. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/35 "2011-10-18T15:24:26Z")
> [@StuffLikeThatThere](#): > > Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy does the alcohol trap not work for me? Everyone recommends putting a little wine out in a glass. It does not work for me at all. I have tried this multiple times in the past few weeks. I can count on one hand the fruit flies I’ve caught. > > It’s a very conservative religious county, it’s true. But surely the _fruit flies_ are not teetotalers! You have to put some dish soap in the wine, or so I’ve been told. The flies can dip in to and escape regular liquid surface tension but as we all learned in our Making Bubbles workshop - dish soap changes the surface tension of water, and the flies can’t fly away. Or maybe your wine isn’t pungent enough? ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/36 "2011-10-18T15:37:46Z")
> [@StuffLikeThatThere](#): > > Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy does the alcohol trap not work for me? Everyone recommends putting a little wine out in a glass. It does not work for me at all. I have tried this multiple times in the past few weeks. I can count on one hand the fruit flies I’ve caught. > > It’s a very conservative religious county, it’s true. But surely the _fruit flies_ are not teetotalers! I have a funnel upside down on top of the wine glass (well, the glass with the wine. Not an actual wine glass.). That way they fly in, can’t find their way out, and then eventually drown in the wine. Otherwise they dip in and fly away. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/37 "2011-10-18T16:46:17Z")
I’ve tried the soap. It has no effect. I’ll try the funnel. It’s definitely possible that the wine isn’t pungent enough - I like sweet white wine. (Nothing anyone who knows anything about wine would approve of, I’m sure.) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/38 "2011-10-18T18:06:06Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Or maybe your **wine** isn’t pungent enough? I read that as “wife” and was somewhat surprised. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/39 "2011-10-18T19:21:02Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Shenanigans. Isn’t that the bar near O’Reilly’s? You’re thinking of Tchotchke’s - Shenanigans is a few blocks south. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-kill-fruit-flies/599864/40 "2011-10-18T21:07:54Z")
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