Scientists Turn Fruit Flies Gay, Straight Again

The question was:

How do I get the fruit flies out of my kitchen?

This is my answer:

Place a third of a banana inside a coffe cup, then put the coffee cup inside a plastic produce bag.

Every half hour quickly close the bag and take it outside. Then release the fruit flies by turning the bag inside out.

Replace the banana every day, because the fruit flies are laying tons of eggs on the it.

We had a major fruit fly infestation in my home and all of my housemates had given up on the situation. There was literally hundreds of them swarming around the kitchen and bathroom.

I set up three of the fruit fly traps and released about 50 fruitflies an hour. It only took me about 3 to 4 days.

It was worth every minute of the time spent.

Sent by Andrew Daniel | 2:51 PM | 12-20-2007

Here's a not-so-secret secret from the drosophila (fuit fly) research world on getting rid of loose flies:

1. Place a glass/mug/whatever near your fly problem
2. Add wine or beer to the glass (about 1/3 full or so)
3. Add 1-2 drops of dish detergent
4. place a funnel on top of glass--funnel going into glass (there should be space between the bottom of funnel and the liquid)
5. Seal the contact between the funnel and the glass with saran wrap, wax, or (ideally) parafilm

The flies will be attracted to the the alcohol, be led through the funnel by the smell, and drown in the alcohol (the detergent disrupts the normal surface tension of the liquid, and the flies will sink into it, instead of being able to stand upon it)--the funnel helps trap the flies and increase the chance that they will land on the liquid

An alternative approach, using a modified 2-liter pop bottle can be found here:
http://insected.arizona.edu/flyrear.htm

Sent by Scott Goeke | 2:05 PM | 12-21-2007