Recipe: Shoo Fly, Don’t Bother Me (Fruit Fly Bait)

With all the harvesting going on in our kitchen, we have had a lot of fruit flies hanging about. I have had a homemade recipe that I have used successfully for years that is really effective. It never really occurred to me to blog about it, as I’ve used it for so long. Eowyn pointed out that I should, or she was going to.

With Eowyn’s gentle prodding I elected to put this recipe up. This is an easy recipe that you can do using ingredients you have around the house, regardless of who you are. I substitute the ingredients pretty easily depending on what I have on hand.

I typically use a mason jar for a container, as you can see the contents really easy.  Or a glass cup. I notice that glass seems to work better. When putting in ingredients, I do not use measurements, I eyeball this whole thing.  However, I guesstimated as close as I could for the ingredients. Opt for more of an item versus less of an item if you’re not sure.

End result of finished product.

Ingredients:

• 1 Small Half Pint Mason Jar
• 2 Tablespoons Dish Soap
• 1/4 Cup Vinegar    (I use whatever vinegar I have on hand, but apple cider or fruit vinegar works best. Suzi gave me some kombucha vinegar and that works great too).
• 2 Tablespoons Simple Syrup or Honey  (If you do not have any of those on hand, syrup, flavored liqueur, cola or juice work in a pinch).
• Water

Fill the remainder of the jar with water and give it a good stir. Leave the jar open and in a place where the fruit flies are the most dense. It will collect the majority of them. Replace once a day until the fruit flies are gone. Usually two or three days at max.

This is really effective at getting those fruit flies to shoo. Enjoy your fruit fly free home!

~Kera