There are tiny bugs flying around my sink

  • Thread starter Thread starter Newai
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Flying
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the identification and management of fruit flies, specifically Drosophila species, which are attracted to wine and other fermenting fruits. Users share various methods for trapping these pests, including using flypaper, glue boxes, and homemade traps with paper funnels filled with wine or fruit. The discussion highlights the effectiveness of baiting traps with banana and the importance of eliminating potential breeding sources, such as overripe fruit. Participants also mention the challenges of controlling these pests and share humorous anecdotes related to their experiences.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Drosophila species and their behavior
  • Familiarity with pest control methods and traps
  • Knowledge of homemade trap construction techniques
  • Awareness of common household attractants for fruit flies
NEXT STEPS
  • Research effective homemade traps for fruit flies using apple cider vinegar
  • Explore commercial fruit fly traps and their effectiveness
  • Learn about the life cycle of Drosophila and its implications for pest control
  • Investigate natural repellents and preventive measures for fruit fly infestations
USEFUL FOR

Homeowners, pest control enthusiasts, and anyone dealing with fruit fly infestations in kitchens or food storage areas.

Newai
Messages
32
Reaction score
1
Tiny little buggers. Sometimes one will float in front of my monitor here. A little annoying, but they don't bite and pretty much stay away from me. And they like wine. They really like wine.

So, I put a strip of fly paper over the sink. Most of them are eventually crushed by the adhesive over a period of days, but I've never seen one actually walk up the strip before.

I also bought some glue boxes for the creepy crawlies. Caught a nasty-ugly looking spider one morning. When I came home, it's opisthosoma was gone! I figure another resident came by and had some lunch. Can't imagine what it must've been like to be stuck to a box while some other arachnid is munching on your behind. Eek.

I'm also catching a lot of pseudoscorpions. Not what I really want to happen, but I just can't seem to catch up with the pests in here. Sprayed, too.

Anyway, anyone have an idea what those flying bugs might be? I'm in NE U.S. They don't look like the gnats I found in Google images. Their eyes are bright red.
 
Last edited:
Biology news on Phys.org
Sounds like you've got a bad case of drosophila...fruit flies. Oh yes, they looooove wine :smile:!
 
I'm going to have nightmares tonight.
 
They are fruit flies and almost impossible to kill. Whah!
 
Newai said:
Their eyes are bright red.

Could be all that wine.
 
lisab said:
Sounds like you've got a bad case of drosophila...fruit flies. Oh yes, they looooove wine :smile:!

Images in Google are an exact match. Thanks!

hehe, Wiki reads that they are also called wine flies.

And you are all funny!
 
:!)
Math Is Hard said:
Could be all that wine.
:!):!):!):!)
 
Wiki: "Males of this genus are known to have the longest sperm cells of any organism on Earth, including one species, Drosophila bifurca, that has sperm 58 mm (2.3 in) long."

OMG
 
Newai said:
Wiki: "Males of this genus are known to have the longest sperm cells of any organism on Earth, including one species, Drosophila bifurca, that has sperm 58 mm (2.3 in) long."

OMG

Whoooooa, the pix are...just, wow! How does that even work? I mean, how does that sperm get anywhere?!?
 
  • #10
Here's an interesting article about that particular species...

http://www.livescience.com/animals/060616_big_sperm.html

...the female bodies of many species are not passive arenas within which sperm compete, but more like obstacle courses, with hurdles and defenses in place...

In D. bifurca, the female reproductive tract is just slightly longer than the sperm that swim through it.

"It looks like a giant slinky filling her abdomen," Bjork told LiveScience.

:eek:
 
  • #11
I don't even know how to imagine fruit fly sex, particularly with that!

And sounds like a future mix drink.
 
  • #12
turbo-1 said:
They are fruit flies and almost impossible to kill. Whah!

i found a way. they are not the least bit interested in flypaper. really luck of the draw if you hang a strip. but... they love banana. and you can dab little bits of banana on the flypaper. and they will land, and walk about, eventually getting stuck on the paper. so just bait it with something they like. still hard to get them all, but it gets you moving in that direction.

oh, and don't forget to throw out all your bananas, too.
 
  • #13
Proton Soup said:
i found a way. they are not the least bit interested in flypaper. really luck of the draw if you hang a strip. but... they love banana. and you can dab little bits of banana on the flypaper. and they will land, and walk about, eventually getting stuck on the paper. so just bait it with something they like. still hard to get them all, but it gets you moving in that direction.

oh, and don't forget to throw out all your bananas, too.

My fly paper is covered with them.
 
  • #14
Newai said:
My fly paper is covered with them.

you are lucky, then. turned their noses up at mine.
 
  • #15
Newai said:
My fly paper is covered with them.

I did a little project with my niece and nephew. We make little traps out of cups and paper funnels. Fill the cup (glass is good so you can look in) with wine, or fruit, and then tape a paper funnel over the top of the cup. The funnel can be made by rolling a piece of paper, taping it, and making a tiny hole by snipping the end with sissors. The flies can easily fly into the funnel as they go from wide to narrow, drawn in by the odor, but coming out is another matter. Then you just let them go outside.
 
  • #16
stevenb said:
I did a little project with my niece and nephew. We make little traps out of cups and paper funnels. Fill the cup (glass is good so you can look in) with wine, or fruit, and then tape a paper funnel over the top of the cup. The funnel can be made by rolling a piece of paper, taping it, and making a tiny hole by snipping the end with sissors. The flies can easily fly into the funnel as they go from wide to narrow, drawn in by the odor, but coming out is another matter. Then you just let them go outside.

I've done that exact same thing, it works!
 
  • #17
lisab said:
I've done that exact same thing, it works!

Yes, fun for the kids too, and me as well, I must confess. :smile:
 
  • #18
lisab said:
I've done that exact same thing, it works!

yes, but then they get to live.
 
  • #19
Proton Soup said:
yes, but then they get to live.

Only when the kids are in sight. :smile:
 
  • #20
stevenb said:
Only when the kids are in sight. :smile:

Ha...well you can put a drop of detergent in the wine/juice, so if they touch it they won't float, they'll sink right down.
 
  • #21
ffliestrap.jpg
 
  • #22
Wow. Just got up this morning and there are fewer on the paper strip. Some of them managed to work their way off! I see that there are a few spots that have very little adhesive. Manufacturing problem. This calls for drastic measures.

I'm getting a cat.
 
  • #23
Borek said:
ffliestrap.jpg

You're not very generous, Borek


make sure that whenever you happen to make wine that the fruit flies can't access it. They'll infect it with bacterea that makes acid of it

http://www.vinegar.at/pdfs/Combat%20against%20fruit%20flies.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #24
Actually there is no wine involved, but apple cider vinegar. I think it was two years ago, when turbo described this kind of a fly trap and I made one shown on the picture. I have already posted this picture long ago, perhaps in the food thread.
 
  • #25
Borek said:
Actually there is no wine involved, but apple cider vinegar. I think it was two years ago, when turbo described this kind of a fly trap and I made one shown on the picture. I have already posted this picture long ago, perhaps in the food thread.
I have a fresh one on my kitchen counter, Borek. They LOVE apple cider vinegar. We are harvesting tomatoes, apples (early!) and other fruits, and invariably get some fruit flies in the house. The trap thins them out greatly.
 
  • #26
stevenb said:
I did a little project with my niece and nephew. We make little traps out of cups and paper funnels. Fill the cup (glass is good so you can look in) with wine, or fruit, and then tape a paper funnel over the top of the cup. The funnel can be made by rolling a piece of paper, taping it, and making a tiny hole by snipping the end with sissors. The flies can easily fly into the funnel as they go from wide to narrow, drawn in by the odor, but coming out is another matter. Then you just let them go outside.

I wonder if this works with larger flies. Of course, I'm not sure if they would be drawn to wine/apple cider vinegar. I find that there are a bunch of large flies in my backyard around the stairs. I don't know why they congregate there but I assume it's because it's cooler around that area.
 
  • #27
~christina~ said:
I wonder if this works with larger flies. Of course, I'm not sure if they would be drawn to wine/apple cider vinegar. I find that there are a bunch of large flies in my backyard around the stairs. I don't know why they congregate there but I assume it's because it's cooler around that area.

I've seen similar traps sold at some department stores targeted for bees.

http://www.google.com/products?hl=e...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=3&ved=0CEMQrQQwAg
 
  • #28
~christina~ said:
I wonder if this works with larger flies. Of course, I'm not sure if they would be drawn to wine/apple cider vinegar. I find that there are a bunch of large flies in my backyard around the stairs. I don't know why they congregate there but I assume it's because it's cooler around that area.

I don't know why a larger version of the trap should not work. However, I hate to tell you what might work as bait. :smile:
 
  • #29
stevenb said:
I don't know why a larger version of the trap should not work. However, I hate to tell you what might work as bait. :smile:

Lol, I had that same icky thought hahahah...
 
  • #30
lisab said:
Lol, I had that same icky thought hahahah...

I assume a rotting carcass would suffice... :rolleyes:
 

Similar threads

Will White Vinegar Corrode My Sink If Used for Cleaning?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K