I love my ferments... but now fruit flies love my house

[tempestjewel]

Anyone else with insight on what to do?

They seem particularly attracted to my milk kefir jars. They are covered and sealed mason jars, which I just losen the lid on periodically to let out the pressure (I ripen at room temp).

They also love my kombucha when its brewing, but are kept out my the flour sack towel I have rubber-banded to the top. This of course doesn't stop them from landing on top of it and hanging out there.

So, any tips on reducing my fruit fly population while fermenting?

Right now I have a homemade fruit fly trap on my counter, but I'm hoping this isn't something I'll have to keep up forever

[Metasequoia]

We have a venus fly-trap right next to the counter where I leave my ferments. It's stuffed.

I keep my lids on tight when I'm making kefir & fil mjolk, but when ripening with a 2nd fermentation, you're right, the lids need to be loosened periodically. I haven't noticed fruit flies in relation to my ferments, only to my overripe tomatoes, watermelons & bananas. Is it possible that you have fruit that is attracting them? I suppose the kombucha could be what's attracting them, but I can't really see the kefir doing it...

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by Metasequoia

Is it possible that you have fruit that is attracting them? I suppose the kombucha could be what's attracting them, but I can't really see the kefir doing it...

No fruit, except the peelings that are in the garbage under the sink, but I haven't noticed them coming from there. I've been so careful with what I leave out and I've been meticulous at doing the dishes so there are no food particles for them to feast on.

I don't know if its just coincidence, but they are the worse when I'm ripening milk kefir on the counter.

Right now they are dying in a jar of kombucha mixed with a little dish soap. So they definitely like the kombucha

[steph117]

I JUST saw this tip somewhere, I can't remember where, & tried it in our kitchen, and it's working so far - put about 1" of vinegar in the bottom of a jar & make a paper "funnel" leading into it. Fruit flies go in, they can't get out.

We didn't have enough jars left to do this, so I just used an old water bottle - and there are quite a few dead fruit flies floating in the vinegar right now. Evidently they love the stuff.

A venus flytrap might be nicer, though.

[desertpenguin]

i keep my ferments in a cabinet (along with all of my empty ferment jars...i'm becoming, as my friend said, 'a jar lady' ) and i've only had problems with fruit flies attacking my ferments once.

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by steph117

I JUST saw this tip somewhere, I can't remember where, & tried it in our kitchen, and it's working so far - put about 1" of vinegar in the bottom of a jar & make a paper "funnel" leading into it. Fruit flies go in, they can't get out.

We didn't have enough jars left to do this, so I just used an old water bottle - and there are quite a few dead fruit flies floating in the vinegar right now. Evidently they love the stuff.

A venus flytrap might be nicer, though.

The kombucha fly trap I have right now is a similar principal because its pretty vinegar-y, plus they are supposed to be attracted to sugar and yeast as well, and the kombucha has it all. With the dish soap they fly down and then drown. Its working pretty well for now... I'm hoping once I kill all of them I won't have a problem again because I cannot for the life of me figure out where they are breeding :

[Prairiemother]

My sister whom I consider an expert in all things house-related says "vacuum them"! They fly too slowly to avoid the suction.

[Taedareth]

Wow! What creative people you all are! Venus fly trap... vinegar fly trap... death by kombucha... Does it really need soap, btw? Wouldn't they drown in pure kombucha, too?

My kefir jars live in a kitchen cabinet and I don't recall seeing any fruit flies around them. But the kombucha jars are a big draw. Silly fruit flies like to sit on the cloth covering and sniff fumes.

It's my understanding that fruit fly eggs are often already deposited on the skins of fruits and vegetables, so as your fresh produce sits on your counter, the flies hatch and begin their life cycle over again in your kitchen. I've never seen any maggots though, so maybe this isn't true. Except one time I was trying to mature some kefir cheese for a couple weeks and the fruit flies really liked it even though I kept it covered and slathered it with vinegar and oil. Then maggots hatched and crawled out of my cheese... :Puke

[425lisamarie]

Originally Posted by Taedareth

Wow! What creative people you all are! Venus fly trap... vinegar fly trap... death by kombucha... Does it really need soap, btw? Wouldn't they drown in pure kombucha, too?

My kefir jars live in a kitchen cabinet and I don't recall seeing any fruit flies around them. But the kombucha jars are a big draw. Silly fruit flies like to sit on the cloth covering and sniff fumes.

It's my understanding that fruit fly eggs are often already deposited on the skins of fruits and vegetables, so as your fresh produce sits on your counter, the flies hatch and begin their life cycle over again in your kitchen. I've never seen any maggots though, so maybe this isn't true. Except one time I was trying to mature some kefir cheese for a couple weeks and the fruit flies really liked it even though I kept it covered and slathered it with vinegar and oil. Then maggots hatched and crawled out of my cheese... :Puke

Oh. my. god. talk about puke I don't even know what to do i'm so grossed out right now. Maggots are like the only thing in life I can't even imagine.

[quietserena]

I make traps! Put apple cider vinegar in a glass and cover with plastic wrap. Poke holes in wrap. They can go in but can't find their way out.

Ugh, I've had some pretty bad fruit fly infestations but they don't usually go after my kefir...

[tempestjewel]

Well right now will be the big test, as I just started kefiring raw goat's milk again and it'll be on my counter sometime tonight or early tomorrow. Then I'll be able to see if the fruit flies resurge or not. As of now, most of them have drowned in my kombucha/soap mixture :nana: .

[provocativa]

I have the best luck with rotting fruit down in the trap, rather than other sweet vinager(y) things. They can breed in your drain- try pouring boiling h2o down the drain (or bleach, etc.) and then keep the drains stopped up at night.