Fruit flies! Need Help!

HRH Di · Jun 1, 2011

We have somehow gotten fruit flies in the house...I think they came in on some produce we got at he Asian market. They swarm around Jade's, Ruby's and Max's cage bowls and their "after school snacks" almost as soon as we set the bowls down. We empty the bowls as soon as the birdies are done or as soon as we can. Unfortunately, school and work schedules means that we have to leave the house before they finish breakfast. We also change their cage paper daily.

Is there a parrot safe insecticide that we can use? It's getting a bit out of hand.

darkling · Jun 1, 2011

Can you not use fly strips? Obviously keep them away from the birds but they're not very expensive. You could hang them when you leave for work and take them down when you take the birds out.

merlinsmom13 · Jun 1, 2011

Try sitting shallow bowls of vinegar around the house. Also make sure there is nothing they might be interested in uncovered.

Sabbath · Jun 1, 2011

Combine 1 pint milk, 1/4 lb raw sugar and 2 ounces ground pepper in a saucepan and simmer for 8-10 minutes. Pour it in a shallow dish and watch the flies attack and consequently suffocate.

Pour 1/4 cup white vinegar and a pinch of liquid dishwashing detergent in a cup. Slowly, add water till the bubbles reach the top of the cup. Fruit flies will be attracted and trapped to death.

Spray the house with diluted lemongrass oil. Just 10 drops of oil works well with 2 ounces of hot water. This can kill not only fruit flies but also spiders, ants and other creepy crawlers.

Hang fly strips with both their sides exposed to flies. Fruit flies will stick to the fly trap and perish.

Abzeez · Jun 1, 2011

I've used vinegar in a shallow dish with a little bit of dawn dish soap. They are attracted to the vinegar, and get stuck in the soap. It seems to work well. I tired fly strips once, fruit flies don't seem to be attracted to them like normal flies are.

HRH Di · Jun 1, 2011

Thanks, everyone. I think I'm going to try the vinegar. Since our birds are flighted, fly strips make me kind of nervous.

Pedro · Jun 1, 2011

We actually call them vinegar flies here in Aus, LOL. They are shocking here in summer. I have resorted to only giving my birds their fruit & veg in small amounts just enough for them to consume quickly before the flies get to bad & then another serve in the afternoon. They have access to their dry foods in between.

I try all the solutions but nothing ever gets rid of them. But you do drown a few.

HRH Di · Jun 3, 2011

Wow, the vinegar worked perfectly! The flies are almost all gone. Thanks so much!

ParrotGirl123 · Oct 29, 2021

HRH Di said:
Wow, the vinegar worked perfectly! The flies are almost all gone. Thanks so much!

How long did it take till all were gone?

imouse1 · Oct 29, 2021

ParrotGirl123 said:
How long did it take till all were gone?

In my experience, it can take a few days depending on how many there are. We put a couple drops of dish soap / washing-up liquid per cup to break the surface tension so once they land they can't get out. I've also intentionally taken the fruit juice (if it's there) and put it in the water to confuse TF out of them. It's a bit mean but, uh, the alternative is never-ending fruit flies.

GaleriaGila · Oct 30, 2021

WEIRD! We have these little pests for the first time EVER! Vinegar, here we come! Thanks, folks!!!!!

imouse1 · Oct 31, 2021

GaleriaGila said:
WEIRD! We have these little pests for the first time EVER! Vinegar, here we come! Thanks, folks!!!!!

The fruit flies have been BAD this season (at least they are where I live). I've gotten to the point that I am putting all the produce straight into the refrigerator or freezer after washing because if I leave it out even for a day I've got them. Usually, they come in on potatoes but I grew my own potatoes this year so I don't think I got them from there.

ALB104 · May 6, 2022

Do you guys think putting down a layer of baking soda on top of the papers at the bottom of the cage would help "dry up" any fecal or food droppings, and keep the flies from being attracted to the wet matter? Or maybe a thin layer of something like Pretty Litter, a silica cat litter that absorbs moisture and dries up pee and poo? Thoughts? Trying to think of something to keep the flies off in between changing the papers.

wrench13 · May 6, 2022

We use apple cider vinegar in a mason jar sealed with clear kitchen wrap and a few holes punched in it with a fork. Works perfectly and keeps the vinegar smell down too.

ALB104 · May 6, 2022

wrench13 said:
We use apple cider vinegar in a mason jar sealed with clear kitchen wrap and a few holes punched in it with a fork. Works perfectly and keeps the vinegar smell down too.

I have vinegar traps that catch some flies all over the house. I need another level of attack.

I'd still like input on baking soda or the like to dry up the wet droppings. Thanks!

Fruit flies! Need Help!

HRH Di

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darkling

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merlinsmom13

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Sabbath

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Abzeez

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HRH Di

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