DEAR JOAN: My drawback is fruit flies. And extra fruit flies. And much more fruit flies.
I've tried every part I might discover on the Web — apple cider vinegar with a drop of cleaning soap, crimson wine with a drop of cleaning soap, 4 totally different sorts of sticky sheets, and one model of hanging sticky strips. I additionally purchased a “Katchy Automated” indoor insect and flying bug entice from Amazon for $47.99, which I can be returning as a result of it has solely caught a half dozen fruit flies within the three weeks I've had it. I additionally purchased an “Aunt Fannies Flypunch” fruit fly entice from Amazon, which I'll most likely find yourself returning additionally, because it has not caught any fruit flies within the week I've had it.
I'm open to and begging for any options you may need, in need of exterminator corporations which cost $200+ for one remedy.
Stephen Reynolds, Santa Cruz
DEAR STEPHEN: Eliminating fruit flies, as you’ve sadly witnessed for your self, will be troublesome, and it includes a two-prong assault. It seems that, to torture a metaphor, you’ve been combating them with only one.
It's important to battle the adults, which you’ve been doing with varied traps, however you additionally need to do away with the eggs, larva and pupae.
Earlier than doing something, although, it is best to make sure that it’s fruit flies which might be pestering you. As your traps aren’t working, you could possibly be going after the incorrect fly. Fruit flies usually are confused with drain flies, phorid flies and fungus gnats. Your county’s Mosquito and Vector Management District, or space Grasp Gardeners, may be capable of help you with an identification.
Let’s simply assume you’ve obtained fruit flies. They seem, as if conjured by Voldemort or another depraved wizard, when your fruit begins to recover from ripe, nevertheless it’s not simply fruit. The flies will be attracted by something that's fermenting or fermented, together with greens and opened bottles of wine and beer. They like damp areas, so even a not too long ago used mop can entice them.
Whereas grownup fruit flies solely stay about 25 to 50 days, the females can lay as much as 500 eggs at a time, and the eggs hatch in 24 to 30 hours.
You must do a deep clear of all these yucky locations we desire to not take into consideration, primarily drains and the rubbish disposal. You must hold your fruit within the fridge or in air-tight containers, throw out fruit that's headed to the over-ripe stage, and continuously empty the trash and countertop compost containers till you don’t have an issue any longer.
It'll take time to change into fruit fly free, and within the meantime, you’ve obtained a brand new interest.
DEAR JOAN: Each summer season, I plant three tomato crops in pots on the facet of our home. This yr, one thing is stealing the tomatoes off the vines. May it's a rat or a squirrel?
Don Drew, San Jose
DEAR DON: Might be both, however my finest guess can be a squirrel. Rats are inclined to eat the fruit on the vine or go away it underneath the plant whereas squirrels take it and run. In case you discover the tomatoes going lacking in the course of the night time, it’s rats; in the course of the day, it’s squirrels.
Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.
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