I’m sure they have been around for a while, but this morning I noticed I was seeing spots. Little dark spots. Little flying dark spots. The fruit flies seemed to have undergone a massive population explosion.
There just seem to suddenly be fruit flies everywhere. Even on things that are obviously not fruit. Several were trying to find a way into a sealed bag of bread. Granted, those new cardboard clips don’t work too well after the first time, but it was still sealed. I tried to tell them it wasn’t fruit, and they had no right to attack an innocent loaf of bread. The flies just seemed to ignore that and call in reinforcements, possibly in an effort to lift the bag of bread into the air and fly off with it. They did not succeed, but they seemed to be still trying when I left.
The cats seemed to enjoy the sudden increase of fruit flies. Particularly Killer Kat. Kuddle Kat will swat a few, but doesn’t see the need for all of them to be eliminated.
There are two cats in the house. I’d say we have two cats, but really, I think two cats have us. There is Kuddle Kat, who likes to sit on people and rub against them. And his sister, Killer Kat. Killer Kat has a rule. If it moves, it must die. So it is not unusual to see Killer Kat leaping at things I can’t see, trying to climb the walls and curtains, and just trying to end all other forms of life in her world.
But as much as they enjoy the sport, they seem to be fighting a losing battle with the fruit flies.
There are many different traps you can try to rid a space of fruit flies. You can use various things for bait, like fruit, wine, juice or even vinegar. Cider vinegar seems to be highly recommended. Humans in the house do not seem inclined to share wine with the flies, since they complain when one appears in a glass, even though they really don’t drink much.
And you need something on top of the trap. There seem to be various recommendations. Make a paper cone as a top. Or maybe use some plastic wrap and poke a hole in it.
I have to find a way to trap some of these flies. It’s either that or get more cats.