Baking with Drosophila

[pameladean]

No, it's not what you think. But we do have an immense population of fruit flies, both upstairs and downstairs. We are blaming the warm weather, but really, I don't know. Ordinarily, if one wants to get rid of them, one eats or disposes of the fruit in question, takes out the trash, and that's it. These guys are persistent. They are ubiquitous. I was standing on a stepladder moving paperback books from one shelf to another and fruit flies were zipping around my head. They seem curious, like very tiny winged cats. If you are doing something, anything, laundry, washing dishes, bringing in the groceries, one or two of them will come check you out.

I made two vegan pumpkin pies this afternoon, and while mercifully no fruit flies immolated themselves in the filling, they were all over the place. After I had cleaned the blender and let it dry, I went to put the lid back on, and spent about ten minutes shooing fruit flies out. It was like washing windows, where you can't tell which side the smudge is on.

I also made a mince pie, and the fruit flies circled my head like a halo the entire time.

I know one can get traps or improvise traps, but I'm starting to get fascinated with them. I wish they wouldn't literally get up my nose, though.

I hope you all have a stupendous weekend in whatever way suits you best.

Pamela

Comments

[longstrider.livejournal.com]

There's an even easier one. Mix vinegar with water and just a small bit of dish soap. The vinegar attracts them and the soap lowers the surface tension of the water so they fall in when they try and land and drink.

[(Anonymous)]

thank you so much, I can't seem to find where mine are breeding and they are driving me CRAZY!

[pameladean]

Replying so comment will be visible.

If you would, I'd like anonymous commenters to sign their comments with some kind of distinctive handle. It needn't be "real" by stupid definitions, just something.

I suspect LJ was acting up, though, and you meant to be visible.

P.

[guppiecat]

To be picky, the soap is dissolving the chitin of the insect, which has a dehydrating effect. It can also cause problems with the spiracles, so they can't breathe. It would probably work just fine without the water.