A Method for Trapping Fruit Flies
Simple banana-bated traps are commonly used to harvest wild flies. The traps
are easy to make and can be placed in a variety of locations that may have fruit
flies. For example, you might place them near restaurant's or grocers'
dumpster, in parks or near streams, ponds or fruit trees.
- Materials
- 1 liter or quart clear plastic or glass jars
- Nylon (cloth) window screening
- Rubber bands and string
- Paper toweling or filter paper
- Ripe or overly ripe banana
- 1 pinch active baker's yeast
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- Wood chips (large, not fine, sifted on 1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth
to remove fines)
Mix the yeast and sugar, then add to the water and stir.
Mash the banana with a fork, stir in one cup of wood chips
and add the yeast/sugar water. Transfer this mixture to the jar and cover
with another layer of wood chips, about 1-2 cm deep.
Place the traps in shaded areas, out of direct sunlight
and protected from rain. They may hung from branches, on a greased string or
wire to protect them from ants or other insects.
Collect the jars after a day or two and cover with paper toweling if fruit
flies are present.
If successful, you should be able to see eggs or very
small maggots with a magnifying glass by the time you collect the trap and
pupae about 4-6 days after the trap was set. Adult flies should start to
emerge about 4 days later, though these times depend on temperature.
The jar may be kept covered with a foam plug, a fine mesh
organza or chiffon cloth or it may be left open and placed in a cloth bag
cage or glove box.
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