A common expression would have us believe that 'you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'. But this is not true in the case of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (xkcd, 2007).
Luring flies to a trap is the hardest part. Luckily, they're attracted to anything sweet — simple syrup, honey and fruit — so you shouldn't have to look too far to find something to entice them.
In the case of “you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar,” the phrase is first seen in print in 1666 in A common place of Italian proverbs and proverbial phrases, published by Giovanni Torriano. There, the phrase reads: Il mele catta più mosche, che non fà l'aceto.
'Plain white vinegar does will not attract fruit flies because it has no fruity scent,' says Diane Kuthy. And if it is the right sort of vinegar, don't use it cold. 'If your apple cider vinegar was refrigerated prior to use, it may not be pungent enough to attract the flies,' Diane continues.
Bait fly traps with apple cider vinegar or wine to catch fruit flies – also known as vinegar flies. A good bait for house flies is 1 part molasses, 3 parts water. This ferments and smells pleasant as long as it doesnt putrify. Many house fly baits use brewers yeast, fish meal, and sugar that ferments in water.
Don't use white vinegar—the scent of apple cider vinegar is what attracts the flies. If you don't have cider vinegar, try using balsamic or red wine vinegar instead.
Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.
Flies hate the smell of essential oils like lemon grass, peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus – put a few drops in a spray bottle and use around the house daily. They also hate the smell of camphor (a traditional moth deterrent) which you can buy online, cloves and cinnamon.
What attracts flies to sit on humans? Flies are attracted to carbon dioxide which human beings breathe out. Flies feed on dead cells and open wounds. Oily hair is an attractant.
Vinegar (or acetic acid) is the ultimate product of the fermentation process in fruit, which is why fruit flies are attracted to vinegar odor. However, both low and high concentrations of vinegar odor leave flies indifferent (left).
That is, flies are more attracted to vinegar than honey.
Proverb. you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. It is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity.
Flies may be attracted to the sweetness of honey. Of course, that sweetness can be a fly's downfall, since it's also quite sticky. If a fly gets stuck in honey, it's only a matter of time before it's all over. There are plenty of DIY fly traps you can put up in your home if you find yourself dealing with a fly problem.
Vinegar attracts, not repels flies; however, a container with vinegar and dish soap will function as an attractant trap as the vinegar lures flies to enter the trap and the dish soap will cause the flies to sink and die.
Common house flies are attracted to decaying organic filth such as feces and rotting meat, whereas fruit flies seek sugary substances and feed more commonly on overripe fruit, spilled soda, and alcohol.
The vinegar loses its efficacy after a few days. Simple wash out the container, and repeat the above steps. If the flies are attracted to your trap, but aren't going it, chances are your holes are too small (or too large), increase the size of the holes. Or if too large, replace the plastic wrap and try again.
One of the most common predators of flies, including fruit flies, is the frog. Although frogs eat a diverse diet, they feed on flies as often as they can. The spider is also a common predator of the fruit fly. These arachnids spin their webs as traps for flies.
Clean up and break the cycle
Danny recommends regular cleaning of food preparation areas like kitchen countertops. Speedy removal of any pet faeces is also crucial in order to make your home less appealing to flies. It's also a good idea to use rubbish bags and cover rubbish bins to prevent population increase.
You guessed it: flies despise cloves and lemon due to their strong smells. For us, however, these natural repellents are quite aromatic. To create this decorative and natural repellent, you'll need a lemon and 6-12 cloves.
Things Flies Hate
Basil, bay leaf, cedar, cinnamon, citrus, citronella, cloves, cucumber slices or peels, lavender, marigolds, mint, peppermint, pine, rosemary, and vanilla oils and air fresheners are a few popular choices for fly repellents.
Lavender is a good natural choice for keeping bugs at bay. Not only does the herb smell amazing but it also repels flies, beetles and even fleas.
Dish soap. Dish soap in a fruit fly trap breaks the surface tension of the liquid used within the trap, causing the flies to fall into the liquid instead of sitting on top of it. Fruit flies prefer to develop from eggs to adults in the liquid of improperly sealed canned vegetables and fruits.
Experts swear by apple cider vinegar traps as the best way to get rid of fruit flies. You can also use white vinegar in a pinch.
1. Apple cider vinegar and plastic wrap trap. For this DIY fruit fly trap, sweet apple cider vinegar (ACV) is more effective than white vinegar. They can't resist the scent of vinegar, and they won't be able to exit once they're inside!