Fruit Flies
Tiny black flies in bathroom sink drain
Flies swarming in our kitchen
Household Pests

Fruit Flies

Help -- we have an invasion of fruit flies and can't find the source. Any recommendations?

Tiny black flies in bathroom sink drain

We just noticed tiny black flies that are coming up through our bathroom sink drain and the shower drain, all in the same bathroom. So far, the other bathroom hasn't been affected, so I don't think it's a house-wide issue. I've tried flushing the drain with a chemical cleanser (yuk!), a baking soda vinegar combination, etc. but the bugs aren't going away. The worst is when I'm brushing my teeth and I see one flyng around on the side of the sink...we just don't want them to start multiplying any more than they already have! Anyone have an idea on how to get rid of these pesky little flies? --going buggy

I have a lot of little gnats in my bathroom. My regular exterminator has no idea what they are or how to get rid of them. I have called other exterminators with the same results. Do you have any idea what they are?

The insects you brought to my office are moth flies. These little flies breed in the overflow drains of sinks and bathtubs. They lay their eggs in the gunk that builds up in these areas. Use a funnel and pour some boiling, soapy water in the overflow drains which will kill the fly larvae and help dislodge the gunk buildup. Subsequently you can pour a capful of bleach in the overflow drains several times a week to prevent a re-infestation of these flies.

Flies swarming in our kitchen

We have lots of flies swarming in our kitchen. Looking for ideas on how to get rid of them. I've checked the archives. peggy

Method 1: Get one of those 12" diameter perforated aluminum discs or screens with a handle that are sold in stores for putting over frying pans to prevent splattering. They cost about the same as a can of insect spray. These gismos work marvelously to swap flying insects right out of the air, presuming you are physically able to swing one vigorously as one would wield a tennis racket. Perhaps it is sadistic, but I have experienced a perverse satisfaction taking out two or more of the hapless critters in a single swipe; but hey, no pesticide pollution, no left over can, no ozone depletion (propellent), and you burn a few calories to boot.

Method 2: This takes a little more finesse but you can actually suck them right out of the air with the hose of your vacuum cleaner, preferably a shop vac. If you tape a plastic pipe to the end of your vacuum hose the flies, bees, etc. don't easily recognize this as a threat, at first. As an aside, a shop vac with a 20 foot long plastic pipe is a pretty safe way to rid your eaves of wasp and hornet nests, if the need arises. Considering the current power crunch this may be a risky alternative to Method 1.

Happy hunting ! Frank

#1, I've run around with a spray bottle with dish soap and water in it and a magazine. If you can zap the fly with soapy water, they usually fly or fall to a wall, ceiling or floor where you can smack them with a rolled up magazine or fly swatter.

#2 I've had very good success using a clothes hanger shaped into an O with a plastic bag taped around the O - a rudimentary insect net. You swipe the fly, then pull the end of the plastic bag down so the fly can't escape. If you want, you can let the fly go outside captive release style (although I've seen them waiting by the door to come in).

#3 I've found that if I get up in the middle of the night for some reason, I could kill basically all the flies in my house, while they were on the ceiling "sleeping." Elizabeth