Fruit Fly Traps
- Easy to Use
- Disposable
- Resealable
- Non-Toxic
Fruit Fly FAQ
Or, "Stuff I wish I'd never had to learn about drosophila melanogaster".
See also: How to make a home-made fruit fly trap
See also: The Human History of Fruit
Flies
- Q: What's the scientific name for the little beggars?
- Q: How long do they live? I've heard it's only 24 hours so why are there still so many in my kitchen?
- Q: How did they get into my house? Did I buy "infested" fruit?
- Q: How do I know if the swarm in my house is fruit flies?
- Q: Fruit is obvious, but what else do fruit flies like?
- Q: Is there anything unusual about fruit flies I might find interesting?
Q: What's the scientific name for the little beggars?
A: In North America, the most common variety is Drosophila Melanogaster. Non-scientifically, they're also commonly called "vinegar flies".
Q: How long do they live? I've heard it's only 24 hours so why are there still so many in my kitchen?
A: They live for about 30 days. This means they might hang around your house this long, even without somewhere to lay eggs. Their actual lifespan varies with the temperature. They live shortest but breed fastest at higher temperatures, and live a long time but breed slower at colder temperatures. They multiply fastest at 86 degrees Fahrenheit / 30 degrees Celsius.
Q: How did they get into my house? Did I buy "infested" fruit?
A: Contrary to popular belief, most fruit flies DON'T "come home with the fruit". They find their way into your house later as the fruit ripens and the smell attracts them through open windows, doors, cracks, etc.
Q: How do I know if the swarm in my house is fruit flies?
A: They're flies, they're tiny, and they have red eyes. They'll hang around fruit or other attractants and multiply like mad. You'll notice a few and a week later you'll have hundreds, soon to be thousands.
Q: Fruit is obvious, but what else do fruit flies like?
A: They are attracted to fermenting fruit (eg. yeast), baked goods, alcohol (eg. wine), vinegar, rotting vegetables, fruit juice, lemon scented detergent, fruit scented bathroom products, bright light, the colour yellow, and reflective surfaces. Ounce for ounce though, our own (patent pending) Dead Easy bait is the best attractant we've found.
Q: Is there anything unusual about fruit flies I might find interesting?
A: Fruit flies can metabolize alcohol fumes. Yes, FUMES. While they obviously can't lay eggs in a gas, they are able to "eat" the fumes to subsist.
A: Fruit flies can be addicted to crack cocaine. When "high", they groom obsessively, and walk sideways and backwards (which they never do naturally). Dead Easy did NOT conduct that research.
A: Fruit flies are the critter most used for genetic research worldwide.
A: Fruit flies learn some functions better without a head. Yes, that's right, decapitated.
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