To help you with fruit fly management, we evaluated over a dozen readily available fruit fly traps in our own kitchens for a two-week period, and we chose eight that got the job done. We also spoke with Cindy Mannes, senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association, who encourages homeowners dealing with an infestation to work with a pest control professional to “identify the source of the infestation and eliminate it.” Our top choice, the DynaTrap, was the winner due to its ease of use, quick cleanup, and sleek design. Here are our top choices for best fruit fly traps. DynaTrap’s design requires no baits, has no odor, and takes up no counter space. By simply opening the box and plugging it in, DynaTrap instantly attracts flies, as well as moths and gnats, to its UV light. The product is designed to blend in with most any decor. Once landed on, flies get stuck to the sticky glue card, which you can easily dispose of. The manufacturer claims effectiveness up to 400 square feet, about the area of a two-car garage. After you’ve peeled off the glue card backing and inserted it into the trap, plug the cylindrical device into any outlet in a room where you’ve seen flying insect activity. The glue card is on the side of the device facing the wall, so trapped insects stay out of sight. The manufacturer says that glue cards are designed to be effective for 21 days. Simply replace the inserted card at that time or when it becomes full. Keep the trap running continuously for 24/7 protection. Any flying insect—including houseflies, moths, gnats, and other winged pests—is likely to find the trap irresistible, especially at night, when fewer lights compete for the invader’s attention. DynaTrap is also inexpensive and easy to acquire at most retailers nationwide. Price at time of publish: $16.99 The holes on the top are key for catching flies, as the interior basin is filled with Terro’s patented lure, which fruit flies find irresistible. Every two-pack includes a bottle of this liquid, which the manufacturer says should last 90 days. (Refills are available, sold separately.) Once the pests enter through the holes, they can’t fly back out, providing instant control. You can check on the product’s progress through the window built in to each fruit fly trap. Price at time of publish: $5.89 The bait is a mix of vinegar and fermented fruit. It comes in a plastic shaker vial, similar to how grocery store spices are packaged. Once the bait is inserted, and the lid is flipped, flies find their way through the shaker holes to the lure inside and are instantly trapped. When the 30-day period is up, simply toss the trap into the trash. Price at time of publish: $14.99 (two-pack; other quantities available) For the initial application, pour 8 ounces into your kitchen sink drain, making sure the liquid coats the pipes, as well as washes over the flies’ breeding material. (The manufacturer recommends waiting until the end of the day so as not to wash away the application with running sink water.) You may have to repeat the application daily until you see a reduction in the fly population, as well as a weekly maintenance application of half the initial amount. Green Gobbler provides a 30-day hassle-free return, no questions asked, with a full refund if you’re unsatisfied. Price at time of publish: $14.97 You get two modes: automatic, which senses when it’s dark enough to for optimum pest attraction, and manual, enabling you to control various aspects such as fan speed. Katchy does not rely just on light alone; it also offers up an air current that forces flies downward toward a sticky board trap when they approach the light. The modern design lets you put the trap just about everywhere, without announcing that you have a fruit fly problem. Price at time of publish: $39.99 Simple for anyone to use, the trap is designed to catch fruit flies, fungus gnats, houseflies, and even clothes moths. Once it has served its purpose, you throw it away. At under $8 dollars for a pack of 21, it is also a bargain. The only downside is, the trap is broad-spectrum, meaning it can trap occasional good insects and other materials on the sticky card. Price at time of publish: $7.99 The repellent lasts up to four months, according to the manufacturer, and each strip treats up to 200 cubic feet (about the size of a one-car garage). Setup is also a breeze, as it simply requires removing the exterior foil and hanging the product above potential breeding zones, such as sinks or garbage cans. Once the strips contact air, they are activated, and they should last up to 120 days. This product should be kept out of reach of children and not hung directly over food-prep areas. Price at time of publish: $10.99 Similar to the Terro trap design, these small, pot-shaped traps use a food-based attractant to lure the flies in. However, unlike the Terro traps, which feature a deep red color, you can see directly into these, flies and all, which may be off-putting to some. If this is a concern, the Barmaid traps might be best left to the kitchen, where they are more likely to be incognito. Price at time of publish: $22.90 ● Countertop traps are meant to be set on your counter, preferably near fruit bowls or sinks, which are classic fruit fly breeding grounds. Capturing the pests before they reproduce is key to effectively controlling your fruit fly problem. ● Sticky traps are inexpensive and work by utilizing the color yellow, which most insects see well. Flies are trapped on glue-backed cards. Disposal is as simple as tossing the cards into the trash can. With over-watered houseplants serving as fly hangouts, these can be convenient tools to get rid of pesky fungus gnats and fruit flies in one go. ● Electric traps rely on UV lights to lure fruit flies to sticky boards. This style tends to be more modern in design and can be a simple plug-in to any outlet or a corded countertop model. Both are efficient in just about any room.
Bait
To capture fruit flies, you need a lure to persuade them to enter a trap. Fortunately, fruit flies love common fermented products such as vinegar, fruit past its prime, and alcohol. For intense infestations, you can employ several chemical pesticides that can be added through foggers or hanging traps. In a pinch, many of our described traps can be refilled with apple cider vinegar.
Placement
Successfully controlling potential fruit fly infestation depends greatly on where you place your trap aids. ”Common breeding zones, such as sinks, fruit bowls, compost containers, and trash cans, are great places to secure traps nearby,” advises Cindy Mannes, senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association. This is because fruit flies feed on decaying matter, especially fruits and vegetables, so recycling bins and garbage cans can be sources of fruit fly infestation. Most fruit fly traps tend to be small, so they can easily be placed on or above one of these prime locations. Hanging traps are also beneficial, as they can go directly above a target area and benefit from being out of sight. Many electric traps are designed to avoid looking like conventional traps.
Why Trust the Spruce?
This article was written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance writer and garden reviewer for The Spruce. As an entomologist, she delighted in personally testing out the products to provide advice to those trying to navigate the confusing world of pest-control products. To make this list, Amanda Rose first consulted with Cindy Mannes, senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association. Then, she selected products based on factors including cost, ease of use, and purported effectiveness, and tested each in her own kitchen, following each manufacturer’s instructions. At the end of a two-week period, she counted trapped flies for each method and compared them.
