With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued by
little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost caddy.

We empty it regularly (every day or so) and wash it out but the flies are
there again very quickly.

I understand that the eggs arrive on fresh fruit and vegetables so there
will be a constant supply.

The only solution (wait for it) I've seen advocated is to build a fruit
fly trap from a jam jar with a bit of banana skin (because fruit flies
like a banana) and some cider vinegar as bait.

Blasting your future compost (or at least the Council's) with fly spray
seems non-green.

Any other sensible solutions?

Cheers


Dave R



--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

David wrote:
With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued by
little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost caddy.

We empty it regularly (every day or so) and wash it out but the flies
are there again very quickly.

I understand that the eggs arrive on fresh fruit and vegetables so
there will be a constant supply.

The only solution (wait for it) I've seen advocated is to build a
fruit fly trap from a jam jar with a bit of banana skin (because
fruit flies like a banana) and some cider vinegar as bait.

Blasting your future compost (or at least the Council's) with fly
spray seems non-green.

Any other sensible solutions?

fly spray doesn't work on fruit flies as they don't breathe through their
skin like other flies. They do breathe, but not in the same way as, say
houseflies or bluebottles.

Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana.

I'll get my coat.

On 16/07/16 15:15, matthelliwell wrote:
Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana.

I'll get my coat.

Time flies? Difficult. They move too fast.

She attracts men like flies.

--
Those who want slavery should have the grace to name it by its proper
name. They must face the full meaning of that which they are advocating
or condoning; the full, exact, specific meaning of collectivism, of its
logical implications, of the principles upon which it is based, and of
the ultimate consequences to which these principles will lead. They must
face it, then decide whether this is what they want or not.

Ayn Rand.

On Saturday, 16 July 2016 12:14:05 UTC+1, David wrote:
With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued by
little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost caddy.

Would putting it into the microwave cook the eggs and render them non-viable?

Owain

David wrote:
With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued by
little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost caddy.

We empty it regularly (every day or so) and wash it out but the flies
are there again very quickly.

I understand that the eggs arrive on fresh fruit and vegetables so
there will be a constant supply.

The only solution (wait for it) I've seen advocated is to build a
fruit fly trap from a jam jar with a bit of banana skin (because
fruit flies like a banana) and some cider vinegar as bait.

Blasting your future compost (or at least the Council's) with fly
spray seems non-green.

Any other sensible solutions?

Have you tried a lid of some sort?

On 16/07/2016 15:04, Phil L wrote:
David wrote:
With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued by
little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost caddy.

We empty it regularly (every day or so) and wash it out but the flies
are there again very quickly.

I understand that the eggs arrive on fresh fruit and vegetables so
there will be a constant supply.

The only solution (wait for it) I've seen advocated is to build a
fruit fly trap from a jam jar with a bit of banana skin (because
fruit flies like a banana) and some cider vinegar as bait.

Blasting your future compost (or at least the Council's) with fly
spray seems non-green.

Any other sensible solutions?

fly spray doesn't work on fruit flies as they don't breathe through their
skin like other flies. They do breathe, but not in the same way as, say
houseflies or bluebottles.

I hope you have a source for that... but... back to the OP

The life cycle of the Drosophila, the geneticist's favourite fruit fly,
is IIRC about three weeks. So they won't be breeding in their in a day,
they'll be flying n from somewhere else.

Andy

Phil L wrote:
David wrote:
With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued by
little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost caddy.

We empty it regularly (every day or so) and wash it out but the flies
are there again very quickly.

I understand that the eggs arrive on fresh fruit and vegetables so
there will be a constant supply.

The only solution (wait for it) I've seen advocated is to build a
fruit fly trap from a jam jar with a bit of banana skin (because
fruit flies like a banana) and some cider vinegar as bait.

Blasting your future compost (or at least the Council's) with fly
spray seems non-green.

Any other sensible solutions?

Have you tried a lid of some sort?


I've one with a lid - but they seem to be able to 'home in' on the
rotting vegetation (and even a glass of beer) quite accurately and
persistently. AFAICT, the only solution is to empty it into the outdoor
compst bin daily, rather than every few days, as you might do in Winter.

On Sat, 16 Jul 2016 22:19:09 +0100, Vir Campestris wrote:

On 16/07/2016 15:04, Phil L wrote:
David wrote:
With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued by
little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost caddy.

We empty it regularly (every day or so) and wash it out but the flies
are there again very quickly.

I understand that the eggs arrive on fresh fruit and vegetables so
there will be a constant supply.

The only solution (wait for it) I've seen advocated is to build a
fruit fly trap from a jam jar with a bit of banana skin (because fruit
flies like a banana) and some cider vinegar as bait.

Blasting your future compost (or at least the Council's) with fly
spray seems non-green.

Any other sensible solutions?

fly spray doesn't work on fruit flies as they don't breathe through
their skin like other flies. They do breathe, but not in the same way
as, say houseflies or bluebottles.

I hope you have a source for that... but... back to the OP

The life cycle of the Drosophila, the geneticist's favourite fruit fly,
is IIRC about three weeks. So they won't be breeding in their in a day,
they'll be flying n from somewhere else.

Andy

Hmmm....temperature dependant.

"Under ideal conditions, the development time at 25 °C (77 °F) is 8.5 days"

"The eggs, which are about 0.5 mm long, hatch after 12€“15 hours (at 25 °C
or 77 °F).[6][7] The resulting larvae grow for about 4 days (at 25 °C)
while molting twice (into second- and third-instar larvae), at about 24
and 48 h after hatching.[6][7] During this time, they feed on the
microorganisms that decompose the fruit, as well as on the sugar of the
fruit itself. The mother puts feces on the egg sacs to establish the same
microbial composition in the larvae's guts which has worked positively for
herself.[11] Then the larvae encapsulate in the puparium and undergo a
four-day-long metamorphosis (at 25 °C), after which the adults eclose
(emerge).[6][7]"

So they have to be already present in the larval stage on the fruit and
vegetables when the scraps are put into the caddy, or they have to be
adults from elsewhere which have homed in on a suitable breeding ground
and have evaded the lid to get into the caddy.

All fascinating scientific stuff, but I am still looking for a reasonable
way to get rid of the little buggers.

Cheers


Dave R





--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box

On Sunday, 17 July 2016 13:38:41 UTC+1, David wrote:
David wrote:

With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued by
little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost caddy.

All fascinating scientific stuff, but I am still looking for a reasonable
way to get rid of the little buggers.

I don't know if you can. But you might try something strong smelling & repellant to insects in the bin.


NT

On Sun, 17 Jul 2016 07:23:50 -0700, tabbypurr wrote:

On Sunday, 17 July 2016 13:38:41 UTC+1, David wrote:
David wrote:

With the unexpected arrival of warm weather we seem to be plagued
by little flies (probably fruit flies) breeding inside the compost
caddy.

All fascinating scientific stuff, but I am still looking for a
reasonable way to get rid of the little buggers.

I don't know if you can. But you might try something strong smelling &
repellant to insects in the bin.


NT

But I can't stand next to the bin all day.........



--
Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box