Pennsylvania Claws, Wings and Things: Fruit fly infestation

Q: Our kitchen has been infested with fruit flies on and off all summer. We've stopped leaving fruits and vegetables out on the counter, but we keep getting fruit flies. What can we do? Ruth Miller, Carlisle.

A: The tiny insects could be several different species, but they all present much the same pesky problem from our perspective.

The winged adults appear wherever fruits and vegetables are rotting and fermenting. They seek to lay their eggs on the fruits or vegetables, which their larvae will feed on after hatching from the eggs.

In addition to the fruits or vegetables, the insects will lay their eggs in sink drains, garbage disposals, trash containers, partially emptied bottles or cans, mops, dish rags, cleaning rags, and even juice spills that have not been completely cleaned.

Elimination of whatever's attracting the insects is the best way to bring an end to an infestation and prevent future infestations.

However, that could leave you with some of the insects still flitting about for a few days. A vinegar trap will quickly deal with them.

To make a trap, pour a few ounces of cider vinegar into a glass jar, form a paper funnel from a sheet of notebook paper and place your funnel over the mouth of the jar. Place your trap where you've been seeing the fruit flies. It will begin catching the insects almost immediately and will continue until nearly all of them have been captured.