With autumn upon us, the apple trees jettison over-ripe cargo and fruit flies are seemingly everywhere. But their demise is now assured as a man in the produce department shared the secret of controlling a fruit fly invasion, and it is remarkably simple. In a small dish place approximately 1/4 cup red wine vinegar–I hear apple cider works as well–along with a dash of liquid dish detergent. Place the mixture in the area where the fruit flies are congregating and let the vinegar do its job. The flies are attracted to the smell of vinegar, the soap changes the surface tension (so my husband says), thus preventing the fruit flies from taking off. In other words, they drown. Over the next couple days you can count the dark spots in the bottom of the dish and feel the satisfaction of knowing the unwelcome visitors are “no more.”
