Cookaholics Bulletin Board

All,

Like several of you, I keep a kitchen compost bin. In my case, it's a large (50-gal) black plastic square bin with a hinged lid and airholes.

The problem with it lately is that it's become home to several thousand fruit flies. And while I appreciate what the fruit fly grubs do for breaking down the fruit and veggies, I'm not keen on contributing to the local fruit fly population, and even less pleased about getting a face-full of Drosophila whenever I open the lid to the compost.

Is there a way I can reduce the number of fruit flies without poisoning the compost and hurting earthworms, etc.? Would it work to put predatory insects in the compost bin, and if so, what eats fruitfly larvae?

Sorry, but most of what I know about getting rid of fruit flies starts with "identify and eliminate the breeding ground." It's pretty easy to build a trap for the adults -- just put a paper funnel with a small opening in a jar with a little cider vinegar at the bottom of the jar. Fruit flies aren't the sharpest tools in the shed and they can't figure out how to get back up the funnel.

Hi Fuzzy
Current issue of CI has a tip...just as JesBelle described, but with 1/4 orange juice in the bottom....worth a try. Also
Gardners Supply has a device for getting rid of fruit flies....can't remember what it is exactly, but check it out on their website and look in the composting section
Good luck
ileen

Hi Josh, I liked the tip in the latest CI. That's the OJ in container with inverted funnel. I don't have a bad problem, just ff in summer hovering around fruit. I just find ff disgusting.

Janet

Janet, Ileen,

Yeah, a trap works OK for the fruit bowl inside and the compost cannister in the kitchen. It's not really practical for the compost heap outside, though.

However, my MIL said that mostly I need more yard waste and/or paper in the compost to cover up the fruit and veggies.

If you have a paper shredder, you could empty that into your compost bin instead of recycling the paper.