We had them really bad when the flood happened in fact every one was complaining about them. I got sticky fly strips and hung them around the sink and where my vegetables and fruits are kept. I got them at Lowe's. They are triangular so have 3 sticky sides. Working well. I keep all fruit and vegetables which are not in the fridge in baskets on the counter in the kitchen and the sticky strip right beside the basket. I did do apple cider vinegar with a little dawn in water and slices of lemon. It draws a lot of them.

I put vinegar in a cup and cover with plastic wrap. I use a sharp knife to put several slits in the plastic. Fruit flies can get in but can't get out. Works great.

They seem to like Kombucha vinegar, but we haven't had very many this year, even with all the peaches I had sitting around. Had a few cherry tomatoes going bad, and the fruit flies didn't even find them. We keep a covered compost bucket outside the kitchen door, and I go on the offensive if I see any of the little dickens hanging out on the off-white cabinets.

Both of my parents have complained that they have a multitude of FF, but they leave stuff sitting out all the time. My father resorted to hanging the long sticky traps--one needs to be very careful while leaning over his kitchen sink!

In the past I've used the homemade plastic drink bottle traps, with a piece of slimy fruit in water or vinegar in the bottom.

I've done what Lindylu described, except I poked tiny holes using a toothpick. However you make the holes, it works great!

When I can't wait for them to get trapped, I give them a big spray of windex. The blast of cleaner knocks them down to counter and I give them a sweep with a paper towel. Easy enough to go back and rewipe the counter clean with tools at hand. I do cover the fruit with a dish towel before spraying. Works great on those slow flying green flies that get in the house as well

The only time I seem to get fruit flies is when I buy produce from Food Basics. I have had a basket of peaches and tomatoes and 2 over ripe bananas sitting on my counter all week and no fruit flies. Another way to get rid of fruit flies is to cut a bit of fruit and put it into a cup topped with plastic wrap with a hole slit into the top. This is how they get rid of the fruit flies at our neighbourhood wine making shop,

Down on the farm, when we picked fruit or melons, we temporarily stored these in a screened porch and the flies could not get to them. A sticky fly strip took care of the few rascals that sneaked in when the door was opened.

I agree my parents too had always left tons on kitchen counter and my mother was always going on about fruit flies.

I found them a problem in too hot and things like bananas they drive me crazy and so try not to keep them too long.

Its just we overwhelm with all of that and leave things out or maybe compost and again attracts.

I still have fruit flies but not alot and plus its not that hot and I find they love hot temperature maybe due to fruit really ripe alot.

kathy

I always look for seeded watermelon. They are so much tastier than the seedless. It's worth picking out the seeds. If you find the vein and cut along it, it doesn't take that much time.

The stores don't carry seeded watermelons at all. Haven't for years. We happened across a produce stand on a drive Monday, where we got the Sugar Baby. We also got some corn. I was hoping for plain yellow, but this was peaches and cream, which is also the only thing stores sell. It was absolutely delicious, nevertheless. I've certainly had less than stellar peaches and cream corn.

I haven't heard of cutting along the vein, Georgysmom. What's the vein in a watermelon? ;-)

I have a difficult time finding seeded ones also. I put in a request at every store I go to and encourage my friends to do so, too. Overtime I serve cut up watermelon, someone will comment on how good it is and ask how to pick a good one and I tell them about getting seeded. When you cut the watermelon into 1/4's, you will see that the seeds are pretty much gathered in one spot. Cut right at that spot and then you can easily flip the seeds out.......then I cut it in bite -size pieces. I find that most of the melon is without seeds except this area.