What Do You Do About Sewer Flies in the Compost Scraps?

rabbithutch 5/19/2014, 12:15 pm

OK, I got into this compost thing more deeply than I have in a while. I bought the little 2 gallon plastic pail for kitchen wastes. It worked great for weeks but it seems the little gnats/flies (I've always heard them called sewer flies) have found their way inside. Now I cannot open the bucket inside lest hundreds of the little buggers (no pun intended) fly out to infest the house.

Has anyone found a solution to this problem? I'm reluctant to apply petro-chemical pesticides for obvious reasons. Anyone know of an home grown, non-toxic solution to the problem?

TIA
What Do You Do About Sewer Flies in the Compost Scraps? 3170584802

What Do You Do About Sewer Flies in the Compost Scraps? 3170584802

**walshevak** 5/19/2014, 6:39 pm

http://www.gardeners.com/Fly-Traps-Ceramic/37-712,default,pd.html?start=7&q=kitchen%20compost%20crock

Here is one suggestion. I'm sure there are others. I think Tanglefoot makes a version and also a sticky brush on substance for use with squares of thick paper (cardboard)
Kay

Patty from Yorktown 5/20/2014, 7:23 am

Good Morning,

An easy way to trap fruit flies is to use a small bowl or glass of apple cider vinegar. Can you clean out your container and start again? Leaving a few pieces of newspaper on top is also supposed to help.

Patty from Yorktown

rabbithutch 5/20/2014, 7:27 am

Thank you, Eva and Patty!

I already use apple cider vinegar is a small bowl covered with Saran wrap with a small hole in the top. It works, but the number of flies in the compost pail is overwhelming.

I'm thinking that I'll put some household ammonia mixed with water in a spray bottle and give that a try directly into the pail. Ammonia should just add nitrogen to the compost which should be beneficial.

Thank you again.

**llama momma** 5/20/2014, 7:32 am

Much Smaller container. Empty more often. sfg smile

**camprn** 5/20/2014, 9:38 am

Keep the lid closed tightly and empty the bucket daily. It is my understanding most fruit fly populations emerge from the food/fruit rinds, but any in the area will quickly flock to any fermenting thing.

http://insects.about.com/od/insectssociety/qt/Where-Do-Fruit-Flies-Come-From.htm

http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/fruitflies.htm

rabbithutch 5/20/2014, 9:48 am

I have kept the container tightly closed. It has a charcoal filter made from material like ScotchBrite scouring pads that allows air to enter. I have not emptied the pail daily but it appears that I shall have to do so.

I'm still going to try spritzing with household ammonia. That's what I used to use in my kill jars when I was doing insect collections for biology class . . . a million and a half years ago.

yolos 5/20/2014, 11:21 am

If these are fruit flies, micro wave the fruit before you put it in the compost container. My sister is sailing around the world and getting lots of local fruit. She says the best thing to do is to micro wave the fruit. Haven't tried it myself as I put the fruit in the compost bin the following day.

southern gardener 5/20/2014, 1:15 pm

we have this too sometimes. I just take the bin outside, and take the lid off for a little while, They usually just fly off, and I'm good for a few more days....

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What Do You Do About Sewer Flies in the Compost Scraps?

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