Repel insects and pests:Coffee grounds contain compounds that are toxic to many insects. You can use your coffee grounds to repel mosquitos, fruit flies, beetles and other pests. To use coffee grounds as an insect and pest repellent, simply set out bowls of grounds or sprinkle them around outdoor seating areas.
Fact: Fruit flies are attracted to and feed on decaying fruits and vegetables, drinks (including beer and wine), spills, coffee grounds, drains, trash cans, dirty mops, towels, damp clothing, moist pet food and indoor houseplants. If it's damp and remotely edible, fruit flies and their larvae will use it.
"Normally," Montell explains, "when given the choice between sweet and bitter substances, flies avoid caffeine and other bitter-tasting chemicals. But flies missing this particular taste-receptor protein, called Gr66a, consume caffeine because their taste-receptor cells don't fire in response to it."
Fruit flies can't stand the smell of basil, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender and clove. If you've had a fruit fly problem in the past, try placing these fragrant herbs in muslin sacks or tea bags and hanging them around the house.
Bowl and Soap Trap
Fill a microwave-safe bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Microwave the bowl so the mixture becomes even more aromatic. Leave the bowl out uncovered as fruit fly bait. The soap will reduce the surface tension, causing any fruit fly that lands on the surface to drown.
The most significant fruit fly breeding grounds are sink drains and house plants, not the coffee machine. Keep a clean kitchen and coffee pot to discourage the buildup of fruit flies on the coffee dispenser nozzle and coffee grinds.
And while store-bought repellents can be expensive—and toxic, looking for a natural alternative to getting rid of those pests makes sense. You can control them with coffee grounds, a safe and effective way to keep pests away. Not only do they repel mosquitoes, but also other insects such as wasps and bees.
"Normally," Montell explains, "when given the choice between sweet and bitter substances, flies avoid caffeine and other bitter-tasting chemicals. But flies missing this particular taste-receptor protein, called Gr66a, consume caffeine because their taste-receptor cells don't fire in response to it."
Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen. They also have some amount of other nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. Overall, this means that adding coffee grounds to your garden can work fairly well as a fertiliser. Coffee should be spread in a thin layer, rather than being clumped in one place.
A fruit fly infestation won't just go away on its own—it'll likely only get worse.
Fruit flies are especially attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. But they also will breed in drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash containers, mops and cleaning rags. All that is needed for development is a moist film of fermenting material.
What makes fruit flies so persistent is their incredibly fast life cycle. 24 hours after a female fruit fly lays eggs, larvae hatch and within 7 days they are full grown adults. They live for several weeks, surviving off any fermenting fruit or vegetables which are starting to go bad.
Regularly wipe counters, clean spills and empty your trash cans to help prevent fruit fly infestations. The first step in addressing a fruit fly infestation is the destruction of their feeding and breeding grounds. Fruit flies often lay their eggs in rotten fruit and other soft, sweet, organic materials.
It depends! If the flies were derived from the inside, such as from plumbing, rubbish or other sites indoors, then opening the window may encourage a few to explore the great outdoors. But, if those flies are originally from outside, opening windows (without screens) may simply invite more to visit you.
Infestations have to start somewhere. Fruit flies move into kitchens, bathrooms, and basements if they sense a food source. Overripe fruit on the counter or any fermenting matter in drains, mops, and trash bins appeals to them. Unsuspecting homeowners may also bring these pests inside on garden crops.
Contrary to their name, fruit flies will infest any rotting material (not just fruit). They'll find any source of moisture or decaying material, including sponges, mops, or even puddles of water. This type of material is where adult fruit flies lay eggs. Kitchen sink drains commonly foster fruit fly infestations.
If fruit flies do make your kitchen their hangout spot, there are ways to trap them. They like fermented fruit, so mix a bit of dish soap with old beer, wine or apple cider vinegar. Pour water into the mixture until it bubbles, and leave the glass or bowl on the counter where you spot the flies.
If you find you are getting fruit flies in your bedroom, hunt around for any forgotten food, damp spots or even a drink spill.
Simply pour some distilled vinegar into a bowl and add a couple drops of dish soap. You can leave the bowl uncovered on your counter or any surface near where you tend to add fruit flies. The flies will be attracted to the vinegar, and the dish soap will cause them to sink so they can't escape.
Health Risks of Fruit Flies
Research shows that fruit flies can transfer germs from a dirty surface onto a clean one. Some of the bacteria they may carry include salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. These three germs each cause food poisoning.
To begin to inspect where fruit fly infestations come from, look first for fruit fly sources in areas where vegetables or fruits are stored outside refrigeration. Also, look for fruit fly sources in garbage cans, under appliances, and recycling bins.