How do you keep from getting fruit flies? Can you put no fruit at all in the box?
1752477
The answer about using an inch of shreded paper sounds good. Fly problems can start easily if the veg/fruit waste is exposed. Most people don't use enough bedding. I have found that covering everything with a layer of compost works great and could have some food value for the worms. I have a longer review dated 1/1/2013 that has some more info.
1752478
Sure you could put no fruit at all in the box, but I recommend putting your veg/ fruit scraps in the box, then covering with a one inch layer of damp (not soaked) shredded paper, then putting a top layer of damp (not soaked) whole newspaper about 1/4 inch thick covering the entire top(edge to edge to the corners) to create a damp barrier preventing fruit fly access. You might check it every three days or so to make sure it hasn't dried out. I live in south east Texas - fruit fly central - and this method has worked well for me and should work for you as well. Good luck !!
1752479
I'm having a constant fruit fly problem. I'm about to resort to neem oil, I think they may have laid eggs inside of it. I open it up daily and at least 50 or 60 fly out.
1752480
The best way to deal with the fruit flies... I control them with apple cider vinager and a drop of dawn dish soap. Then I let the worms eat everything in the bin before I add anything else.. I use Heinz cider. Not sure why but I've tried other brands and did not catch any flies. I also use a stemless wine glass. I've been doing this for several years and no mater what u put in your bin. Ur gonna get other visitors. As long as they aren't harmful to the worms they can be controlled.
494415
I haven't had a problem with fruit flies. However, I use them for potatoes and onions which I think do no tend to attract these critters.
1394176
gnats are easily trapped and die. Anything that flies into the lighted area seems to be trapped. I keep a can of fly spray, and when I empty the cage sometimes shoot a small blast into it if some of the various flying insects are still moving about. Most of the time they are all dead. I empty it out amout once a month.
935356
Well vented but don't let The bins get to thick with debris. Nothing bothering mine other than worms and a little smell. Maybe you're putting to much compost debris in the bin at one time? it's taking too long for the worms to eat it so therefore the flies have something to deposit their eggs upon. I wouldn't hesitate to call the worm farm and ask him any questions, if you haven't done so yet.
2099813
recently had cluster flies. to completely kill, trap them against the wall or a large window. the "racquet" must be flat on them to prevent escape...then press the button....i made darn sure they were well fried. i took device with the remains and tapped into garbage can...have never been so happy to have this thing!
12771
I've never had that happen so maybe you got a "bad" one. See if you can exchange it. I LOVE them and rely on them to keep fruit flies out of my house all year round!
1131048
That is what happened with mine at first. But I believe it was within the first to second day that they actually went inside of the container. It killed about 12 gnats/fruit flies but more importantly they stopped breeding. I still have one that I haven't had to use because there's no issue with them anymore.
133664
I have opened it to find fruit flies fly out, but I don't know if they went in on the banana peels or found a way in when it was closed.
935357
No roaches, no flies (but then I refrigerate scraps until it's time to feed them which I hear keeps away flies), no maggots, no bad smell. There are some other bugs in there along with the worms (probably from the dried leaves I use to get a good composition) but they don't like the light and stay in the healthy mini eco-system of the bin. I love the worm bin! Makes separating the compost from the worms so easy! And I used to keep the bin in the basement until I realized that there are no flies and no smell. Now it lives in our mudroom very close to the kitchen for easy access.
872118
I am not really familiar with fruit flies but this little step can does fit pretty tight. I have never had any problem with any kind of bug getting into or arround the can.
496043
Three possibilities: IF you place a weight in the bottom during the original preparation (e.g., stainless steel washers/nuts, bolts etc - or just a suitable rock) then you can submerge the ENTIRE trap(?) in a five gallon bucket of water. You can place the entire trap in a plastic bag sealed at the top for a suitable period of time. Finally, just transport the entire trap in a sealed container to a dump area (a vacuckant lot?) and not worry about the few living flies in the trap. BTW, I generally take a bucket of water with me to the dump area for initial rinsing. You will want to wash these traps after dumps. They stink = they're effective!
1878678
I have no clue. It must have been because I got a ton of delicious lemons. Then the tree died. I had it for about a year and a half. It was fun.. Downside is that it was crazy hard to keep the fruit flies away.
1651280
I never had a problem with fruit flies around my Green Cycler, but they are unavoidable at certain times of the year. During tomato season they wreak havoc on my fruit bowl, so I place a small dish of vinegar and dish soap on the counter to catch them.
2031039
I do get fruit flies and I keep it under the sink. A small glass jar filled with apple cider vinegar and a drop of dishwashing liquid helps.
1677013
I have raised praying mantises before and they might not be able to escape, but I think the fruit flies might. It would be a close call on both of them. The screen is very small, but so are they. I used a piece of very small mesh material to and doubled it over on the top of he jug I had them in. Maybe you could put something like that on top until they grow just a little.
531062
Well, nature has you. Maggots are normal. The bin is too wet. Be sure the door is shut tight, don't wet the bin any further and be sure it's in a sunny location. Assume you know that no meat products are to be put into the bin? If you put anything animal in it you also draw lots of flies. I'd open the bin and smash the maggots up if it freaks you out, turn it over a few times and cover the bin so the refuse doesn't get any wetter before it breaks down. Also, dump the bottom holder. It's likely full of water that draws all kinds of bugs.
950629
I am delighted to report that in my experience, it does attract and trap (and subsequently drown) fruit flies. I let it sit out the first night and the next day there must have been fifty fruit flies floating in the stuff. So, only 999,950 left to go!