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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Visitors!

There was a miraculous occurrence last week.  The second this year!  My seven-year-old, Dani, was sent to her room for a brother scuffle.  She didn't immediately go as asked and received a much harsher room sentence.

Evie went into the same room to get something.  After only a few minutes, that's when I hear screaming and giggling coming from my two girls.  "Mom!  You have to see this!  There's an army in our room!  They're everywhere!  One just landed in my hair."  I slowly made my way to there room.  Our long-lost friends were back!

Fruit flies.
Dani could not have been happier!  Not only did she get to leave her room, but there was an entertaining diversion from her punishment--a true miracle!

I glanced around and found my suspected source.  I opened the trash can.  A cloud of fruit flies immediately evacuated.   And there it was--THE BANANA PEEL.
My Mom told me that she learned from my brother who I'm sure learned from a reputable source that the fruit fly eggs live in the stem ends of bananas.  If you cut off the ends when you first buy the bananas then--no fruit flies!

I've been doing this.  Only after several years of being fruit flyless, I got lazy.

Luckily, they're not nearly as distracting as our other flying visitors--loud, taunting, buzzing, attacking flies!  We don't get very many flies, but we have a few in our house right now.  They're fearless and angry!  Buzzing our heads and ears constantly!

Don't let his calm demeanor fool you. 

I've heard that the Electronic Racket Fly Zapper is the only way to go, but I haven't made the $6 investment quite yet.  I strongly suspect my kids would try to zap each other!  So I've been using only natural methods; a tempting watermelon trap for the fruit flies and my swatting three-year-old for the angry buzzers.  This method is also dangerous.  We've all been swatted.

Our other guests: a myriad of spiders, some tiny black beetles, and a few cute little ants by the back door.

Anyone else want to stop by for a visit?

Grumpy Grateful Mom Goal of the Week:  Kicking out all current visitors.

Labels: ,

posted by Grumpy Grateful Mom @ Wednesday, September 14, 2011   50 Comments

50 Comments:

At September 14, 2011 at 8:09 AM , Blogger I Am Not Superwoman said...

Ick! Won't be coming to your house anytime soon...J/K.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 8:15 AM , Blogger BNM said...

lol bugs creep me out however living in the country well they are inevitable and i am terrified of them haha

 
At September 14, 2011 at 8:50 AM , Blogger Help! Mama Remote... said...

I have bananas on the table now. What to do about other fruit? We've been having this problem in my kitchen and its so annoying

 
At September 14, 2011 at 9:03 AM , Blogger John said...

I didn't know that about bananas and fruit flies. I will have to cut the stems off now!

We have TOO MANY flies because no one closes the door to the back yard!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 9:05 AM , Blogger Barbara said...

I would have been freaking out! Bugs (even flies) give me the heebie jeebies! hope you get rid of them soon.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 9:22 AM , Blogger Sandy -- As Told By Mommy said...

Haha, that is so funny you posted this! We are having fruit fly invasion too...but because of me. I bought fresh canteloup from a farm here and after cutting pieces for link left the rinds in the sink (As it was so full I couldn't actually get to the garbage disposal)...therefore...fruit flies galore now. Dang it!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 9:59 AM , Blogger Brandi said...

We get ants a lot. We had a myriad of HUGE spiders this summer, so I finally called terminex to spray. I can't handle spiders that are quarter size!

Hope the fruit flies go away quickly!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 10:24 AM , Blogger Kazzy said...

I absolutely HATE bugs. This is one reason I am happy to not live back east, where every critter seems ten times as big and ten times as loud.

Good luck on the evac!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 10:34 AM , Blogger laughwithusblog said...

Funny you should mention those pesky critters. We've gotten three (yes I counted) rain drops and now I've got flies! If the rain is going to drive in the flies it could at least have the decency to get the ground wet. Don't ya think? :_

 
At September 14, 2011 at 11:02 AM , Blogger Mikailah Autumn said...

Oh my... That doesn't sound like a very desirable distraction from punishment. :P Hope you can 'exterminate' them soon!

Blessings in Christ,
Mikailah:)

 
At September 14, 2011 at 11:41 AM , Anonymous alice alfred said...

I love the pictures you added ~ how did that fly stay still long enough for that shot? :>) I enjoy your blog so much I am adding your button to my blog.....it will be towards the bottom where I place friends' blog buttons!! Have a great day!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 11:42 AM , Blogger Jaclyn M said...

I'd love to come visit.... My 6 year old is amazing at catching anything that flies.... Yes she has even caught a fly without killing. She can also clap them right out of the air. Naturally they do not survive this method of capture!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 11:50 AM , Blogger Mom of 12 said...

I hate the fruit flies! They are so hard to get rid of. We have been doing a little canning and jam-making and they are out in full force. My favorite method is to suck them up the vacuum hose...they never know what hit 'em.

Hey, thanks for your kind comment on my son's video. It was so exciting to see him on TV! He so wants to be famous. Think we are there yet?

Sandy

 
At September 14, 2011 at 12:16 PM , Blogger Melanie said...

Urrg. Fruit flys are so annoying! Hahaaa... that's the same reason I haven't bought the zapper thingeee!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 12:17 PM , Blogger Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I never knew that about bananas. My secret weapon is The Terminex Man.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 12:43 PM , Blogger Renee said...

Not that I'm happy to hear you are having trouble with these pesky visitors...but I kinda am. ONLY because it doesn't make me feel so bad. The flys and ants and fruit flies and spiders have been detected in my house, too. I'm relieved to know I'm not alone!

AND! I learned something new from you too! Who knew the source of one of my problems are the bananas.

So, thank you for that. And for letting me know these pests are not just my problem!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 1:04 PM , Blogger Joann Mannix said...

Great tip for the bananas. We have fruit flies down here in Florida, but fortunately not a lot of flies. Although, we make up for it with the myriad of other insects and creepy crawlies that live in the Tropics.

I'm originally from Illinois and everyone up there has the zapper. they are miraculous. Good luck!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 2:02 PM , Anonymous Babblin' Brooke said...

I had no idea that fruit fly eggs were in the tops of bananas. Now I know how and why the little critters get in my house! I've always wondered how that happened. The doors and windows were shut but there they were... unwelcomed and all. Thanks for the tip ;)

 
At September 14, 2011 at 2:24 PM , Blogger Jen said...

Wow! Great tip about the ends of bananas! I've never heard that, but I'm going to start doing that! I hate those pesky little things.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 2:49 PM , Blogger Emmy said...

I have never heard that about bananas- that is crazy. So far this house seems pretty pest free, but when we lived in AZ we had crickets-lots and lots of crickets.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 3:25 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have never heard that about bananas. There is always a lesson to learn here. :)
Go luck with kicking your guest out.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 4:26 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I didn't know that about the banana's and fruit fly relation, very interesting.

We get an occasional fly in the house .... we have the zapper! LOVE IT!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 4:39 PM , Blogger Victoria said...

Fruit flies are so hard to get rid of. Some moved in several years ago and we've never quite gotten rid of all of them. Sure, their numbers diminish with time, but about the time I think they're gone something will get left out and draw them right back.
I hope you manage to get rid of the little menaces!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 5:53 PM , Blogger Andrea said...

So we have come across a great way to get rid of fruit flies, and it works every time!
If you put a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar in a small bowl, with a big squirt of dish soap. They are super attracted to it, and then with the soap, they drown, it's awesome, and cheap!

Good luck, I hate fruit flies

 
At September 14, 2011 at 6:34 PM , Blogger The Suburban Princess said...

Those freaking regular flies are so sneaky at getting into the house! My husband chases them around at swats at them with his bare hands like he's in an epic battle with the little bastards! Eww...

 
At September 14, 2011 at 6:47 PM , Blogger Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies said...

Ooh, I never knew that about bananas. I absolutely loathe flies--I hope you are able to get rid of them soon! We had a fly get inside today and one of our cats ate it. Maybe you need a cat!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 6:54 PM , Blogger Jess said...

Ewwwwww, I'm totally grossed out now, as I eat a banana every morning! Never heard this before. There's no chance that I'm eating these eggs, is there?!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 7:19 PM , Blogger Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Ok! I'm laughing!
I've spent a few minutes "wandering" around here and have laughed and giggled and laughed some more.
You are so real.
I love it!

As for the fruit flies.....ick.
Been there, done that.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 8:01 PM , Blogger Sandra Tyler said...

We had a similar army, except of ants -- hundreds of them, moving toward a single half eaten cookie; you reminded me that's a post i need to post!

 
At September 14, 2011 at 8:11 PM , Blogger Liz said...

I have never, ever heard that random banana factoid before.

And now I'm kinda grossed out, actually. We have a whole pile of bananas on our counter.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 8:46 PM , Blogger Rach (DonutsMama) said...

Very interesting about the banana stems. I hate fruit flies! My husband bought that sticky paper that you hang up, but that looks disgusting to me.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 10:09 PM , Blogger Hopes@Staying Afloat! said...

UGH! Fruit flies are SO annoy. Protect your potatoes. They seem to like those too. Don't ask me how I know...*shudder*

 
At September 14, 2011 at 10:13 PM , Blogger Jessica said...

All flies and creepy crawly bugs are nasty. I think I'll pass on visiting for awhile.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 10:57 PM , Blogger Kimberly said...

Oh yuck! I never knew that about the banana stems though. I'm going to do that.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 11:23 PM , Blogger Melanie said...

Nasty! Oh SO NASTY! Good tip though. I will have to use the banana cut offer end-er trick from now on.

 
At September 14, 2011 at 11:24 PM , Blogger Melanie said...

Oh wait...an those bug zapper things are pretty dang cool. Nope...I didn't have one, I'm too cheap. But my neighbor did and I got to watch her use it a lot. :)

 
At September 15, 2011 at 12:33 AM , Blogger Kerry said...

Try eating outdoors in Summer over here!!! And the ants are bad oh and let's not forget the mozzies!!! It's not Summer until you're covered in mozzie bites lol
Thanks for tip re the bananas... :)

 
At September 15, 2011 at 7:42 AM , Blogger Donna said...

Yikes! I didn't know that about fruit flies and bananas, that's good to know! I hope your little critters get vanquished ASAP!

 
At September 15, 2011 at 9:45 AM , Blogger Alia said...

Lol you know I love ya! Prob cUz your experiences are soooo much like mine! I hate bugs! Blah! Least I don't have any sons!

 
At September 15, 2011 at 12:49 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

This is why JDaniel will to keep food in the kitchen. He would probably shove plates of unfinished food under his bed.

 
At September 15, 2011 at 4:01 PM , Blogger Mommy2¢ said...

YUCK! Fruit flies do suck; but I'll tell you what sucks even worse are Horse Flies! Those SOB's hurt like hell when they land on you - they bite...hard!! We've also had the pleasure of dealing with Brown Recluse spiders the past few months! That's not scary at all.

 
At September 15, 2011 at 8:34 PM , Blogger LA Botchar said...

currently enduring fruit flies too. must be the time of year or something. didn't know that about the banana's though - I'd always wondered how the darn things got in the house!!

Natural trap: get a small dish and pour some cidar vinegar into it...add a few drops of dish soap. they love it AND they can't swim :)

 
At September 15, 2011 at 8:44 PM , Blogger Lourie said...

We are having an issue with ants and now the cat has fleas. Good times.

 
At September 15, 2011 at 9:09 PM , Anonymous Me said...

This is so funny! We had a fruit fly invasion last summer, and a 50/50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water with just a smidge of dish soap at the bottom of a bowl did 'em in double-fast. Ug. Bugs!

 
At September 15, 2011 at 9:30 PM , Blogger Missy | Literal Mom said...

It's going to be cold here today and tomorrow, so I'm sure that means we're going to have a spider or 5 run into our house. UGH. HATE SPIDERS.

 
At September 15, 2011 at 10:20 PM , Blogger stephanie said...

I've never heard of the stem trick but I'll definitely do it!

 
At September 16, 2011 at 12:44 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

Do the bananas turn brown?

 
At September 16, 2011 at 11:57 PM , Blogger Mommy Inconsistent said...

I'm known as the fruit fly hunter around these parts...probably the only thing I've ever or will ever kill with my bare hands! (hopefully) They're driving me crazy...but Hubby assures me that they'll die off soon as it gets colder...in the meantime, I'll be cutting the ends of my bananas!

 
At September 18, 2011 at 10:11 AM , Anonymous Close To HOme said...

I put out a small glass of wine to attract and kill fruit flies. Just put some saran wrap with a few little holes ontop. you will be surprised.

 
At September 20, 2011 at 12:19 PM , Blogger Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

I did not know that about bananas, but we do get fruit flies every so often. I'll have to try that!

 

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