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Fruit fly traps are an easy and effective way to combat these small, irritating insects, which are attracted to not only fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, and grains but also to garbage, drains, and any other dark, damp places where they can feed and breed. After using liquid bait or a light to lure these pests, fruit fly traps eliminate them using adhesive, electric shocks, or physical designs they can’t escape.
The right fruit fly trap for your home depends on the severity and location of the problem. To help you choose, we researched a range of top options and consulted an expert before selecting Dwcom Sticky Ribbon Fruit Fly Traps as our favorite for their effectiveness and ease of use. Read on to learn about all the products we recommend and to see which features matter most when choosing one of the best fruit fly traps for your needs.
- BEST OVERALL: Dwcom Sticky Ribbon Fruit Fly Traps
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Terro T2502 Fruit Fly Trap
↓ Jump to Review - BEST STICKY: Stingmon Yellow Sticky Fruit Fly Trap
↓ Jump to Review - BEST REUSABLE: Katchy Midnight Automatic Indoor Insect Trap
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PLUG-IN: Safer Home Indoor Fly Trap
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR KITCHENS: Zevo Flying Insect Trap
↓ Jump to Review - BEST INDOOR/OUTDOOR: Garsum Yellow Sticky Trap for Fruit Flies
↓ Jump to Review
Fruit Fly Traps Comparison
| Product | Type | Placement | Disposable vs. Reusable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwcom Sticky Ribbon Fruit Fly Traps | Sticky | Hanging | Disposable |
| Terro T2502 Fruit Fly Trap | Physical | Countertop | Disposable |
| Stingmon Yellow Sticky Fruit Fly Trap | Sticky | Stake | Disposable |
| Katchy Midnight Automatic Indoor Insect Trap | Electronic | Countertop | Reusable |
| Safer Home Indoor Fly Trap | Electronic | Outlet | Reusable |
| Zevo Flying Insect Trap | Electronic | Outlet | Reusable |
| Garsum Yellow Sticky Trap for Fruit Flies | Sticky | Stake | Disposable |
Our Top Picks
If you’re wondering what works best as a fruit fly deterrent or you need to know how to get rid of fruit flies that have already shown up, the recommendations below can help. Each was chosen based on effectiveness, ease of installation and use, and value.
Best Overall
Dwcom Sticky Ribbon Fruit Fly Traps
Buy at Amazon
What We Like
- Easy to hang for use
- Nontoxic adhesive
- Disposable design makes cleanup quick
What We Don’t Like
- Value-pack quantity may be excessive for some
- Gel that holds hanging string can melt in hot weather
Specs
- Type: Sticky
- Placement: Hanging
- Disposable vs. reusable: Disposable
These sticky ribbon fruit fly traps from Dwcom are an effective, easy-to-use solution for managing fruit fly infestations. Each pack contains 40 rolls of double-sided sticky tape with bright red ribbons for hanging from ceilings, by doors and windows, or off hooks. The nontoxic, odorless adhesive is infused with an essence that’s undetectable to people but smells like bananas to an array of insects, including fruit flies, gnats, aphids, moths, leaf miners, wasps, whiteflies, blackflies, spiders, and mosquitoes.
While 40 traps may be more than necessary for most single-family homes, their disposable design means you don’t have to keep them up until they’re entirely coated, even though they do remain effective until that occurs. These traps are also ideal for commercial kitchens and industrial buildings, eliminating fruit fly infestations at a very reasonable price. While they are safe to use around kids and pets, the glue on these traps is very sticky, so be careful to avoid contact with skin, hair, fur, and clothing.
Get the Dwcom fruit fly traps at Amazon.
Best Bang for the Buck
Terro T2502 Fruit Fly Trap
Buy at Amazon Buy at Tractor Supply Co. Buy at Ace Hardware
What We Like
- Sold in budget-friendly packs of 2, 4, 6, or 12
- Effective, food-based bait with discreet design
- Compact size fits in small spaces
What We Don’t Like
- Liquid bait can leak if apple tips over
- Flies can occasionally escape trap
Specs
- Type: Physical
- Placement: Countertop
- Disposable vs. reusable: Disposable
Terro’s T2502 fruit fly trap is designed to mimic what attracts fruit flies: food. Rather than using a fruit fly insecticide or an unappealing adhesive strip, this fly catcher looks like an apple. It comes with a bottle of liquid bait that draws flies down into funnel-shaped holes they can’t escape, keeping them out of sight once they’ve died. It continues to lure more bugs as long as the bait lasts, typically up to 45 days depending on the severity of the infestation.
In addition to avoiding the mess and unattractive appearance of other traps, the Terro is sold in value packs of two, four, six, or 12, making it economical for issues of all sizes. Simply set it on your counter or in any location where you need to eliminate flies, and let the kid- and pet-safe, nontoxic, food-based formula, go to work. The built-in window makes it easy to see how full the trap is, and once it reaches capacity or the bait has evaporated, all you have to do is throw the entire thing away.
Get the Terro fruit fly traps (various pack sizes) at Amazon, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Co., Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Target.
Best Sticky
Stingmon Yellow Sticky Fruit Fly Trap
Buy at Amazon
What We Like
- Nontoxic and waterproof sticky surface
- Bright yellow color helps attract insects
- Stake inserts into soil, grass, fruit, and more
What We Don’t Like
- Single-use, disposable design
- Sticky traps can be unappealing
Specs
- Type: Sticky
- Placement: Stake
- Disposable vs. reusable: Disposable
These Stingmon sticky traps are designed to attract and catch flying insects like fruit flies, fungus gnats, aphids, whiteflies, leaf miners, and thrips. Their bright yellow color mimics light, triggering the phototropic behavior that makes bugs instinctively turn toward it. Sold in 36-unit packs, each trap is cut into either a butterfly or flower shape, adding a decorative touch to houseplants, gardens, and flower beds.
Stingmon’s sticky traps can be used indoors or outdoors. Their stakes are made of UV-resistant, waterproof paper, and their adhesive is odorless and nontoxic, making them safe around pets and kids. For indoor use in kitchens or areas without plants, simply insert them into Styrofoam, fruit, or any substance the stake can pierce.
Get the Stingmon fruit fly trap at Amazon.
Best Reusable
Katchy Midnight Automatic Indoor Insect Trap
Buy at Amazon Buy at Walmart
What We Like
- Reusable trap with replaceable sticky pads
- Discreet, modern design hides trapped insects
- Automatically turns on and off to save energy
What We Don’t Like
- Works best in dark and low-light environments
- Changing glue pads can be sticky and messy
Specs
- Type: Electronic
- Placement: Countertop
- Disposable vs. reusable: Reusable
The Katchy Midnight automatic indoor insect trap is part electronic trap and part sticky trap. It uses a UV light to attract bugs, a powerful fan to pull them in, and a sticky glue board to eliminate them without the snapping noise of standard indoor bug zappers. It has two modes, automatic and manual, allowing it to turn off and on according to light levels or remain on at all times. However, because it uses light to attract fruit flies, mosquitoes, gnats, moths, or other small flying insects, it does work best in low-light conditions.
The Katchy unit is reusable and comes with four disposable glue boards, with 10-pack refills sold separately for about $1 each. Since the pads are quite sticky (and used ones can be messy), it’s best to hold them by the edges or wear gloves when swapping them out. In addition to being effective, this electronic fruit fly trap has a sleek, modern look. Its fan is quiet during operation, and all components are safe for use around people and pets.
Get the Katchy fruit fly trap at Amazon or Walmart.
Best Plug-in
Safer Home Indoor Fly Trap
Buy at Amazon Buy at Tractor Supply Co. Buy at Ace Hardware
What We Like
- Compact and discreet plug-in design
- Chemical-free; safe to use indoors
- Easy to set up and use
What We Don’t Like
- Glue cards need regular replacement
- For indoor use only
Specs
- Type: Electronic
- Placement: Outlet
- Disposable vs. reusable: Reusable
Getting rid of fruit flies doesn’t get much easier than with the Safer Home indoor fly trap. This plug-in fruit fly trap works by using a UV LED to attract flying insects before capturing them on a sticky pad for easy disposal. Chemical-free and safe for use around kids and pets, it’s a great choice for those looking for nontoxic and unobtrusive pest control.
Designed for indoor use only, these compact traps are ideal for kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and other areas up to 800 square feet. To set one up, simply insert a wall-facing disposable glue card, plug the unit into a wall outlet, and allow it to discreetly catch flying insects all day and night. Once the pad is full or 30 days have passed, just throw it out and replace it with a new one.
Get the Safer Home fruit fly trap at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co., Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, Target, Blain’s Farm & Fleet, or Safer Home.
Best for Kitchens
Zevo Flying Insect Trap
Buy at Amazon Buy at Tractor Supply Co. Buy at Ace Hardware
What We Like
- Odorless and chemical free
- Rotating plug with a curved insect shield
- Uses dual blue and UV light for 24/7 attraction
What We Don’t Like
- Can’t be used outdoors
- Needs to be checked every 15 days
Specs
- Type: Electronic
- Placement: Outlet
- Disposable vs. reusable: Reusable
Zevo’s flying insect trap has several features that make it an especially good fruit fly trap for kitchens. The compact fruit fly trap plugs in via a rotating plug that’s easy to fit behind fruit bowls, trash cans, appliances, and other common kitchen items. The insect shield that holds the disposable glue traps is curved, ensuring discreet collection in busy spaces. Also, because Zevo uses dual blue and UV light, it works to attract fruit flies, house flies, and gnats all day and night.
While Zevo isn’t meant for outdoor use, it provides easy and unobtrusive insect elimination in indoor spaces. Once the trap is full or 15 days have elapsed, all you need to do is grab the cartridge by the no-mess tab on top and toss it in the trash. Replacement cartridges are available in multipacks, making it convenient and affordable to keep your kitchen protected year round.
Get the Zevo fruit fly trap (various pack sizes) at Amazon, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Co., Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Target.
Best Indoor/Outdoor
Garsum Yellow Sticky Trap for Fruit Flies
Buy at Amazon Buy at Garsum
What We Like
- Waterproof and UV-resistant adhesive
- Easy to insert into soil, gardens, and grass
- Bright yellow color attracts flying and crawling insects
What We Don’t Like
- May lose stickiness in high temperatures
- Large size fits better in bigger plant pots
Specs
- Type: Sticky
- Placement: Stake
- Disposable vs. reusable: Disposable
These sticky fly traps from Garsum are designed for indoor and outdoor use in potted plants, flower beds, gardens, or even pieces of fruit. The UV-resistant, waterproof paper stakes have sharp, pointed tips and come with a small digging tool to help insert them into soil and other materials. Their sticky adhesive is nontoxic and chemical free, making them safe for use around people and pets, and each trap has a glue-free section so your hands stay clean during placement.
The bright yellow color of each sticky fly catcher attracts fruit flies, whiteflies, mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and other small flying insects via their natural phototropic behavior. Shaped like flowers and butterflies, the traps have adhesive on both sides to maximize insect capture. With 36 stakes in every pack, you’ll have plenty to protect both indoor and outdoor spaces at the same time.
Get the Garsum fruit fly trap at Amazon or Garsum.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Fruit Fly Trap
There’s no sense in shopping for a fruit fly trap if you don’t know which features matter most, or you could end up with a product that works great for roaches and spiders but does nothing to help with fruit flies.
Type
Fly traps can be split into a few basic categories, including sticky, physical, and electronic:
- Sticky fruit fly traps rely on adhesive surfaces to capture insects. Some sticky traps use bright color to draw attention, whereas others include an attractive bait to lure flies in. Once insects land, they become stuck to the glue that coats the entire trap. Sticky traps are typically made of a combination of waterproof paper and glue and are designed to hang or insert into soil or other materials.
- Physical fruit fly traps generally resemble fruit or other objects for unobtrusive placement near problem areas. Most contain a liquid bait that attracts fruit flies through narrow channels, and once inside, the fruit flies cannot escape to eat or reproduce.
- Electronic fruit fly traps use electricity to power their attraction and capture capabilities. They generally rely on UV or LED lights instead of bait and eliminate insects via sticky pad or a quick zap. Though their initial cost is higher, and you may need to replace sticky pads every month or so, many electronic traps are reusable and effective against other pests like mosquitoes and flies.
Disposable vs. Reusable
Unless you’re making a homemade fruit fly trap, you’ll need to choose between purchasing a disposable or a reusable product.
- Disposable fruit fly traps are generally inexpensive and easy to use. Sticky traps and some physical traps fall into this category, allowing you to toss them once they’re full or the bait has run out.
- Reusable fruit fly traps are typically either electronic or physical. Though many have base units that plug in for long-term use, they often also use disposable sticky pads that need regular replacement. Unlike fully disposable options, however, reusable traps are generally designed to keep dead bugs hidden from view.
Placement
Since fruit flies may initially appear in a single location, such as near a garbage can, compost bin, or pantry, before spreading to bathrooms, drains, or plants, it can sometimes be helpful to place different types of traps in different locations. Deciding where you intend to put a fruit fly trap can help you choose which type will be best.
- Stake traps are easy to use by simply inserting them into garden soil or indoor plants. Since they have pointy ends, you can even poke them into foods like fruit or materials like foam. Since stake traps don’t hide dead bugs from view, they’re generally better for out-of-the-way areas or more minor infestations.
- Hanging traps are ideal for high-traffic areas where space is at a premium and infestations are aggressive, such as commercial kitchens or busy outdoor patios. To install this type of trap, hang it via the included string or a small nail and unwind the sticky adhesive. Since hanging traps are typically sticky, be sure to place them high enough not to walk into but also low enough to be near common food sources and breeding areas.
- Outlet traps plug into standard wall outlets to treat infestations without drawing unwanted attention. They’re generally electronic traps that combine a reusable base with a disposable glue pad, and most are for indoor use only.
- Countertop traps are designed to sit on flat surfaces near the infested area. They’re often disposable and disguised as food items, allowing you to fill them with liquid bait to attract flies before throwing the entire thing away.
Versatility
Many fruit fly traps are also effective against other pesky insects, including flies, mosquitoes, and moths. If you’d like to use a fruit fly trap for more than one type of insect issue, check the product information first to ensure it can handle the type of pest you’re targeting.
For example, a physical trap designed to contain a fruit fly will not likely work with a regular housefly because the size difference between the two insects is too great. However, a hanging sticky trap may have strong enough adhesive to capture fruit flies, houseflies, and even horse flies.
FAQs
Even if you’re certain you’re dealing with fruit flies vs. drain flies or gnats, you might still have a couple of questions about getting rid of them. Below are helpful answers to some of the most common questions about fruit fly traps.
Fruit flies are tiny and may come home unnoticed on produce or through open windows and doors. Once inside, they feed on fermenting or decaying organic matter and reproduce quickly. They are especially drawn to drains, garbage, dirty cleaning supplies, and ripe, rotting, or overripe fruits and vegetables.
Fruit flies are attracted to many different items, including drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, garbage bags, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, mops, and cleaning rags. They also enjoy invading fermented items, like beer and wine.
Fruit flies typically live for about 30 days in total, whether indoors or outdoors. During that time, they reproduce regularly whenever conditions allow, which can lead to repeated infestations.
Fruit flies typically live for about 30 days in total, whether indoors or outdoors. During that time, they reproduce regularly whenever conditions allow, which can lead to repeated infestations.
Like an ant infestation, a fruit fly infestation in a house can persist and grow as long as food sources and breeding grounds (like decaying fruit, moist organic matter, or dirty drains) are present. With a combination of thorough sanitation and trapping, you can reduce the infestation significantly in a couple of weeks.
How often you should change fruit fly traps depends on the traps you’re using. Many liquid baits are made to last up to 45 days, whereas disposable glue pads could need replacing every 2 to 4 weeks. You may need to change your trap sooner if it’s full, fully evaporated, or no longer sticky.
Since it’s incredibly hard to tell such tiny insects apart, we spoke to Jeff Schumacher, the second-generation owner of All-Safe Pest & Termite, about how to tell which one you’re dealing with. According to Schumacher, “Gnats are dark, mosquito-like, tiny flies that swarm near damp soil and houseplants, whereas fruit flies are round-bodied and light brown with noticeable red eyes that buzz around overripe fruit, sinks, or trash.”
No, fruit flies typically don’t go away by themselves. All-Safe Pest & Termite’s owner, Jeff Schumacher, says, “They will reproduce as long as food or moisture is around. You’ll need to remove sources like rotting fruit, clean sinks and drains, and use traps or clear out trash to make them disappear.”
