TERRO Fruit Fly Trap

A disposable baited trap for adult fruit flies in indoor areas.

Place it by the source

Fruit flies gather near ripe produce, fermenting scraps and damp organic residue. Set the trap close to the activity, such as a fruit bowl, compost pail or sink area, while removing the food residue that supports breeding. Adult flies are only part of the problem: eggs are laid on fermenting material, and a new generation can develop in about eight to ten days. Sanitation helps stop new adults from emerging.

Set up the bait

The red trap draws adult fruit flies through a small opening and holds them inside. Pour half of the included one-ounce bait bottle into each trap, set the trap upright on a level surface, and leave it near the fruit-fly source. Keep it where it will not be knocked over or handled by children and pets. The liquid lure is part of the trap setup; do not substitute another liquid.

Use it as a disposable trap

Leave the trap in place while it attracts flies. Discard it after 45 days, even if bait remains. The design is disposable rather than refillable, so use a new trap if flies remain after that service period. A declining catch can show that adult activity is easing, but it does not confirm that all breeding material has been removed.

Remove what keeps attracting flies

Check produce for soft or fermenting pieces, then clear them from the room. Rinse bottles and cans before storing them for recycling, empty food scraps from compost containers, and wipe sticky spills beneath appliances. Inspect bin liners and damp cleaning cloths if flies continue to appear. The trap catches adults; these cleanup steps remove the places where eggs and larvae can develop. Keep food-contact surfaces clean and store ripe produce in a way that limits access by flies. The fruit-fly life cycle can move quickly in warm indoor conditions, so repeated sightings after a few days call for another search for fermenting food rather than simply moving the trap farther away.