Any one know how to get rid of fruit flies?

[Taceas]

We're not trying to preserve the color for aesthetic purposes, the purpose of the medium is to incubate eggs in as it is pretty fungal resistant and holds a good amount of moisture. =)

However, now that I think about it...in the past I usually soaked the moss in hot as I can get tap water and let it soak for 20-30 mins in the sink, drain (removes the sand), and repeat. I don't think I did that last year for one reason or another, which could have resulted in eggs from the phorid flies surviving and hatching. Plus the moss I got last year I was not pleased in from the general appearance anyway, it had too much foreign matter compared to what I had been buying.

I've never kept my moss outdoors. I generally keep it vacuum packed in Ziplock bags (press air out and zip) and stored in the reptile closet with all of my other reptile supplies.

So far this year, no flies, and I hope to keep it that way.

 

[ChristinaM]

Sounds like Phorid Flies to me The give away being the statement of them not flying unless they absolutely have to. Fruit flies scatter and fly quite readily.

I had this problem over the winter actually. Try finding fly paper when it's winter

Anyways, I used the homemade traps and fly paper ( I can buy the fly paper at the $ store, 4 for a buck), as well as deligent cleanings of cages, etc. The slightest bit of fecal matter can attract them, and just when you think they are gone, they come back I continue to keep fly paper in my room. As well as removing fecal matter asap, eliminating any moist decaying matter ( like the leftovers from my dragons salads, or what I feed my bugs, etc) asap, etc.

Here's a link about them: http://www.pestproducts.com/phoridfly.htm

If the link won't work for you, just go to www.pestproducts.com and search for Phorid Fly.

Good luck.