It’s easy to make this simple ‘Fruit Fly Pot’ fly trap to help you monitor your crop for fruit fly and other flying pests. All you need is a two litre plastic container, such as a soft drink bottle, with a lid.

Cut three holes in the bottle, each about the size of a ten cent piece, about 10cm down from the top of the bottle. Add the bait mixture (see below), then tie a string around the lid (or handle, if the bottle has one) and hang it in a shady part of your fruit tree, about 1 to 1.5m above the ground.

If you find pests in your bottle, get expert help to identify them. If you suspect fruit fly infestation, call the Hotline on 1800 084 881.

Flycatcher mix

Mix one cup of 100% fruit juice (including pulp) with a tablespoon of cloudy ammonia (or wheelie bin cleaner). The mixture will last up to three weeks but it’s better to change it every week to get the best results. Cloudy ammonia is available from supermarkets and hardware stores.