Combat kitchen pests naturally with insect-eating plants

Fruit flies can be a nuisance in the kitchen, especially in the summer when they are attracted to fermenting fruits. There are several proven ways to eliminate them, but one of the best is to bring specific insect-eating plants into your home.

The sight of fruit flies flying around the kitchen can be irritating because, although they are small insects, they can be very troublesome. They appear suddenly, mainly in the kitchen, where they can ferment fruits and vegetables. They multiply quickly and are difficult to eliminate.

Though they don't bite or carry diseases, their presence is unhygienic. They feed on decaying products and then sit on food intended for consumption, leaving bacteria on it. Therefore, it's worth getting rid of them as soon as possible.

Fruit flies don't stand a chance against a carnivorous sundew. This plant can be found in the United Kingdom's natural conditions, such as peat bogs. It lures insects with a sticky substance produced by its hairs, resembling water or nectar drops.

When a fruit fly, for example, approaches and sits on the sundew's leaf, the sticky substance immobilises it, and the formic acid contained within dissolves the insect's proteins, turning it into a liquid that provides the plant with essential nutrients. By growing a sundew at home, you can naturally get rid of fruit flies.

Besides sundew, other plants, such as the pitcher plant or Venus flytrap, are also very effective in combating pesky household insects.

Unfortunately, deciding to keep a sundew, for example, requires awareness that this beautiful and practical plant has specific requirements. Sundews are growing in wetland areas, and although they like sunny spots, they do not favour heat.

You can safely place them on a southern or western windowsill, but don't forget to water regularly. They also dislike frequent relocation, so if you put it in a specific spot and it thrives, it's better to leave it there.