Carnivorous plants eat away fruit fly infestations

It's that time of the year again: you reach for a slice of watermelon, or a fresh banana, only to find fruit flies got to it first. 

According to Bob Tuckey, owner of The Natural Gardener Garden Store in Vancouver, fruit flies are most common through the month of July.

Luckily, there is a simple, natural solution to get rid of them.

"Carnivorous plants are the best way to control them I think," says Tuckey.

"They'll catch all the fruit flies for you." 

Here are his top three plants for dealing with fruit fly invasions the natural way:

1. Venus fly trap

Perhaps the most famous of all carnivorous plants, the iconic Venus fly trap uses sweet-smelling sap to lure unsuspecting insects into its mouth.

Despite its fame, a Venus Fly trap can only catch 3-4 bugs before closing forever, making them less effective than other plants.

2. Pitcher plant

Don't let its tall elegance fool you, this plant is a living, breathing, fly-eating machine.

Fruit flies aren't the only thing on a pitcher plants menu; it's also efficient at catching wasps and bees.

3. Sundew plant

These are the kings of catching fruit flies. The sweet mucilage on a sundew attracts, traps, and digests an insect making a potent enemy for any fruit fly.

According to Tuckey, just a couple sundew plants on the kitchen counter will effectively rid you of the majority of fruit flies.