Will a taped plastic box of fruit flies and spray be safe overnight?

[ExplosioImminent]

Help! I discovered fruit flies in the office yesterday. Behind my desk. I'd left bananas I think on top of a cardboard box full of papers then chucked a cardigan on top - and forgot about them.

I lifted all the contents and put them in a plastic box, lid on an left. This AM flies were still living so I sprayed in some out of date Dettol all in one spray, closed the lid and taped it up.

That was 7 hours ago and now I'm worried that the box will somehow explode and wreck the office. It won't, will it?

Plan was to deal with it tomorrow when I can take the box outside in dry weather.

I'm really panicking.

They’re fruit flies not nuclear waste. Not sure why you didn’t just chuck it all in the bin at the time? Nothing will happen between now and tomorrow apart from a slow death for the flies.

What?? Why do you think it will explode?

Why would it explode? The worst that would happen even if it did was that the lid would pop off.
Why didn’t you put it all in the bin yesterday? I do sometimes wonder how people operate out in the real world.

They’re fruit flies not nuclear waste

😂

Surely you just chuck the bananas and open a window in this situation?

The fruit flies have been something else this year. Literally hasn’t needed this level of angst though. The chances are, you killed the adult ones but any eggs will hatch and start the issue again. You need to throw out the infested fruit.

Why on earth wouldn’t you just put the bananas in the outside bin? Not quite sure how the slow tortuous death of some fruit flies would equate with an explosion. I’m guessing you verge on the overly dramatic…

I felt daft for forgetting about them and having them in the office bothering others. It was raining and I couldn't take all the paperwork outside so figured if I boxed everything up I'd deal with it when it got dry. I'm not sure why I sprayed the Dettol. I guess I wanted to do it without many flies escaping and not having to mention it to anyone. Just felt a bit daft. Even more so now.

Are you usually an overthinker?

Do you live in your workplace? You never leave when it rains? Never go outside?

Don't know. I sprayed the Dettol aerosol and taped the box... thought it might react or something.

Yes, I overthink.

Ofcourse I go outside when it rains. I didn't want any papers to get wet. I want to open the box, get rid of the bananas and air the contents before bringing it in again.

Dettol spray, as in a disinfectant spray for cleaning???
Do you have anxiety or special needs OP? This is the strangest thing I've read.

Throw out the bananas, clean the box if they have laid little cocoons (they are about 2-3mm long and brown) and invest in insect spray if they are still an issue. Otherwise, make a trap with a glass/washing liquid/vinegar and cling film. And please get support for your anxiety.

I'm sure that I read somewhere that fruit flies actually get drunk on Dettol fumes. They start flapping their wings wildly, kicking each other and giggling noisily.

I think it was fruit flies.
And I think.it was Dettol.

This is precisely the sort of thing I’d be worrying about, op. You aren’t alone!

However, when there is no chance I’ll be the one living with the guilt of having blown up the office, I can see how far fetched this is.

I hope you can relax, enjoy your evening and see the funny side.

If I'd been at home I'd have threw out the bananas and that would have been it. I just didn't want too many of them escaping and bothering others in the office.

If I'd been at home I'd have threw out the bananas and that would have been it. I just didn't want too many of them escaping and bothering others in the office.

Do you have anxiety or special needs OP?

Why? Is having either of those something to be frowned upon?

I wouldn’t want bananas escaping and bothering others in the office either…. Sorry op, but that tickled me. As does the image of an exploded box of said bananas and fruit flies all over the office walls tomorrow…. (Ps don’t worry, it’ll be fine)..

I think because of the Dettol they may now be deceased fruit flies.

Lol

Lol. I've just re-read it!

What can I say, not everyone likes bananas!