Fruit flies are terribly annoying and almost impossible to catch. You swat at them, create homemade traps, and yet they still are happy and alive in your home. They seem to appear from nowhere.
Where do fruit flies come from?
One day your kitchen is free from these little flies and the next day, they are swarming!
Fruit flies are very industrious. Their sense of smell is tremendous, especially when there is ripened or rotting fruit. These fruits or vegetables provided moist surfaces for the fruit flies to lay their eggs. They also prefer drains, garbage disposals, and other household items and places with a wet or moist environment.
They do not need much space to enter your home and can slip through the tiniest of holes in your screens or gaps in your doors.
Fruit flies lay up to 500 eggs on these surfaces. These surfaces also provide a feeding source for the newly hatched larvae. Note: these eggs can hatch in as little as a day.
Fruit flies in my bathroom?
Your bathroom contains many sources for wet and moist places for fruit flies to go. Drains, especially sinks and shower drains contain decaying matter such as hair. They have been known to be found in the toilet too!
Are fruit flies dangerous to my family?
No, they do not carry disease or germs but do have the potential to contaminate food with bacteria or other pathogens. Fruit flies rank right up there at the top of the list of nuisance pests. They will not naturally leave your home but will continue to search for a new source of food and location to lay more eggs.
How do I get rid of fruit flies?
According to the University of Kentucky, COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT:
The best way to avoid problems with fruit flies is to eliminate sources of attraction. Produce which has ripened should be eaten, discarded, or refrigerated. Cracked or damaged portions of fruits and vegetables should be cut away and discarded in the event that eggs or larvae are present in the wounded area. A single rotting potato or onion forgotten at the back of a closet, or fruit juice spillage under a refrigerator can breed thousands of fruit flies. So can a recycling bin stored in the basement which is never emptied or cleaned.
- Clean infrequently used bathrooms, such as a guest bathroom so stagnant drain water is not providing a host and attracting fruit flies.
- Regularly use a garbage disposal cleaner.
- Be aware of the materials in your recycle bin and dispose of the items on a regular basis. They love fermentation sources- soda cans, beer bottles, and juice boxes.
- Store fruit, when possible, in the refrigerator and in airtight containers.
- Examine fruit and vegetables purchased in the supermarket or farmer’s market for fruit flies.
Do I call a pest control company for help with fruit flies?
Seems pretty simple, right? You can use Google and get information on getting rid of fruit flies, but will that actually remove them from your home?
Fruit flies are diligent and hard-working. Locating a new hosting source within your home is motivating.
- Find the source! Note that there may be many active sites within your home. Each location must be eradicated, or the fruit flies will return.
- Insecticides that are used will be ineffective without removal and thorough cleaning.
- Performing these two steps can be challenging to a homeowner and is best left to the professionals.
At Accurate Pest Control, we help families and businesses with all types of pest control from bats to fruit flies. Our experience is invaluable when it comes to looking at your home and identifying the source, the problem, and a viable and effective solution.
It is worth the time to schedule an inspection.
Resources: https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef621
