For many of us even on these unexpected warm days which come and go, we may find that all of the sudden our kitchens are yet again visited by fruit flies. These annoying tiny pests hover over your fruit and are unsightly as much as just unappetizing in your kitchen. We know you don’t want them! The good news is we can help you understand why they came to your kitchen and what you can do to get rid of them.
Understanding Fruit Flies
We all love a fruit basket full of apples and oranges—the bad news is that so do fruit flies.
Fruit flies reproduce at an astonishing rate. They lay hundreds of eggs in a very short time, most commonly on moist foods such as overripe fruit and vegetables. It only takes 24 to 30 hours for fruit fly eggs to hatch into larvae, or maggots (ewww!), which then feed on the source where they were laid. Within a week those larvae are already reproducing, starting the cycle all over again. This means if you are going to address the issue in your home you are going to have to act fast.
What are the Causes of Your Fruit Fly Infestation?
Understanding where your fruit flies are drawn to is the first step in eliminating the issue. Fruit flies are attracted to ripe, rotting, or decayed fruit and produce. You may find them hovering over a trashcan which needs to be taken out or a garbage disposal which needs to be run. One of the first steps in preventing fruit flies is keeping your kitchen as clean as possible and putting food away. It only takes two to create an infestation that can make eating out of your kitchen completely unappetizing.
Are They Really Fruit Flies?
First make sure they are fruit flies as there are many looks. Though tiny, fruit flies usually appear light or dark brown in color. They are often mistaken for drain flies or fungus gnats, which prefer overwatered houseplants.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Once and For All
The first step in ridding your kitchen of fruit flies is keeping a clean kitchen. Here are some preventative methods to keep them away:
- Eliminate any overripe fruits or vegetables
- Store your fruits and vegetables in the fridge
- Rinse your produce as soon as you get them home to remove the potential for larva or eggs from coming back home with you.
Dealing with the Immediate Issue
Once you’ve dealt with the ongoing issue you are going to want to get the existing fruit flies out of your kitchen now. We’ve compiled a few ideas to help address the issue using household items you most likely already have in your home.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Plastic Wrap Trap
Apple cider vinegar, or cider vinegar, is a vinegar made from fermented apple juice that fruit flies just can’t resist! Fill a jar for your counter and cover it with plastic wrap and a rubber band left over from your produce to ensure a tight fit. Poke tiny holes in the plastic. Fruit flies will find their way in but won’t be able to get out. Make several traps and place them around your kitchen.
A Paper Cone, Vinegar, and Old Fruit Trap
Fruit flies are drawn to rotting fruit so why not give them what they want. for the final time! Place a piece of rotting fruit in a jar along with some vinegar. Roll a piece of paper into a cone and stick it into the jar, pointy side down. The flies will travel down the funnel to get to the fruit and not be able to get out!
Vinegar and Dish Soap Trap
If you’ve tried the other two methods and are still struggling to catch them all you may want to try adding three drops of dish soap to a bowl of vinegar and leave it uncovered. The soap cuts the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies will sink and drown.
Nuisance Wildlife Services
For more tips for getting rid of fruit flies or any other pest which makes the mistake of gracing your home, contact us at Nuisance Wildlife Services. We have just the thing for any pest who dares to enter.
