FRUIT flies are common household pests that can become a nuisance for homeowners throughout the year.
These little flies reproduce at an astonishing rate, so it's important to know how to get rid of the pesky pests permanently and promptly.
What causes fruit flies?
The good news is, when fruit flies appear it doesn't mean it's your fault.
Unsuspecting homeowners may bring these pests inside on produce, such as groceries.
Experts at Orkin confirm that fruit flies are attracted to fermenting products, and are particularly common in the summer months when fruit and veg are ripening.
They can also populate due to fermenting matter in drains, mops, and trash bins.
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More specifically, Orkin pest control professionals say ''the smell of ripening fruit and decomposing produce attracts these insects''.
The fruit bowl in your home will be a veritable feast for a fruit fly, and you'll likely find a hungry one buzzing around somewhere nearby.
As fruit flies are extremely small, they're able to sneak through gaps in the window and cause an infestation because they reproduce so rapidly.
How to get rid of fruit flies
If you find a room in your home becoming overwhelmed with fruit flies, there are some simple ways to get rid of them.
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Experts at Orkin have provided homeowners with some helpful tips and tricks to make spaces less welcoming to these type of pests.
- Remove fruit fly sources of food
- Dispose of old, decomposing produce immediately
- Wash produce as soon as you get home to remove potential eggs or larvae
- Store fruits and vegetables in the fridge
- Ensure you take the rubbish out regularly
- Clean drains
- Regularly wipe up drink spills
- Contact a professional
You can also follow the guide below to make your own trap for fruit flies.
Make a vinegar trap
Pour about an inch of apple cider vinegar into a glass or cup.
You then pop a plastic bag over it and secure it in place with a rubber band.
After that, snip off one of the corners of the bag to create a small hole and place the trap near the infestation.
The fruit flies will be attracted to vinegar, but they won't be able to escape from the plastic.
However, others have taken to TikTok to share hacks that don't involve the smell of vinegar.
One cleaning expert shared a hack – which involves a plastic container with mashed fruit inside, and cling film with holes poked in it over top.
Again, the flies are attracted to the fruit, but can't escape the plastic.
Another TikTok user shared a similar hack – using a banana peel.
A third also suggested placing a dry, cut-in-half wine cork in your fruit bowl as prevention – and people are saying it works.
Another expert suggested preventing an infestation by covering your fruit bowl and using essential oils in your kitchen.
Are fruit flies dangerous?
Mercifully, though these insects may be annoying, their buzz is worse than their bite.
They live off fermenting fruit and do not feed on blood like mosquitos.
They don't have the right equipment to bite humans, even if they wanted to.
However, according to experts at Orkin, they do carry bacteria – so it's important to keep them out of your home for the sake of your health.
Another problem is their capacity to reproduce, as they can quickly multiply into the thousands.
What's the difference between fruit flies and gnats?
Both fruit flies and gnats are common pests – however, there is a way to tell the difference between the two.
Fruit flies range from tan to black in colour, whilst fungus gnats are dark grey or black.
Fruit flies are also easy to recognize by their big, red eyes, but fungus gnat eyes are so small they are hard to see.
While fruit flies have a rounded body like a smaller version of the common house fly, gnats have dangling legs and long bodies, like a mosquito.
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