Fruit flies can be a nuisance, but you don’t have to put up with them forever. If you’re dealing with an infestation of fruit flies or pesky drain flies, there are steps you can take to kill them for good. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get rid of the fruit fly.
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What are Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies, or drosophila melanogaster, are small insects that can act as unwelcome guests in homes during the summer months. These pesky flies typically arrive on kitchen counters and other areas of the house where ripe fruit is present.
They are often mistaken for similar-looking fungus gnats. Fruit flies feed on decaying fruits, fermenting liquids and a wide variety of other food sources. They can be a nuisance if not handled properly.
To prevent an infestation, it is important to keep kitchen surfaces clean and free of rotting produce. By eliminating any potential food sources, the number of fruit flies will eventually decrease.
The Life Cycle of Fruit Flies
Fruit flies undergo a life cycle that includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Furthremore, female fruit flies lay eggs which hatch in about two weeks to become larvae. The larvae feed on organic material for several days before entering the pupal stage.
After about one week in the pupal stage, adult fruit flies emerge and live for 2-3 weeks. During this time, female fruit flies lay more eggs to start the cycle anew. This process can happen several times in a season and can result in thousands of adult fruit flies.
After several days of feeding, they enter the pupal stage where they transform into adult fruit flies.
Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?
Generally, fruit flies are attracted by the smell of ripened fruits and vegetables in your kitchen or other areas around your home.
Other common sources include sink drains, garbage disposals, rotting produce or rotten fruit left in a fruit bowl. Furthremore, these sources are prime locations to attract fruit flies, according to Apartment Therapy.
Additionally, if you have a garbage disposal that is not sealed off properly, it can lead to an infestation as well. Once the smell of ripened fruits and vegetables attracts the fruit fly, they remain in your home until you take proper measures to get rid of them.
How Do You Prevent Fruit Flies?
To prevent fruit flies, start by keeping fresh produce in the refrigerator and disposing of trash cans regularly. Additionally, throw out any overripe fruits or rotten food that may attract the pests. Make sure to clean up all food particles quickly as they can become a breeding ground for fruit flies.
To remove existing flies, try using ice cubes or hot water in a shallow bowl. Additionally, make sure to clean out garbage disposals and scrape away any eggs or other food remnants stuck on kitchen countertops.
Deep cleaning your kitchen is also an effective way to prevent fruit flies from coming back again. By taking these measures, you can help keep fruit flies at bay and enjoy a cleaner home.
Kill Fruit Flies with DIY Fruit Fly Trap
Fortunately, there is an easy solution to getting rid of these pests: DIY fruit fly traps!
Apple Cider Vinegar and Plastic Wrap Trap
Apple Cider Vinegar and Plastic Wrap Trap is an effective DIY trap that can help you get rid of pesky fruit flies. All you need is a bottle, plastic wrap, rubber band, and a few small holes to make the trap.
Simply pour some of your favorite fruit juice or wine into the open bottle then cover it with wrap and secure the wrap with a rubber band. And then, cut a few small holes in the wrap and fruit flies will be drawn to the bottle trap.
This simple DIY trap is an effective way to get rid of annoying fruit flies. A repurposed mason jar can also be used in the same way to trap fruit flies.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap Trap
Apple cider vinegar and dish soap is a simple DIY solution to get rid of adult flies. The trap works by creating surface tension on the top of the liquid. Furthermore, a few tiny holes are poked in the container, allowing the flies to enter but not escape.
This all-natural and inexpensive method is a great way to get rid of pesky adult flies without using harmful chemicals.
Paper Cone, Vinegar and Old Fruit Trap
The Paper Cone, Vinegar and Old Fruit Trap is a simple yet effective way to get rid of overripe fruit. This trick works by placing an overripe or ripe piece of fruit inside a cone made of paper. Then, fill the cone with vinegar and place it overripe fruit side down in a room where you’ve spotted fruit flies.
Wine Fly Trap
The Wine Fly Trap is an ingenious device designed to keep pesky fruit flies away from your favorite red or old wines. This unique trap uses a combination of attractants, such as sweet nectar and fermenting grapes, to lure flies in without trapping them inside.
These Are the Most Recommended Fruit Fly Traps and Sprays | Store-Bought Option
We’ll take a look at some of the most recommended sticky paper traps, sprays, baits, and other products that are available on the market today.
With these tools, you can easily keep your kitchen free from pesky pests and enjoy delicious fruits and vegetables without the annoyance of fruit flies. Let’s dive in!
Aunt Fannie’s Flypunch Non-toxic Fruit Fly Trap
- READY TO USE: Just open the flip top and set where fruit flies are seen or feared to quickly tackle the fruit fly population within a few days
- MULTI-USE: Perfect for use in kitchens and a must for gardeners, farmer's market and CSA lovers, home brewers, and composts pails
- SAFE: FlyPunch fruit fly trap is safe for use around food and pets when used as directed
Aunt Fannie’s Flypunch Non-toxic Fruit Fly Trap is specifically designed to target pesky fruit flies. This trap works by combining apple cider vinegar and malic acid to create a powerful lure that attracts the fruit flies away from your home.
Fruit Fly Barpro Fruit Fly Barpro Fly Strips
- THE NUMBER 1 FRUIT FLY KILLER: Fruit Fly BarPro is the most effective fruit fly control and prevention product on the market. Time controlled vapor...
- PRODUCT CANNOT BE SHIPPED INTO HAWAII AND NEW JERSEY. GUARANTEED RESULTS when used properly. Hang the strips in areas that are occupied by people less...
- CLEAN & ODORLESS: Ditch the bug sprays, liquids, and traps that give off chemical-laden odors and leave behind a sticky residue to clean up. The Fruit...
Fruit Fly Barpro is a revolutionary product that eliminates pesky fruit flies. By using this product, homeowners can easily and quickly get rid of fruit flies without having to use any hazardous chemicals or sprays.
Trappify Fly Trap
- CATCH PESKY BUGS: Trap mosquitoes, gnats, flies, horse fly, housefly, nat, lantern fly, knat, and many other irritating flying insect with this...
- PROTECT YOUR HOUSE: Hanging hook lets you place the trap anywhere near common bug infested areas in your home to lure, and catch all pests. Try...
- THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Perfect for porches, garage, patios, gardens, stable, lawn, chicken coop, and any popular hotbeds for flying insects to keep them...
Trappify Fly Trap is an innovative solution to help homeowners and business owners combat the nuisance of flies. This trap uses a special adhesive paper that traps and kills annoying flies within seconds.
FAQs
What if I Don’t Have Apple Cider Vinegar for My Fly Trap?
If you don’t have apple cider vinegar for your fly trap, white vinegar is an acceptable substitute. You can also try using a mixture of equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water with a little bit of vinegar to attract flying pests.
Furthremore, the acidic scent will be enticing enough to lure flies into the trap. If you don’t have any vinegar on hand, the mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water will still work to attract flying pests. With this method, however, you may need to replace the mixture more often since it’s not as pungent as a vinegar solution.
Either way, keep in mind that flies are naturally attracted to acidic scents, so a little vinegar can go a long way in luring them into the trap.
What Store-bought Products Get Rid of Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies are a nuisance in any home. The tiny black bugs flying around your kitchen can be annoying and hard to get rid of. Fortunately, there are several store-bought products that can help you eliminate fruit flies from your home.
One option is insecticidal sprays which contain active ingredients like pyrethrin, permethrin, and cyfluthrin. These sprays can be sprayed directly onto the fruit fly infested areas to kill the bugs on contact. Additionally, these sprays leave behind a residual barrier that will help keep new fruit flies from entering your home.
Another option is pheromone traps which are designed to lure and capture fruit flies. These traps use pheromones to attract the bugs, and then contain them in a sticky film that keeps them from escaping.
Finally, you can also purchase insecticides designed specifically for fruit flies.
Will Fruit Flies Go Away on Their Own?
Fruit flies can be an annoying nuisance in any home. Fortunately, the answer to this common question is yes – fruit flies will often go away on their own. If left alone, they tend to die off within a few days or weeks due to natural causes like lack of food and old age.
Takeaway
So, there you have it! A few tips and tricks to help get rid of those pesky fruit flies. But if all else fails, we’ve got your back. Our traps are reliable and easy to use, so you can rest assured that your fruit fly problem will be solved in no time. Order your traps from our store today and say goodbye to those little buggers for good!
