Fruit Flies

Have you ever reached for a nice piece of fruit from your countertop and then noticed many tiny flies scatter away while avoiding your hand? Nothing ruins the joy of fresh fruit quite like a fruit fly infestation. The beautiful fruit laying in a bowl on your kitchen table or countertop is also a breeding site for fruit flies. These small critters are strongly attracted to ripened fruit, as well as to drinks such as wine, soda, and juice. They are a nuisance and hard to get rid of because of their small size and rapid reproductive rate.

The College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Kentucky (UKAG) informs that fruit flies are no bigger than 1/8 of an inch and have the tell-tale red eyes that distinguish them. They may enter your home by traveling in the products you purchase at the store, or just fly in, being attracted to the smell of fruit in your home. According to the UKAG, the complete life cycle of a fruit fly (from egg to adult) lasts about a week. And adult females can lay from 400-500 eggs at a time! This means that in just one week, you may have quite an infestation of fruit flies. Two fruit flies can literally turn into hundreds, very quickly.

Ripened or rotting fruits and vegetables are perfect breeding grounds for fruit flies. They feed and lay their eggs on the surfaces of fruits and vegetables; however, realsimplefood.com, points out that fruit flies may also breed in moist areas such as “sink drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, garbage bags, and even damp mops and sponges”.

So, what can you do to get rid of these tiny pests? Here are a few tips:

• Remove the source of attraction-all ripened or rotting fruits and vegetables should be used up or thrown out. Any opened bottles or cans should be stored or rinsed and tossed.
• Keep produce covered- If you don’t want to refrigerate your fresh fruit or vegetables, put a glass cover over them until you are ready to eat them.
• Keep your home clean- wash or rinse dishes right away, especially those with fruit or sweet beverage remnants. Promptly clean up soda, juice or wine spills. Wipe down counters and tables.
• Cover all your bases- remember to frequently clean recycling bins. Rinse bottles and cans before tossing them. Don’t leave out damp mops or sponges. Sanitize drains and disposals.
• Make a fruit fly trap- roll a piece of paper into a cone to make a funnel. Place paper cone in a container with vinegar. Leave trap near fruit or wherever you see fruit flies. Refer to apartmenttherapy.com for more details and a free printable fruit fly trap.

As always, Accurate Termite and Pest Control is always here to lend a hand for Pest Control. We want to make sure you enjoy your fruit, sans the fruit flies!

Have you ever reached for a nice piece of fruit from your countertop and then noticed many tiny flies scatter away while avoiding your hand? Nothing ruins the joy of fresh fruit quite like a fruit fly infestation. The beautiful fruit laying in a bowl on your kitchen table or countertop is also a breeding site for fruit flies. These small critters are strongly attracted to ripened fruit, as well as to drinks such as wine, soda, and juice. They are a nuisance and hard to get rid of because of their small size and rapid reproductive rate.

The College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Kentucky (UKAG) informs that fruit flies are no bigger than 1/8 of an inch and have the tell-tale red eyes that distinguish them. They may enter your home by traveling in the products you purchase at the store, or just fly in, being attracted to the smell of fruit in your home. According to the UKAG, the complete life cycle of a fruit fly (from egg to adult) lasts about a week. And adult females can lay from 400-500 eggs at a time! This means that in just one week, you may have quite an infestation of fruit flies. Two fruit flies can literally turn into hundreds, very quickly.

Ripened or rotting fruits and vegetables are perfect breeding grounds for fruit flies. They feed and lay their eggs on the surfaces of fruits and vegetables; however, realsimplefood.com, points out that fruit flies may also breed in moist areas such as “sink drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, garbage bags, and even damp mops and sponges”.

So, what can you do to get rid of these tiny pests? Here are a few tips:

• Remove the source of attraction-all ripened or rotting fruits and vegetables should be used up or thrown out. Any opened bottles or cans should be stored or rinsed and tossed.
• Keep produce covered- If you don’t want to refrigerate your fresh fruit or vegetables, put a glass cover over them until you are ready to eat them.
• Keep your home clean- wash or rinse dishes right away, especially those with fruit or sweet beverage remnants. Promptly clean up soda, juice or wine spills. Wipe down counters and tables.
• Cover all your bases- remember to frequently clean recycling bins. Rinse bottles and cans before tossing them. Don’t leave out damp mops or sponges. Sanitize drains and disposals.
• Make a fruit fly trap- roll a piece of paper into a cone to make a funnel. Place paper cone in a container with vinegar. Leave trap near fruit or wherever you see fruit flies. Refer to apartmenttherapy.com for more details and a free printable fruit fly trap.

As always, Accurate Termite and Pest Control is always here to lend a hand for Pest Control. We want to make sure you enjoy your fruit, sans the fruit flies!