Fruit flies are a nuisance that plagues us in the spring and summer months when we have a fruit bowl or an open kitchen counter full of fruit. There are many tested tried success and failed attempts. I will share with you the best and fastest way to get rid of fruit flies. By the end of this, my hope is that you will have the confidence to tackle these pests on your own.
So, what is the fastest way to get rid of fruit flies? The short answer is to find the source, take out the trash and throw away infected fruit and treat the areas with a pyrethrin aerosol. Place all good perishable items in the refrigerator.
Read on to hear about the removal and natural treatment methods for fruit flies!
You can remove fruit flies in a variety of different ways there are natural and chemical remedies that can help eliminate fruit flies from wherever you may be seeing them which can be random places like, your bathroom, bedroom or living room or more commonly your kitchen the number of fruit flies that can develop from overripe fruit is alarming, they will literally be all over your home. We need a way to get rid of these little flies and fast because they are a nuisance.
How to Get Rid Of Fruit Flies
- If you take liquid plumber and let it sit in all of your drains, not just the kitchen sink you will put it in your tub, toilet, and in all sinks.
This may sound like a weird thing to do but what happens is that fruit flies
multiply quickly because they are laying hundreds of eggs and they will do that
in your drains among other places but we will stay with the drains for a moment.
- You can use Clear Zone Double Impact Farm Fly Spray by BASF(check it out the price and rating here on DOMYOWN)! This is a chemical used by professionals to kill flying insects and has a residual activity lasts for hours. The main active ingredient is pyrethrin. I would use this on countertops, garbage cans, etc. But I would not spray a pyrethrin chemical in a drain. I would also avoid using this particular pesticide if you have birds or fish as pets in your home It has proven to be harmful to them!
- Another chemical you can use is called PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait (check out the price on DOMYOWN)! This chemical is safe to spray liberally in drains and in many other applications.
Make sure that you read the label on all pesticides to ensure that you are using it legally and properly. Pest Insider and its affiliates can not be held responsible for misuse of a commercial chemical
- It is unlawful to use a pesticide in any manner that is not consistent with its labeling!
How To Catch Fruit Flies
- Fruit Fly Trap with Fruit
A cup and a cone, the cone you can create yourself with a piece of paper or you can use a snow cone. Using the cone you will place an orange slice or a small amount of orange juice in the cup about 14/ cup then place the cone in the cup and seal the edges to the cup make sure that the hole in the paper is rolled into a cone with a small point that should have a hole small enough for a bug to enter but not escape This contraption will collect the gnats and they will die in there.
- Fruit Fly Trap with Vinegar
You will use plastic wrap and place it over the top of a cup tightly so there are no wrinkles or airways on the side, you can secure it with a rubber band if need be, you will then pour vinegar(apple cider vinegar works best) into the cup just about ¼ cup and let it collect the fruit flies.
- Fruit Fly Trap with Wine
If you already drink you will just need to leave your wine with a small amount in the bottom without covering and they will fly in on their own and get caught and die.
How To Keep Fruit Flies Away
- Take out your trash.
This simple task will get any fruit flies that have been forming from the rotting fruit you have tossed but haven’t taken out yet can reduce the rate of reproduction if you can get them out before any eggs have hatched.
- Remove moisture from wet rags, towels or mops
This may sound impossible but if it’s warm outside place your mop out until it dries and other wet rags and things should be thrown in the washing machine right away.
- Wash fruit/produce when you get home from shopping because these micro bugs could have eggs waiting to hatch in your home.
- Place fruit/veggies in the refrigerator so they can remain in an element where the aging process is slowed thus preventing the creation of fruit flies.
How to keep fruit flies out of plants
You will actually need to get them off of your plants first without harming your plant leaves try a soap and water solution in a water bottle to get the living but off of the plant, wipe your plant down thoroughly if you have fruit flies place a trap in the area refer to our ‘How To Catch Fruit Flies’ traps above.
How to keep fruit flies away from bananas
Make sure your bananas have been cleaned after you return home from the grocery store, them store them in the refrigerator if you keep your bananas out on the counter keep your home temperature dow, overripe bananas will create an infestation on fruit flies and fruit deterioration happens quickly in the warmer conditions.
Where do fruit flies come from?
A fruit fly manifestation is like the chicken or the egg, which came first? We don’t know exactly where the living creature developed but we do know how they keep coming and where they are found which is their eggs! Their eggs are embedded within the fruit/produce we eat and on the surface of them as well.
Are fruit flies harmful to babies?
Babies are probably not at risk of any harm from a fruit fly in their living space. Fruit flies are generally harmless and can only affect the food we as humans eat which is our fruit and produce.
Do Fruit Flies Bite?
No, fruit flies do not want blood so they have no reason to bite a human, they are attracted to decomposing fruit and anything with a fermentation process, beer, wine, produce etc..
Do Fruit Flies Bite Dogs?
No, a fruit fly will not bite an animal it doesn’t have the ability with its small mouth nor has the desire, a fruit fly will only be attracted to sticky fruity and fermenting products. Your pet will be free of fruit flies unless they have gotten themselves into something that would have have had any of these substances.
Can Fruit Flies Lay Eggs in Your Ear?
**Warning this information is disturbing**
Yes, it did happen to a woman that had a hearing aid and the larvae was embedded between the hearing aid and her ear canal. My guess (speculation) is that her device was near fruit or that she had inadvertently put it on it after handling the fruit. I cannot be certain of this but it is such a rare and bizarre occurrence that I don’t see this being common at all. I would also go as far as to say that they were not laid in the ear but that the eggs were placed and hatched in the ear through the device.
Fruit Flies Spray
There are really good fruit fly sprays out there that are used by the professionals and they are multipurpose so you can use it in other bugs that might be bothering you in your home, patio or barn. I always find my product(s) on
- Temprid Ready To Spray (check the current price on domyown.com) Temprid ready spray is a great multi-use chemical I use it for several pests including ants.
- Clear Zone Double Impact Farm Fly Spray (check out the current price on domyown.com) This chemical works fast and has a great knockdown on fruit flys I would just recommend if you use it to do it with a paper mask on and without everyone else in the home.
- PT Alpine Pressurized Fly Bait (check out the current price on domyown.com) This chemical has a great does great and can be sprayed more liberally than other pesticides and because of its broad application, it is a great pick for more than just fruit flies.
Summary
Fruit flies are not only annoying but disgusting and they multiply like crazy! In their week-long lifespan they can go from an egg to an adult and lay up to 500 eggs!! This is a big reason why we should always be washing our fruit when we get home from the grocery store and if we see the fruit flies after that that we quickly clean our drains or more effectively place the food in the fridge where it can be kept from reproduction.
Avoiding the problem altogether would be great but would that mean that we have to stop eating fresh food? Not necessarily, just eat the food that has begun to ripen, toss it or store it in the fridge. If your fruit is damaged or shows signs ripening cut that portion of your food off before eating.
Throw out your trash that has discarded fruit pieces so they are not creating a breeding ground for the unwanted guests.
You may want to go with easy remedies like the fruit, wine or vinegar traps but the downside is that they smell bad and it’s not aesthetically pleasing to see that in your kitchen collecting bugs. If you plan on buying produce and keeping it out on the counter or in the environment where they are likely to be I recommend just buying a spray to create a barrier for you and your food.
Thanks for bugging out with me
