Fruit flies are common all over the world and wherever there is food available for them to eat; they often occur indoors and outdoors, where they can breed rapidly in their populations. Though they are not harmful, they can be a nuisance when infestations happen. So how do you get rid of them? Read on to find out!
What Do Fruit Flies Look Like?
A fruit fly is a type of insect belonging to the family Drosophilidae. Fruit flies are small, measuring up to 2 mm (0.079 in) in length, and have long, slender bodies. They feed primarily on fermenting fruit or overripe bananas, although they may also be found near garbage cans or rotting oranges.
Fruit Flies have an oval shape with a thorax (top part), tan color overalls that usually get darker towards their abdomen, which has black underbelly fur mixed into it. They also tend to have red eyes, but some species may also possess dark-colored ones for contrast purposes.
Fruit Fly’s lifespan is about 50 days. The fruit fly has an egg stage, larval stages, and the pupa. It goes from egg to larvae of various sizes, then to pupa all inside its habitat of decaying organic matter. Fruit flies develop from eggs to adults from 2 to 4 weeks.
Fruit Flies are often confused with mosquitoes due to their similar appearance and habitat preferences. However, fruit flies can be distinguished from mosquitoes by their wings – fruit flies have four clear wings that meet at the tips (with very few exceptions), while mosquitoes’ wings are darkly colored with a fringe of hair along the bottom. Also, fruit flies cannot bite; they only feed on liquids such as fermenting fruit or plant saps, while mosquitoes can bite and draw blood from animals and humans.
Where to find Fruit flies?
A fruit fly is a type of insect that is commonly found in or around the fruit. Fruit flies are attracted to ripe or rotten fruits, and they lay eggs on the surface.
Fruit flies only live for about two weeks. They can be found in kitchens, where they congregate near piles of rotting food wastes, garbage cans, dumpsters, and compost piles. Once the fruit flies become adults, they will seek out other areas or fly around searching for another food source. This is why they are commonly found in kitchens, where they are attracted to spilled juices, sugary foods, and any other kind of sweet smell that might be lingering on dishes.
They mainly feed on the remnants of foods left in dirty dishes; garbage disposal units; sinks, toilets, and drains. Fruit flies are known to be very disgusting at times because they reproduce rapidly. They are also carriers of germs which can cause many diseases when found in places where disease-causing germs have infected people or animals. They also have a very short life span, and their larvae can cause great damage to food in the home when they appear in large numbers.
Are Fruit Flies Harmful?
Fruit flies are common household pests that can be a terrible nuisance around your home. They can carry bacteria, can spread pathogens like cholera and typhoid, which cause diarrhea and fever. They are also known to spread the parasitic worm, which leads to intestinal problems.
When they land on fresh food or piles of decaying matter, fruit flies leave bacteria behind. This contamination can render food unsafe to eat and cause problems like a gastrointestinal diseases. Fruit flies also leave behind an enzyme in their droppings that make food go bad more quickly, which we perceive as a souring smell.
As if the health risks associated with fruit fly infestations were not enough, there is another problem: Fruit flies can reproduce at an alarming rate, which is why they multiply so rapidly. The fruit fly population has increased by 20 percent in just twenty years worldwide. Their main source of food is the fruit and vegetables that people eat. They are naturally attracted to bananas and other fruits, though they can contaminate other foods while spreading to stored products.
How to Get Rid of Mice
Fruit flies are not known to spread any diseases; however, they can contaminate food when they breed in it. For this reason, eliminating them immediately is important before they invade your space and ruin all of your delicious fruits!
First, we can try to prevent fruit flies from entering our homes in the first place. Ensure that all of your garbage cans and recycling bins have tight-fitting lids and wash them regularly to eliminate any food remnants left behind by previous users. Also, check for cracks or holes on your windows or doors as these areas allow entry points for the tiny pests.
Secondly, you can attract fruit flies away from your food by using yellow or blue-colored traps or containers. You can also make these homemade traps by mixing water, vinegar, and yeast in a container with a lid. When fruit flies are attracted to this mixture, they will not escape because of the lack of openings.
If you can’t seem to get rid of your fruit flies, try using a pesticide to eliminate them once and for all. But make sure that the pesticides you use are natural and will not leave harmful residues on your food or in your living space. A good option is an all-natural citrus cleaner that kills pests on contact.
And lastly, to prevent fruit flies from coming back, you can try placing a strip of double-sided tape on the underside of your cabinets and near any possible entrances. This will allow the fruit flies to stick to them once they enter your home. Also, be sure to thoroughly clean all surfaces where you had previously seen the pests before they had a chance to invade your space.
For everything else, let the pest control professionals handle any concerns that you might have. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call pest control in Boise at the first sign.