How to get rid of fruit flies and stop them coming back

Table Of Content

• I want to try a chemical remedy. What spray will kill fruit flies?
• Homemade Ant Killer Sprays That Actually Work—Without Harsh Chemicals
• Making Traps

Use these tips to rid your home of houseflies and prevent them from coming back. Fruit flies are some of the most common indoor pests around -- and while most die off during winter, that doesn't mean you're off the hook. They're probably already in your house because, well, scourges plan for cold weather like that. In addition, it is important to note that these products may only be effective for a short period of time. If you are dealing with a large infestation, you may need to reapply these products more frequently. Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this question.

I want to try a chemical remedy. What spray will kill fruit flies?

These little flies, which look a lot like fruit flies, breed in the moist soil of houseplants. When their young hatch, they feast on decaying roots and organic matter and will soon multiply until you feel like you're swatting them away at every turn. Flies are definitely a nuisance when they’re buzzing around inside.

Homemade Ant Killer Sprays That Actually Work—Without Harsh Chemicals

A mixture of vinegar and dish soap can help you trap flies. To use this method, mix about an inch of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a tall glass. Secure the plastic wrap with a rubber band and poke small holes in the top.

Making Traps

Small splashes of sugary drinks can also go unseen on your counter or around the outside of a liquor bottle until you notice fruit flies buzzing around. The first thing you need do is figure out where the flies are coming from. If they’re hanging out around any open food items, throw the food out and scrub the area clean. You can use any type of cleaner to disinfect the area.

Sprinkle some ground pepper in the spots that you know ants like to congregate. "Ground pepper sprinkled under kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and behind appliances can deter ants. They find the smell irritating," McReynolds says. Be sure to mount light traps away from entrances and windows, so they can’t be seen from the outside. They should also be mounted within 5 feet of the floor. If you do need or want to use insecticide, pyrethrin-based insecticides are most common for indoor fly infestations.

Even the smallest rotten piece of produce welcomes flies to lay hundreds of eggs at a time. Once you have sanitation under control, often the best approach is to wait for the fruit fly population to diminish. That old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure definitely comes into play here—and it's much better to keep fruit flies and gnats away in the first place.

How do you make a DIY fruit fly trap?

Those who might not get burned will fall into the water and die. Apple Cider Vinegar is a very effective way to eliminate fruit flies. Thankfully, there are ways to kick fruit flies out of your kitchen and expel them from your home. Some steps can help prevent an infestation, while others can help eliminate one. So take a look below, and keep your place free of fruit flies. An entomologist explains why fruit fly infestations happen and how you can stop them.

Here’s how to get rid of fruit flies if they infest your Kansas kitchen this summer - Wichita Eagle

Here’s how to get rid of fruit flies if they infest your Kansas kitchen this summer.

Posted: Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

However, it’s important to identify fruit flies correctly so you can find and remove the source of the infestation. The tiny, yellowish, red-eyed insects are part of a large family of small flies that has about 3,000 species. Unlike houseflies, which may spread disease, fruit flies are harmless. They can live and breed in drains and garbage cans, and on damp mops and rags. Spilled juice under the refrigerator or a rotten potato at the bottom of a bin can be a happy home for the fruit fly’s larvae. The dog days of summer often bring with them unwanted fruit fly infestations.

What If I Don’t Have Apple Cider Vinegar?

To get to the root of the problem, you must understand why the fruit flies have invaded your home in the first place. These pesky little bugs typically hitch a ride into your house via fruits and veggies purchased at the grocery store or farmers market. Washing produce thoroughly can help get rid of adult flies, but there’s no easy way to tell if they’ve already laid eggs in your food.

To get rid of fruit flies, you need to know where these bugs come from and what causes the fruit to fly. According to the study, fruit flies are easily attracted to rotting, ripe, or decayed fruit. Once the flies get in your house, she said, they'll lay eggs everywhere they can -- in rotten fruit or any fermented substances.

There are several ways to get rid of fruit flies and prevent them from invading your home. By following these treatments for getting rid of fruit flies, you'll hopefully keep them at bay. Once you've eliminated this pest, continue to use preventative measures such as storing produce in the fridge or using essential oils.

An adult female fruit fly can lay up to 2,000 eggs on the surface of anything that's moist and rotting. The eggs hatch into larvae, which eat the decayed food. The larvae mature into adults within a couple of days. Two days after they emerge as adults, they're ready to mate, and the females can lay more eggs.