Confirm You’re Dealing With Fruit Flies
Look for very small, light brown flies about 2.0 to 2.5 mm long with the most common species showing bright red eyes. Remember that there are more than 170 species of fruit flies in the U.S. and Canada. Identifying the fly should be the first step in any fly control effort.
Find and Remove the Fruit Fly Breeding Source
Fruit fly larvae develop by feeding on yeasts and within a home are most often associated with overripe fruit. In homes, breeding is common in overripe or damaged fruits (especially bananas), in spoiling vegetables such as rotting onions or potatoes, and in spilled syrups, wine, or beer. Residues present in the bottom of unwashed beer or other beverage containers are a common site where small fruit flies will breed. Fruit flies can also breed in the thin films of water and organic residue often found in drain pipes where larvae feed on residue on the sides of the pipes. Control requires removing all sources where breeding can occur, including overripe fruit and fermenting materials such as stale beer or soft drinks. The main method of control is to find and eliminate breeding sources.
Use Simple Baited Traps to Catch Adult Fruit Flies
Vinegar- or red wine–baited traps can capture many adult fruit flies. Good attractants for fruit fly traps include apple cider vinegar, wine, bananas, orange slices, and apple cider.
Why the Fruit Fly Life Cycle Matters
Fruit flies develop through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Under optimum conditions, the life cycle of a fruit fly can be completed in as few as 8 days.
Sources
- agrilifeextension.tamu.edu — agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/insects/indoor-flies-and-their-control/
- extension.colostate.edu — extension.colostate.edu/resource/flies-in-the-home/
- site.extension.uga.edu — site.extension.uga.edu/madison/2021/08/shoo-fruit-flies-dont-bother-me/
- ipm.ucanr.edu — ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/PESTS/fruitflies.html
