How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies by Toby Amidor in Food Safety, September 2, 2012
Do pesky fruit flies hover around your fresh produce? Find out how you can get them out of your kitchen.
Fruit Flies 101
Adult fruit flies (Drosiphila melanogaster) range in size from 1 to 2 millimeters, have red eyes and tan or brownish body. They like to lay their eggs on fruit that’s getting ready to be harvested; that’s how they make it into your home, though they can come in through open doors and windows. Once in your home, these small flies will hang out near rotting fruit, especially old bananas hanging out on your counter. These flies reproduce quickly—they can lay up to 500 eggs over the course of their 1-week lifespan.
Other common breeding grounds for these bugs include decaying meat, large spills of sugary soda or alcohol, sink drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash receptacles, wet mops and dirty rags.
What You Can Do
Besides being annoying, these pests can spread germs in your house. Although they’re not easy to eliminate, your first line of action is to get rid of their food and breeding ground. If you’re not sure where they’re breeding, tape a clear plastic bag over the opening of the suspect area (like your drain)—you’ll see fruit flies in the morning if they’re present.
Here are ways to eliminate their access to food:
- Discard overripe fruit sitting on counters. Any cracked fruit or damaged portions of fruit and veggies that have been sitting out in your kitchen should be cut off before eating.
- Store fruit and veggies in the refrigerator (only until you get rid of the issue).
- Clean spills immediately.
- Wipe counters and empty trash cans regularly.
- Check recycling bin and make sure all containers are rinsed thoroughly—they may be breeding there.
- Properly clean the inside of drainpipes in order to remove any decaying material the flies may be feeding off of.
- Make sure windows and doors are properly screened.
There are numerous methods on how to trap the flies so you can rid them on your own. Of course, if the problem gets out of control– call a professional pest control operator (AKA exterminator). Here are easy, nontoxic and inexpensive methods try:
Place a banana in a clear plastic bag or container and poke 3 to 4 small holes with a toothpick, large enough for the fruit fly to get inside. Place the plastic bag or container near your fruit bowl. Within 24 hours you should see fruit flies inside — they usually can’t find their way out. Repeat this for several days until the fruit flies are gone.
Another variation on this method is to put fruit juice or wine with a squirt of dish soap in a plastic bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Poke holes in the plastic using a pin or toothpick. Again, the flies get in but can’t get out and drown or die from ingesting the dish soap.
TELL US: What method have you used or heard of to get rid of fruit flies?
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More posts from Toby Amidor.
Tags: fruit, fruit flies, produce
Also mix part honey and vinegar and set it in a container it attracts them and they dive in and die
We have them at work. Will try the soap in a bowl method. Thanks!
Apple Cider vinegar mixed with a couple of drops of dish soap works the best. They are attracted to the smell of the vinegar and the soap breaks the surface tension of the liquid so they drown when they land on it. I guarantee it will catch the majority of the flies with 24-48 hours.
This one works like a champ. It is one that I have been using for about a year. I place a short glass next to my fruit bowl and I do not have fruit flies anymore. Living in the south, fruit flies will tote off fruit.
An empty glass or is there something in it?
Yep, I just use a small glass or dish. No need covering it with pastic wrap. Just put a couple of drops of dish soap and add apple cider vinegar, stir it up and put it in the area where the flies are at.
The Apple Cider works 100%. I never have those pests in my housr.
I have used a bottle of red wine vinegar open on the counter for years and always works great, I never have a problem with the little critters
Wash and dry your bananas when you bring them home. Never have problems with bananas and fruit flies.
going to give them a try thanks
I've had them in potted plants…especially those recently brought home from the nursery. I figured out a method that works great…not sure about food, but great with the plants.
1) buy Oil Soap in a spray bottle…Murphy's or any other brand work.
2) take all the plants outside or to the bathtub if you're in an apartment (that's how I figured this out)
3) spray the plants, leaves and soil, with the Oil Soap.
4) leave until dry
Oil soap will shin the leaves and not harm the plant at all since the oil is a vegetable oil…but the oil kills the eggs and bugs.
I've used a combination of vinegar and dishwashing liquid. Once they land in the mixture, they are unable to get out. It worked very well.
Shop vac! Suck those buggers up.
That's my method too! It's fast and easy.
we have mixed vinegar , water, a little sugar and a few drops of dish soap. Works like a charm!