Well, it happened again a few months ago, I bought a handful bananas for my family, we ate a couple of them, then a few days later, whammoo – fruit flies annoying everyone in the kitchen. Well, this article is going help you get rid of fruit flies and take back your kitchen.
Fruit flies are prevalent in our homes, workplaces, and pretty much everywhere. And it’s not easy to kick them out either. Some believe it is rather undesirable to use insecticides in the room. Others believe it is simply unrealistic to catch all the fruit flies that are prevalent in our homes. So, will our quest to get rid of fruit flies come up fruitless? Nope. Not at all. You can always find a way out. The smell of rot attracts these insects. Get rid of spoiled vegetables and fruits at once. Control the dampness level in flower pots. If done, fruit flies will have no reason to visit your home or stay in it for a long period of time. Fruit flies also steer clear of some odors. We will discuss what scents fruit flies do not enjoy here later.
What Is a Fruit Fly?
First, however, what exactly is a fruit fly? The fruit fly, or Drosophila melanogaster, is a type of incredibly small fly (approximately 3 or 4 millimeters in length) that is fairly indiscriminate in its food. The fruit fly eats a wide variety of foods but prefers foods that ferment or decompose. Fruit flies will regularly infest households with ripe or rotting fruit and produce. They also appreciate fermented products such as beer, wine, and liquor. They can discern the smell of food from a kilometer away, and there is little that can interfere with it on the way.
A single female fruit fly can lay up to 500 eggs in her short life, the larvae of which will hatch in a day. After ten days, they will develop into an adult insect. In the summer and fall months, the house is usually full of vegetables and fruits. Tomatoes picked from the garden, bananas, apples, oranges and other fruits are displayed on the kitchen or dining room table in display fruit bowls. And here, the fruit fly has something to profit from.
Can a Fruit Fly Be Harmful?
So, we all know how annoying fruit flies are, but can they also cause harm to humans as well? The risk is actually fairly low to do such, however, it is still a possibility. Fruit flies can transfer germs and bacteria that commonly cause food poisoning, such as salmonella, listeria and E. coli, from one surface to another. And they can contaminate food that will be consumed later.
How to Prevent Fruit Flies
A fruit fly infestation does seem to pop out of nowhere but they do enter your home and cause irritation through certain efforts. One way a fruit fly will enter your home is through small spaces in your windows and doors. They are tiny enough to sneak right through your window screen. Another way these little annoying creatures will enter your home is through the bags of produce you may have purchased at the local grocery store or at a farmer’s market. While inside your home they do reproduce very quickly. Here are a few ways to decrease the odds of encountering a fruit fly population inside your home.
- Put away the easy and obvious targets for fruit flies. One of the best ways to abstain from a fruit fly infestation is to keep any produce in air-tight containers or refrigerators. Think twice about that grand looking display bowl for fruit that your beloved Auntie Ethel gave to you years back. It does look nice though, and would look a lot better if it wasn’t for the swarm of fruit flies hovering all around it.
- Thoroughly inspect your fruits and vegetables as you bring them into your home. Wash them thoroughly.
- Repair all defective window screens in your home. As mentioned above, due to their very small size, they can use any defects in your current window screen to invade your home. No need to make it easier for them to do so, so repairing any defective window screen is highly encouraged.
- Empty your kitchen trash frequently. If you finish dinner and have disposed of any food products in the kitchen trash, empty it. Do not let the trash linger for too long.
- Keep your kitchen sink clutter free and clean. I have been there many times before. Long day at work, cook dinner for the family, and just want to kick up my feet and relax for a minute. However, try not to allow that minute snowball into the entire evening. Clean the dishes and make sure the kitchen sink and drain are cleaned as soon as possible.
- Regularly clean your garbage disposal as well. If your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal, make sure it is cleaned out as well. Do not just let the food garbage sit in the disposal without running it.
What Scents Do Fruit Flies Dislike?
Okay, so if you followed the suggestions above but want a little extra protection, below is a list of a few scents that fruit flies dislike and have the tendency to stay clear from.
Mint – Both fresh mint and mint in dried form will repel fruit flies and many other insects including ants, fleas, mosquitoes and bed bugs. Mice do not appreciate the scent either. For fruit flies, place the crushed mint leaves in a shallow bowl, leaving it in any area where the fruit flies may be concentrate in. You can also store dried leaves in canvas bags in the kitchen.
Basil – Another remedy for the treatment of fruit flies is basil. They simply do not enjoy the smell of this popular herb. So, transplant a basil plant from the garden into a pot and grow it all year long on your kitchen’s windowsill. If you do not have a garden outside, many stores offer basil plants as well. Hey, maybe you’ll dig into your basil plant as well for kicking your dinners up a notch or two.
Bay Leaves – I will admit it, I am the type of home cook that will purchase a small container of bay leaves every so often when making a soup at home. I will follow the recipe and throw a leaf or two into the mix then place the container in the herb cabinet and forget it is there. So, if you are like me, you have this dried herb ready to go already. Truth is, the delicate smell of bay leaves is unpleasant for fruit flies. Earwigs, moths, cockroaches, and mice also dislike the aroma. Try leaving the dried bay leaves in an open container in your kitchen to keep the insects away.
Lavender – The delightful scent of lavender repels not only fruit flies but also houseflies, moths and fleas. Plant it around the house and enjoy the pleasant smell and the absence of annoying insects. In your home, place dried lavender in areas where fruit flies tend to accumulate or make a lavender oil repellent.
There are a few recipes out there for a lavender oil repellent. One is to simply add a dozen drops of lavender essential oil to a spray bottle filled with hot water. Shake well and spritz the mixture along the areas where fruit flies are known to frequent. Another recipe for the use of lavender essential oil is really not much of a recipe at all. Simply soak cotton balls in the essential oil and place the cotton balls where the fruit flies are congregating.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
If you followed the suggestions above or even made your own repellents but still have fruit flies, don’t fret because there are still some proven ways to get rid of them? Below are a few options.
Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
The sour smell of apple cider vinegar attracts fruit flies, so it can be used in a homemade trap. Pour a tiny bit of the vinegar into the bottom of a deep plate or glass. Cover the top of the dish with cling wrap/plastic kitchen wrap/Saran wrap so that it fits snugly and is stretched. Pierce this transparent cover in many places with a toothpick or fork (the holes should be small in diameter). Leave the container overnight in a place where there are usually a lot of flies.
The fruit flies will flock to this favorite smell of theirs and make their way inside, but they will not be able to get back out. Leave the trap overnight, and in the morning, take it outside, remove the lid, and pour out the contents. You can also use red wine, beer, or yeast starter as bait. Place as many of these traps as you would like in affected areas.
Paper Funnel Fruit Fly Trap
Fruit flies are especially attracted to the smell of rot. For this type of trap, grab a mason jar or glass from the kitchen cabinet. Next, place rotten berries or fruits in the bottom of the glass. Apple cider vinegar can also be used. Roll a cone out of a piece of paper and insert it into a glass so that the funnel’s narrow end does not touch the bait (about a half inch away from the bait). Use a piece of tape to secure the funnel. Leave the trap untouched overnight. The theory behind this trap is that the fruit flies will be attracted to the bait inside the trap, fly into the trap and be unable to find their way out.
Dish Soap Trap
Another DIY trap that works is to fill a jar or bowl about a quarter way with apple cider vinegar. Next add a few squirts of dish soap to the vinegar (maybe a teaspoon or two). Make sure there are no bubbles present and leave the trap overnight on your countertop. In the morning, check the trap for dead fruit flies. The theory behind this sort of trap is that the fruit flies will obviously be attracted to the vinegar, however the dish soap will break the surface tension of the vinegar, causing the fruit flies to drown.
Some Commercial Traps to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Of course there are a number of commercial traps out there as well that work in a similar fashion as above’s homemade style traps. Below are a few worth purchasing. Links to Amazon.com
| Fruit Fly Trap – By: Terro | Fruit Fly Trap – By: Natural Catch |
Sticky Traps for Fruit Flies
Another commercial version of the fruit fly trap is a sticky trap that is made especially for fruit flies. Below are a few of these style traps. All links to Amazon.com.
| Fruit Fly Sticky Trap – By: Garsum | Fruit Fly Trap with UV Light – By: Katchy |
| Sticky Fruit Fly Trap – By: Pest Aid |
Products to Destroy Fruit Flies From Your Kitchen Drain
Fruit Flies will often be inside your kitchen drain. The reason for this is that the drain may contain rotting food. Below are a few products on Amazon.com that can resolve this situation.
| Fruit Fly Goodbye Gel Drain Treatment – By: Green Gobbler | Fruit Fly and Drain Fly Killer – By: Natural Armor |
In Conclusion
Fruit Flies are incredibly annoying and embarrassing. Please know that many households endure this same problem however. If you currently have these pests in your kitchen area, try some of the above methods to get rid of fruit flies, either the home made version of traps or the commercial versions of each. Next, prevent another infestation using above methods for fruit fly prevention. Think about how great it is going to be to snack on an apple and not have to wade your way through a population of fruit flies along the way.
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