Fruit Flies, also known as drain flies are annoying pests that feed on your fruits and vegetables are attracted to decaying and moist matter in homes and especially drains, restaurants, and anywhere else where food is processed. You can identify fruit flies by their large, red eyes and tan bodies. Because of the sanitary problems they can cause for your family and the amount of disease-causing bacteria they can carry, it’s in your best interest to know how to get rid of fruit flies and how to trap them.
Getting Rid of Fruit Flies
Have these pests already infested your home? Fear not. Just follow these simple ways to remove them.
- Suck up the fruit flies with a vacuum, then discard the bag.
- Using a misting bottle, spray flies with rubbing alcohol or water to dampen their wings, then safely squash and remove them with a paper towel.
If your fruit flies are outside
If fruit flies are attacking your fruit trees or plants, buy organic pest sprays to encourage healthy fruit growth. You can also use exclusion bags to cover your trees, allowing your plant to breathe and grow and prevent fruit flies from attacking your fruit. Learn more about exclusion products here.
Fruit Fly Traps
Buy some fast-acting fruit fly traps, such as Terro Non-Toxic Fruit Fly Traps or Springstar S415 Kitchen Fruit Fly Traps is a great set-it-and-leave-it solution to getting rid of fruit flies and if you’re handy, we suggest building a fly trap on your own.
Build a Fruit Fly Trap
What you will need:
- A large bowl
- Some Skinless fruit
- Balsamic Vinegar or wine
Create a handmade fruit fly trap using a bowl, some skinless fruit, and some balsamic vinegar or wine. Combine all ingredients in the bowl, and then cover the bowl using plastic wrap. Next, poke VERY small holes using a fork, being careful not to make them big enough for the fruit flies to fly out and stay trapped, allowing you to release them outside. Here is a video that CHOW.com made taking you through the steps of making your own handmade fruit fly traps:
Fruit Fly Prevention Tips
- One of the easiest ways to prevent and control a fruit fly infestation is to keep your house and kitchen clean and sanitized on a regular basis. Follow these tips to prevent an infestation.
- Remove your kitchen’s trash daily.
- Clean and sanitize your counters, stove, dishes (immediately after use), and wipe the outside and underneath of your refrigerator.
- Wash your dishrags on a regular basis and cover your kitchen sink drains when not in use.
- Keep your fruit in the refrigerator or keep your fruit bowls covered.
- Immediately throw away any rotting fruit, as these attract fruit flies.
- Blow a fan in the direction of your fruit bowls, as they won’t be able to land in a cross wind.
- Scented fresheners in your home, especially those with a sweet or fruity smell, may attract fruit flies.
- If you want to prevent them from infesting your outdoor trashcans, make sure to bury your meat, veggie, and fruit scraps outside instead of throwing them away.
