Fruit Flies

Fruit flies are very small flies often found infesting kitchens and homes. We’re sure you’ve discovered them in your home, flying around the bananas or hanging out on other produce. Their numbers build over the summer and are at their peak in the late summer and fall, during harvest time. As their name suggests, they are commonly attracted to fruit and other sugary organic materials. They use those types of foods to breed, lay their eggs in, and develop in. Along with fruit, they can be found infesting decaying meat, juice spills, and many other items commonly found in the trash.

Identification

Adult fruit flies have a brown, yellowish-brown, or tan colored thorax. Their abdomens tend to be black on top and grey underneath. They are very small in size at only about 1/8 of an inch in length. The eyes of an adult fruit fly are usually red in color.

Life Cycle & Habits

The life cycle of a fruit fly is very fast, taking only about 8 to10 days from start to finish. Female fruit flies lay a large number of eggs, on average of about 500 at a time. They lay their eggs on the surface of fermenting fruits and vegetables; they will also lay eggs in cans or jars of organic materials that weren’t sealed properly. The fruit fly eggs will then hatch in about 30 hours; once the eggs hatch the larvae will feed on the decaying fruit or vegetables for about 5 to 7 days. The adults will then be ready to mate in about 2 days, starting the life cycle over again.

Fruit Fly Control & Prevention

For best results, you should consider a professional pest control firm with experience in eliminating fruit flies. The exterminators at American Pest Solutions have the tools and knowledge to get rid of fruit flies in your home or business. To prevent a re-infestation, we suggest continuing with routine pest control services and taking steps to prevent fruit flies from entering your home. Prevention tips include caulking gaps found around exterior windows or doors along with fixing or replacing screen windows that are ripped or torn. Make sure to fix any leaky faucets or pipes that are found in your home that can act as a water source for them. Keep all produce in your refrigerator instead of out in the open on your kitchen counters. Also, remove trash from your home on a regular basis.