When you’re dealing with a fly infestation, don’t be too quick to assume that they’re fruit flies. Another flying nuisance that you must consider is the fungus gnat. These flies have many similarities between each other, and there are some ways to distinguish them. Although it can be difficult to spot their differences considering their size, being sure about which insect is plaguing your home can help deal with it efficiently.
If you somehow found yourself with an infestation of one of these species in your Mississippi home, you’re likely wondering how to get rid of them. Here are some ways to identify each fly and the things you can do to get rid of fruit flies and gnats.
Top FAQ’s To Get Rid of Gnats and Fruit Flies
1.Essential oils to get rid of gnats and fruit flies?
2.How to get rid of gnats in plants?
3.How to get rid of fungus gnats?
4.What is the fastest way to get rid of fruit flies?
What Do Fruit Flies Look Like?
Fruit flies are the most common flying insects people encounter in their homes, especially in the kitchen. They tend to gather around decaying and rotting fruits, but they also enjoy beer, liquor, wine, and other fermented items.
An easy way to recognize these flies is by their big red or dark red eyes. They have a tan thorax with an abdomen that is black on top and gray beneath. Their bodies generally appear to be either tan or brown and are about one-eighth of an inch long, with dark-eyed ones being slightly larger and darker in color.
What Do Fungus Gnats Look Like?
If you spot some flies around your houseplants or your garden’s soil, you’re likely dealing with fungus gnats instead of fruit flies. These flies feed upon damaged, decaying plant roots and other organic matter found on the soil, severely damaging your plants.
Most fungus gnats have a black or dark gray body and are about one-eighth of an inch to a quarter long. Its long legs and long body give it the appearance of a tiny mosquito.
Getting Rid of Gnats and Fruit Flies
Each fly poses its issues, so controlling both may require specific methods. They tend to be a nuisance most of the time, as they can’t cause any significant damage to your home. However, both fungus gnats and fruit fly infestations can grow quickly out of control.
If you want quickly get rid of gnats and fruit flies, your first step should be dealing with the source of the problem. You have to eliminate any possible breeding ground these flies may have, as the flies may use it to multiply, creating an even more unclean environment.
When dealing with gnats, you have to check out any houseplant with wet soil, as they tend to breed there. Letting it dry completely before watering it again kills any fungus gnat larva that may have been present in there. On the other hand, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove any adult gnat around the plant and windows.
Getting rid of the fruit fly is slightly harder, as they have more possible breeding grounds. Decaying meat, trash bins, and fruits are possible breeding places. Try to keep your counters clean, get rid of overripe fruit, empty your trash cans, and wipe any drink you spill if you want to get rid of any breeding ground the fruit flies may use.
If you take some of these preventive measures and adequately deal with any possible breeding ground, you should notice a significant decrease in either fruit flies or fungus gnats. However, even if you deal with every breeding place, there may still be some flies lingering around your house. You can use many ways to deal with these pesky infestations and provide yourself with some relief.
Fruit Fly Traps
If you want to get rid of fruit flies, there are many different fruit fly traps that you can devise in your home. The most common one uses apple cider vinegar and some plastic wrap in either a glass or a bottle. You pour the vinegar into the container and cover it, and you secure it with plastic wrap and a rubber band.
Poke some small holes in the plastic wrap to make space for the flies to enter. The flies are attracted to the scent of the vinegar, and once they get in, they are unable to leave. Another effective fruit fly trap you can use involves vinegar and ripe fruit in a jar. You only need to roll some paper into a cone and place it inside, leaving a narrow opening.
If these fruit flies still manage to slip away from these traps, you can add some drops of dishwashing soap into a bowl along with apple cider vinegar. Once the flies come down to it, the soap breaks the surface tension and drowns them. The best part of these fruit fly traps is that you can also use them to get rid of gnats, but it’s slightly inefficient as they prefer plants.
Sticky Traps
These yellow sticky bug traps are an easy way to get rid of fruit flies and gnats. It’s convenient and easy to use, as you only need to peel it and put it near fruits, plant pots, or any other place where the flies gather. You can also get some ribbon flytraps to hang in the ceiling if you want to ensure you get rid of most of these flying nuisances.
Fly Light Traps
Fly light traps use electricity to emit an ultraviolet light source that attracts most flying insects towards it, either trapping them or electrocuting them. Both types are undeniably effective ways to get rid of fungus gnats and fruit flies, but the ones that electrocute, bug zappers, have a downside. They also kill some beneficial insects that get near, so try to avoid them.
Conclusion
Fungus gnats and fruit flies are incredibly bothersome pests that can also prove to be dangerous to your health. If you want to deal with these flies effectively, the best way is to take preventive measures and avoid the situation altogether.
However, if some flies get inside your Mississippi home, you can use some effective methods to deal with them. If you keep your home clean, your windows shut, take care of your trash, and apply some of the techniques mentioned, you can get rid of most fly infestations.
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