If you have any ripe fruits lying around, you might be dealing with a fruit fly problem. These small flies can be a nuisance, especially when you have many of them in and around your home. Thankfully, there are some easy home remedies to deal with this common pest. Read on to find out more about how to make your own fruit fly traps together with other tips on dealing with these insects.
What Are Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies look similar to flies, but they are much smaller. They are commonly found anywhere you have moist or overripe fruits and vegetables out in the open. It’s also not uncommon to find fruit flies around trash cans around your home, particularly when there is food waste and some moisture there too.
Besides having to wave the fruit flies away when you want to pick up your fruits and vegetables, you may start to think that these insects are harmless. The truth is that a fruit fly infestation can bring many health risks to you. Like flies, these winged creatures move up and down between different kinds of waste and food items. This activity makes them the perfect agents to spread disease-causing agents such as bacteria. When you have fruit flies all over your own, this can increase the chances of food contamination, leading to stomach bugs and even diarrhea.
Trapping Fruit Flies
Fruit flies tend to breed more and show up unannounced in the warmer summer months. The simplest way to get rid of these insects is by using fruit fly traps. Many of the options are very easy to implement, and you just might have all of the ingredients you need in your home already. Let’s jump into the various fruit fly traps you can make.
- Rotten fruit trap- We’ve already mentioned that fruit flies love rotting fruit, so why not use this knowledge to trap them? All you have to do is get out some fruit that is going off and place it inside a disposable container. You should cover and seal the container carefully with some plastic wrap so that nothing can move between the two sides. Next, you can poke a few holes into the plastic to allow the fruit flies to enter in search of the fruit. When you have accumulated a size-able number of fruit flies in this trap, you can dispose of the whole container in a way that keeps these insects trapped. An alternative way to make this trap is with a plastic bag tied at one end instead of the disposable container.
- Apple cider vinegar and dish soap trap- This method is one of the most popular fruit fly traps around, and it calls for one cup of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Combine these inside a jar or bowl and stir. The open jar or bowl can be placed in any area where you have a fruit fly infestation, be it your kitchen, bathroom, or patio. Over time, you are sure to see fruit flies accumulating inside the vinegar-soap mix. This method works because the vinegar attracts the fruit flies with its fruity scent. The purpose of the soap is to break up the surface tension of the vinegar, and this causes the flies to fall in and drown.
- Red wine trap- With this slight variation on the previous method can combine some leftover red wine with a few drops of liquid detergent in a disposable container, then stir the mixture. The next step is to cover the container with plastic wrap and poke some holes into it. With this swimming pool trap method, you can wait for the fruit flies to enter the wine-detergent mix where they are likely to drown.
- Paper cone trap- One of the methods you might want to try to get rid of the fruit flies is a slight variation on the ones above. You can combine the popular bait of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a jar. Next, take a sheet of regular plain or parchment paper and roll it up into a cone. Insert this at the mouth of the jar. The narrow opening of the funnel cone makes it difficult for fruit flies to escape and may even amplify the vinegar’s scent to attract more flies.
Prevent Fruit Flies from Swarming to Your Home
You don’t have to watch a fruit fly infestation get out of control. You can make your own fruit fly traps, and we have already discussed a few great methods you can try. The other important point to note is that it’s usually best to do everything you can to prevent the infestation than deal with it. These pests can breed rapidly, so here are a few tips to stop fruit flies right at the source.
- Quickly get rid of rotting and fermenting fruits and vegetables. If you aren’t going to eat them, you should throw them away as soon as possible. When you deal with what attracts fruit flies, you eradicate the chances of an infestation.
- Store your vegetables in the fridge. When your fresh produce is tucked away in the cool refrigerator environment, you don’t have to worry about fruit flies. You may also want to put some types of fruit in the cooler.
- Clean your garbage and food waste areas. Fruit flies flog towards waste and moisture, so the cleaner you can keep your trash can, sinks, and drains, the better you are going to be. You can use a strong cleaner such as bleach to clean up the area regularly.
Get Rid of Fruit Flies with Professional Help
If all else fails and you are still dealing with a fruit fly infestation, you can try store-bought traps, which are usually sticky fly traps. The other alternative is to talk to a professional exterminator. At Synergy², we offer a range of solutions to help you keep your home fruit fly-free. Keep your home cleaner and healthier with our extermination services. Get in touch to learn more about how to get rid of fruit flies.
If you’re looking for the right team to handle the issue for you, Synergy² is here to help. We provide trusted services throughout the area, so contact us for the best pest control services around.
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