Fruit flies sometimes find their way into homes and quickly create a pest problem. You most likely see them near expiring foods and moist materials, where they feed and multiply. The tiny flies multiply quickly, laying about 500 eggs that hatch into larvae and complete a life cycle in as little as a week. Quickly trap and kill the fruit flies to prevent such an invasion.
Remove Food Sources
Locate the source of the fruit fly infestation, such as rotting fruit on a countertop or a mildewed, damp mop. They eat and breed in these areas, so remove the items they are surrounding. Throw out old produce and wash and dry all damp fabrics. Remove clogs in drains with chemicals or a pipe snake.
Use an insecticide designed to kill fruit flies. First ventilate the house well by turning on the air and opening windows. Wear an allergy mask to avoid breathing in the fumes. Spray all visible fruit flies to immediately kill them. Follow all instructions as stated by the manufacturer.
Fruit Fly Traps
Set fruit fly traps near breeding sites or in rooms where they have been seen. Some traps are designed to look like an apple, blending in with a bowl of fruit. The traps consist of a vapor chamber and liquid that attracts the fruit flies. The tiny flies enter the trap, are unable to escape and die. Fruit fly traps are fast-acting and last up to 30 days.
Cider Vinegar Traps
Create a homemade trap to kill fruit flies. In a glass jar or bottle, mix together 1 cup of water, 1 cup of cider vinegar and 2 tsp. of dish liquid. Place the jar close to breeding sites such as a bowl of produce. The fruit flies will be attracted to the smell and enter the jar, where the layer of soap traps and kills them.
Fruit Fly Light Trap
Plug a fruit fly light trap into an outlet to catch and kill fruit flies. The traps consist of a lamp that lures in the flies, which get trapped on an adhesive backing. Some models make use of energy-efficient UV lights. The adhesive backing holds 50 to 100 fruit flies. Once full, simply remove and discard the backing and replace it with a new one.
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