The fruit fly is one of the most common pests found in and around the home. Fruit flies get their name because they tend to fly around sweet food like fruit. Although fruit flies will thrive on just about anything organic, fruit flies have become a major pest in the home due to the increase of vegetable and fruit consumption. People are eating more vegetables and fruit and with this consumption comes the increase of fruit fly infestations.
FRUIT FLY BIOLOGY
Fruit fly problems can develop overnight. The typical route of entry is via the grocery store. Fruit fly eggs are indiscreetly carried home on produce purchased at the grocery. Fruit fly eggs are already laid on the fruit or fruit fly adults simply hitch a ride on the foodstuff and emerge when unpacked. Developing fruit fly pupae are hard to see and typically go unnoticed. Within a few days they will start to hatch and the problem will quickly escalate.
FRUIT FLY INFESTATIONS
Once in your kitchen, fruit flies will find a ready supply of food. They’ll forage about trying to get established.
Fruit flies love garbage disposals, garbage cans and fruit bowls. But they will be drawn to ketchup, tv screens, computer monitors, showers, tubs and even pets.
Washing produce will help by removing fruit fly eggs and pupae but it’s hard to get 100% of the problem removed. And once they hatch, fruit flies will hover over the sink, garbage pails or fruit bowls searching for anything sweet to eat and on which to lay eggs.
WHAT DO FRUIT FLIES LOOK LIKE?
Fruit flies are small, about 1/8 of an inch, and have bright “red to orange” eyes which distinguishes them from other fly species. Fruit fly eggs will hatch in less than two days and young will eat and pupate in under 8 days. These stages are hard to see; they typically will hide and are quite small.
Although most infestations don’t get huge, fruit flies will be persistent and aggravating pest if left unattended. The following video shows a closeup of two fruit flies where you can see their large red eyes.
FRUIT FLY TREATMENTS
The best way to get fruit fly control is to first locate their food and where they’re focused. If you eliminate what they’re eating and breeding on, fruit fly control will be quicker and more complete. Once you remove their food source, the following treatment options will help control them in other areas where they may be nesting.
SPACE SPRAYING FOR FRUIT FLIES
For most people, killing the fruit flies that are flying around with a space spray seems like the best thing to do. Space sprays are products that can be applied to the air and are safe for kitchens and other open areas where fruit flies like to hang around. For these locations, lightly mist with MULTIPURPOSE KILLER for 5-10 seconds in any room where you see activity. It’s quick killing active will clear a room when used as a space spray but you can also use it on furniture, carpets and most any surface.
Expect to retreat a once or twice every day for about 1-2 weeks to break the cycle. This is needed since treatments won’t last but 15-30 minutes and that means hatching pupae will re-infest rooms within a day if you don’t stick to the routine.
The big problem with space sprays is they don’t last long. Once applied, their active will only kill adults and larvae for 30-60 minutes. After that, hatching pupae will live so if you don’t treat 1-2 a day for 2-3 weeks, the problem can persist. And if you miss just one room where they’re breeding, you’ll never get rid of them.
WHAT IF THE FRUIT FLIES ARE COMING FROM THE SINK DRAIN?
In fact fruit flies love sink drains. Sinkerators can harbor exactly what they need but in fact, the slime and grudge most any drain line can have will be enough to sustain a good population of drain flies.
If you see them coming from the drain line or find them hanging around a sink, its highly likely this is their source for food and maybe even being used for egg laying.
To take this area away from them, treat down the drain with NO SURVIVOR ENZ A BAC once a week. This product is nothing but an enzyme that will “eat” the grudge, slime and other organic matter they need to live.
To treat, simply pour 2-3 oz down the drain once a week for 4 weeks. Do this in the evening before you retire so the treatment can sit overnight and get to work on organic matter.
Next, on 1-2 other evenings during the week in between the Enz A Bac treatments, treat with LEMON AIR DRAIN INSECTICIDE. This fresh smelling drain treatment is the only insecticide labeled for use in sink drains.
Add 2 oz per gallon of water and pour 1/2 gallon down any sink drain suspected of harboring fruit flies. Remember, us Lemon Air on any night when you DON’T use the Enz-A-Bac No Survivors. In general, most drain lines will need Lemon Air applied twice a week when insects are active and this should be done for about 2 weeks straight. After that, use it for prevention once a month.
Lemon Air will keep any sink fresh smelling too so great for tubs, bathrooms and even commercial kitchen drain lines.
FRUIT FLY SPACE SPRAYING MACHINE
For environments where fruit flies are a never ending problem, consider installing an AUTOMATIC AEROSOL MACHINE. These machines are small, around the size of a cigar box, and can be placed on a shelf or hung on the wall. They take just 2 “AA” batteries to power them for 8-12 months and once installed, will do the treatments for you. Basically they’re configured to release a quick 1 second “blast” of space spray every 15 minutes. By constantly releasing this spray, flying pests like fruit flies won’t stand a chance of living where machines are installed. Each machine can manage up to 400 sq/ft efficiently and they can be installed anywhere in the home, garage, etc.
You’ll need a can of CLEAR ZONE for the machine. Each can will last refills. This option is odorless and safe to use where food is prepared.
FRUIT FLY TRAPS
Lаѕtlу, thе SPARROW HAWK FLY TRAP саn bе dерlоуеd іn аnу rооm whеrе аdult drain flies аrе ѕееn. It’ѕ amazingly well adapted for catching flying insects like mosquites, noseeums, drain flies and more. It has a large glue board that catches them once they enter the holes on the outside band. Keep one installed in kitchens bathrooms or bedrooms where pests have been seen.
For a limited time, you can get the Sparrow Hawk in a kit with either the Multi Purpose Insect Spray or our Aerosol Dispenser and a can of Clear Zone.
Here is the kit that features the Sparrow Hawk with our Aerosol Dispenser and a can of Clear Zone.
Fruit flies can be a persistent pest in the home. Though most common in the summer, they can persist throughout the winter if they find a location in the home on which to breed and nest. Treat with the Enz-A-Bac and Lemon Fresh down the drain for long term control. And if they’re active throughout the home, Multipurpose Insect Killer or Aerosol Machines will keep foraging adults under control.
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