Pest control companies rarely get panicked calls from homeowners over fruit flies. They won’t sting you and they won’t destroy your house. But they are just plain annoying.
Fruit flies have a simple DNA sequence. They have only four pairs of chromosomes, but this basic pattern includes a powerful sense of smell and some serious flying ability. They can detect your ripening piece of fruit from great distances.
It’s not just overripe fruits and vegetables that fruit flies feast upon. They like anything that’s wet and decaying. The little bit of liquid at the bottom of the recycling bin will sustain a group of fruit flies for a while. So will your garbage can. They’re also attracted to the wet material that sticks on the inside of your drains.
Getting rid of fruit flies isn’t easy. They breed rapidly and prolifically. Even if you kill the adults, another generation can hatch within hours. Spraying them means spraying your fresh produce and contaminating it with pesticides.
One effective method for getting rid of fruit flies is simple: Cut off their food supply. If you starve them out, they’ll sniff out a meal elsewhere. They feed and breed in pretty much the same places, so removing the food also cuts off the lifecycle. Many home remedies also exist.
It’s important to throw away overripe fruit and store the rest in the refrigerator until the problem is resolved. Take the trash out right away. Scrub out the can and the recycling bins while they’re empty. Move your compost pile well away from any doors or windows.
Remember, if you have pest problems, call Slug-A-Bug at (321) 259-7844. We’ll give you a free evaluation with no obligation.