Tiny flies, hovering around in your kitchen or living room? Suddenly they are there: fruit flies. First there were only a few, but it became an entire invasion in no time. Where do these tiny flies come from? How can you prevent a plague? And in case the harm has already been done, how do you control the fruit fly problem? Learn all you need to know about fruit flies and discover easy ways to get rid of them. We share effective DIY-solutions and tips for the best fruit fly control products.
What attracts fruit flies the most?
Fruit flies have a very strong sense of smell. The smell of alcohol, produced by ripe fruit, attract the fruit flies like a magnet. However – though the name might suggest otherwise – fruit flies are not only attracted by fruit; they like a lot more. They love coffee-grounds, beer and wine, rotten vegetables, dead flowers, and juice.
What time of year do fruit flies appear?
Mostly with warm weather fruit flies will appear, so during the spring and summer. Especially with temperatures between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius fruit flies flourish.
How fast do fruit flies multiply?
Fruit flies reproduce rapidly. They lay between 400 and 800 eggs in one month. With the right temperature – between 21 and 25 degrees – their eggs will hatch within one day. The larvae will feed themselves with the ripe fruit and will turn into mature fruit flies within 8 to 11 days. After that, they will live for about a month. So be careful: these tiny flies can soon become a huge problem!
Are fruit flies dangerous or harmful?
Though the little flies seem harmless, this isn’t entirely the case. Just like any other fly, fruit flies can spread bacteria onto fruit and other foodstuffs. This is not only unhygienic but can also cause health problems. Due to fruit flies, fruit will go bad in no time. Also, the little flies, hovering around the house, can be quite annoying.
5 tips to prevent a fruit fly problem
Preventing a fruit fly problem is of course better than solving one. Wondering how? With these steps you can prevent fruit flies from taking over your kitchen.
1. Make sure your kitchen and tables are clean
Clean the surfaces, where you prepare or consume food and drinks, regularly, to make sure there are no tracks of food scraps or spilled drinks attracting (new) fruit flies.
2. Eat fruit before it’s too ripe or store it in the fridge
The smell of ripe fruits attracts fruit flies like a magnet. Eat your fruit in time or store it in the fridge, safely out of the reach of fruit flies!
3. Keep your fruit in an airtight container
Do you prefer to keep your fruit outside the fridge? Use a basket that you can close properly or an airtight container, to make sure fruit flies can’t reach the fruit and lay new eggs in it.
4. Be aware of garbage and empty bottles
Try to separate food scraps from other garbage and choose a bin that you can close properly. Also be aware of empty bottles. Clean them before you store them away.
5. Keep fruit flies at distance with an herbal plant
Fruit flies don’t like the smell of mint, citronella, lavender, and thyme. Placing one of these plants in your kitchen can help you to keep the fruit flies at distance.