Fruit flies (known as Drosophila melanogaster) have become quite a nuisance. From offices to homes, they are now more common wherever one goes.
There are approximately 120,000 species of flies and they breed by the thousands. From Hawaii to Kansas, Texas to Maine, these pesky flying insects have changed the way people interact outdoors.
But don’t let these invaders keep you from enjoying nature. Keep reading below to find out seven ways to prevent fruit flies.
1. Placing a Sticky Trap
Placing a sticky trap to prevent fruit flies is a necessary task for any kitchen. A sticky trap is a small object that can be hung in the air and lures fruit flies with an attractive scent. Once the fruit touches the surface, it gets stuck and is unable to escape.
For maximum efficiency, hang the sticky trap in multiple locations throughout the kitchen. The sticky trap should be kept away from any food or covered surfaces to prevent the spread of bacteria and other pathogens, as well as the attraction of unwanted pests either between gnats vs fruit flies.
2. Keep Your Home Clean and Sanitized
Begin by creating a habit of doing routine cleaning each day. Take out the trash and put away leftover food that may attract fruit flies. Wipe down countertops, rinse plates and bowls, and sweep and mop floors inside the home.
Once a week, sanitize surfaces with a disinfectant cleaner to kill germs and any lingering fruit eggs. Also, take out all the recyclable items and empty any containers that may have old scraps of food. Pay attention to all areas of the house, including the bathroom, since fruit flies enjoy humid places.
If a fruit infestation does occur, use traps and sprays to contain and remove the problem. Taking these steps to keep your home clean and sanitized will help reduce the chances of fruit flies invading.
3. Discard Spoiled or Overripe Produce
Fruit flies are attracted to ripe fruits, so it is important to check fruits like apples, bananas, and avocados for signs of rotting. If any are spotted, they should be immediately thrown away.
Discarding rotting fruits will prevent flies from being attracted to them, as they will be unable to reproduce. Additionally, any small amounts of fruit that may have fallen out of produce bags should be thrown away immediately.
The same should be done for any liquids, such as juices, that may have been spilled or left behind from fruits. It is necessary to keep areas clean and free of fruit waste to prevent any fruit infestations.
4. Ensuring Proper Ventilation
Proper ventilation is key to preventing fruit flies from entering your home or wherever your produce is stored. Make sure to keep windows and doors in areas where fresh produce or food is stored open when possible so that a new supply of outside air can enter and stale air with potential fruit eggs and larvae can move out.
Vent fans over the stove or sink can also help create air circulation, and nearby windows can be opened to help create better airflow.
Additionally, keep any perishable food in sealed containers. Keeping up with proper ventilation will help to make sure you won’t be caught dealing with a fruit problem.
5. Install a Bug Zapper
A bug zapper works by using light to attract flying insects and then using an electric current to kill them. This is a much better and safer method than using poisons or harmful substances to kill fruit flies. Bug zappers are easy to set up and maintain, meaning you don’t need a lot of experience to get one up and running.
They come in many different shapes and sizes, and finding the right size for your space shouldn’t be too hard. Place the bug zapper near your fruit problem area and let it do the work for you. It’s a quiet, non-toxic, and effective way to get rid of fruit flies for good.
6. Get Rid of Potential Breeding Grounds
To protect them in your home, you need to cut potential breeding grounds. To begin, keep countertops and other surfaces free from spilled food and liquid. Be sure to wipe up any messes as soon as you can.
As fruit flies love ripe or rotting fruit, it’s a good idea to refrigerate and store ripe produce, and any overripe fruit and vegetables should be disposed of. Additionally, empty any garbage cans and bins.
Make sure your home is fruit fly-free by keeping indoor and outdoor drains clean and clear of any standing water, even inside, as this can be an ideal spot to breed. Following these steps will help deter and end these pesky pests!
7. Make Use of Natural Repellants
One effective repellant is to mix equal parts of cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, and white vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz areas where fruit flies are known to hang out, such as sink drains and nearby fruit bowls. Also, wash off any spilled juices and other food debris immediately, as it may draw them in. Traps made with a piece of overripe fruit placed in a jar and covered with paper riddled with holes allow the fruit flies to enter the jar but not leave.
Placing cloves around the openings of jars and bottles will also ward off fruit flies. Placing cloves around open windows may prevent fruit flies from entering your home. Natural repellents like these can act as the first line of defense against pesky fruit flies.
Be Proactive and Prevent Fruit Flies
Fruit flies can be a nuisance, but there are several measures that can be taken to capture them. Utilizing a variety of traps and elimination methods will help reduce fruit populations.
Implementing these measures as soon as possible is recommended to limit the damage these pests can cause. We must follow these ways to prevent fruit flies and make our home clean and relaxing.
For more information and tips, be sure to check out our other blogs.
