If you have a few fruit trees in your backyard you know that summer is the best season for enjoying those fruits. Unfortunately, soft juicy fruits and crisp vegetables also bring pesky little fruit flies.
Whether you have an orchid full of fruit trees, or simply place a bowl of your favourite fruit on the kitchen table, there’s always the risk of fruit flies buzzing around. This might make you want to use the pest control Albury and other Australian towns are relying on to keep their homes fly free. Let’s discuss all your viable options.
Keeping Fruit Flies Out of Your Kitchen – Easier than You Think!
Ideally, every kitchen and living space that contains exposed food should be fly free. Sometimes though, no matter how clean your home is, the addition of a bowl of fruit brings pesky little flies.
Are these flies different to regular flies? Do they carry diseases and are there natural ways to get rid of them? Read on to find out!
What’s the Difference Between Fruit Flies and Regular Flies
To most of us, one fly is pretty much like another. No matter what species they come from, they’re all vile, and nobody likes them. But, if you’re interested, there’s actually a difference between a fruit fly and the regular housefly that sits on your meat.
In general, house flies are oval-shaped, dark grey and vary between ⅛ and ¼ inches long. Fruit flies, on the other hand, are thinner, tan in colour and measure about ⅛ of an inch long. While regular house flies prefer to lay their eggs in meat, fruit flies prefer the sweet smell of fruit.
Both types of flies lay eggs on the food they land on and these eggs hatch into larvae, commonly called maggots. A few days later, a new fly will emerge!
What Causes Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies are generally attracted to the scent of ripened fruits and vegetables. This can either be in your garden or your kitchen, largely as a result of the yeast found in plant matter.
Some Helpful Tips to Keep Fruit Flies Away
While most people enjoy the health benefits associated with fresh fruit and vegetables, no one likes grimy little flies buzzing around. The thought of dirty little flies sitting on fruit that you’re moments away from eating is just disgusting!
So, other than giving up eating your favourite fruits, are there ways to keep them out of your kitchen?
Clean Kitchen Surfaces
The most trusted way to rid any home of most pests is to clean the areas they flock to. This is usually kitchen counters, sinks and tables. Food particles that lie around in sinks or on counter spaces are a big attraction to these little flies.
Rotate the Fruit
It’s important to constantly rotate the exposed fruit. Ideally, your fruit shouldn’t stay out in the open for too long. Check the fruit bowl daily for fruits that are showing signs of decay and over-ripeness.
Encourage your family to eat the fruit before it becomes attractive to the fruit flies. Ensure fruits are rinsed and dried before being placed in the bowl.
Apple Cider Vinegar
If you’re still finding fruit flies buzzing around your fruit no matter how clean the area is, there’s an old trick that you might have seen your grandmother doing!
Simply follow these few steps:
- Fill a small bowl or glass with apple cider vinegar
- Cover the glass or bowl with plastic wrap
- Seal the edges with tape or a rubber band
- Poke tiny holes in the top of the plastic – ensure the holes are small enough for the flies to get in
- Vinegar is known to attract fruit flies and once they’re in the bowl or glass, the plastic barrier should keep them trapped inside
- If you find that the flies are still escaping through the holes, add a drop of dishwashing liquid to the vinegar mixture as this will stick to the wings and legs
Opt for Some Beer or Wine
Humans aren’t the only creatures who enjoy an alcoholic drink. You might be surprised to know that flies are attracted to the sweetness of your beer or red wine! Simply put some wine or beer into a small glass. Cover the glass with plastic as indicated above. Poke a few small holes in the plastic and watch them flock to their favourite drink.
Alternatively, you can leave a beer bottle with a small amount of the liquid standing next to the fruit bowl. Oddly enough, the flies can easily fly into the bottle through the bottleneck but when it comes to flying out, they seem unable to! You’ll see the bottleneck seems to form a natural barrier.
Final Thought
With these few handy tips, you’ll easily be able to keep fruit flies out of your home. The good news is you no longer need to avoid your favourite fruit just to keep your home fly-free!