where are the fruit flies coming from in my house

by Mathew Fritsch Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Fruit flies can end up on your food and in your house a couple different ways, including:

They were already on your food when you brought it home. Fruit fly eggs are extremely tiny and adults often lay them inside fruits and vegetables. ...
They “smelled” their way into your home. Even if fruit flies aren’t already inside your food when you bring it home, they can find their way in. ...
They “squeezed” their way into your home. ...

How did I get fruit flies? Fruit flies often infest homes with ripe, rotting, or decayed fruit and produce. They also enjoy fermented items such as beer, liquor, and wine. Fruit flies also may breed and develop in drains, garbage disposals, trash cans, and mop buckets.

Full Answer

How do fruit flies get in Your House?

Fruit flies get into your house by stowing away on fruits you bring in from the store or garden, or they simply fly in through open doors or windows, small cracks, or tears in window screens. Sometimes the screen mesh itself doesn't stop them because the mesh isn't fine enough.

What are the tiny flies in my house?

Back to Top The tiny fruit fly is one of the most common flies found in homes. It is often brought indoors on fresh fruits and vegetables, and it sticks around because it can find plenty of food in a house. Fruit flies are 1/10 inch to 1/5 inch long and typically have red eyes, yellow-brown bodies, and black rings around their abdomens.

Where do fruit flies lay eggs?

Where Do Fruit Flies Lay Eggs? Fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time — primarily in fermenting fruit or other decaying, sweet, organic material. Signs You Have a Fruit Fly Infestation The clearest way to spot a fruit fly infestation is by seeing these pests flying around your home.

Can you keep fruit flies out of Your House?

“Fruit flies are almost impossible to keep out of homes,” Merchant said. “They can fly in doors when we come and go, hitch rides home on ripe fruit, and are even small enough to enter through window screens. They are very good at smelling out food nearly anywhere in the house.”

How do you find the source of fruit flies?

To begin to inspect where fruit fly infestations come from, look first for fruit fly sources in areas where vegetables or fruits are stored outside refrigeration. Also, look for fruit fly sources in garbage cans, under appliances, and recycling bins.

How do I get rid of a fruit fly infestation in my house?

How do you get rid of fruit flies?Throw out too-ripe or rotting produce. Check all fruits and vegetables for rot, decay, or overripeness. ... Mix apple cider vinegar and dish soap. Fill a bowl with vinegar and add a drop of dish soap, mixing well. ... Try beer or wine. ... Try a chemical fruit-fly spray.

What is the fastest way to get rid of fruit flies?

One of the best ways to do this is with a DIY fruit fly trap that you can make using pantry staples. Pour apple cider vinegar (ACV) into a small bowl, then mix in a few drops of dish soap. Apple cider vinegar works better than white vinegar for fruit flies because it smells like fermenting fruit.

Can't figure out where fruit flies are coming from?

Infestations have to start somewhere. Fruit flies move into kitchens, bathrooms, and basements if they sense a food source. Overripe fruit on the counter or any fermenting matter in drains, mops, and trash bins appeals to them. Unsuspecting homeowners may also bring these pests inside on garden crops.

Why are there so many flies in my house all of a sudden 2022?

Flies tend to reproduce a lot in the summer and your area might just happen to have a lot of a certain species at certain times of the summer. If you've left the lights on in your house during the night, it will draw flies, and with the window open you could discover hundreds of them occupying a room suddenly.

Why are there so many fruit flies in my house all of a sudden?

How did I get fruit flies? Fruit flies often infest homes with ripe, rotting, or decayed fruit and produce. They also enjoy fermented items such as beer, liquor, and wine. Fruit flies also may breed and develop in drains, garbage disposals, trash cans, and mop buckets.

What do fruit flies hate?

Fruit flies dislike strong smells and you can repel them by grinding up, or hanging, fresh herbs in your kitchen. Lavender, basil, mint, and rosemary are said to be effective.

How long until fruit flies go away?

It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to eliminate a fruit fly infestation, which is why experts recommend preventative measures. To keep the pests from reappearing, follow these tips: Keep food storage areas clean and dry. Throw out overripe fruit and produce.

Are fruit flies harmful?

Fruit flies are known for their small size, red eyes and brown bodies. These pests are not harmful on their own, but they can be indicative of unsanitary household conditions.

Can fruit flies live in walls?

Fruit flies don't sneak into your home through gaps and cracks in your exterior walls and foundation the way other insects do. These sneaky little critters hitchhike in on fruit in the form of eggs then hatch when the conditions are right. These tiny flies only live for about 30 days, BUT, they multiply like crazy!

Why do I keep getting fruit flies in my bedroom?

Fruit flies don't discriminate about where they get their nourishment – if they can find something to eat in your bedroom, bathroom or living room, they'll stick around. If an area not normally associated with food storage or food consumption has a fruit fly problem, do a thorough cleaning of the room.

Can fruit flies come from drains?

For fruit flies, your kitchen drains are the perfect place to hide, lay eggs, and multiply. The first thing to do is keep your drains clean and cover them at night to keep them out and prevent breeding and egg laying.

How long does it take to get rid of a fruit fly infestation?

How do you get rid of fruit flies in 5 minutes?

0:181:32Get Rid of Fruit Flies in MINUTES! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake some old fruit or vegetables that are starting to attract the Flies in this case I've put in aMoreTake some old fruit or vegetables that are starting to attract the Flies in this case I've put in a tomato and a little bit of banana. And then we'll take some apple cider vinegar.

How does an exterminator get rid of fruit flies?

Bleach is an effective product to use in drains to help get rid of fruit flies. The bleach will help get rid of the clogged decaying organic material that is attracting the fruit flies.

How do you get rid of fruit flies overnight?

You can pour boiling water into them or tape a clear plastic food storage bag over the top and leave in place overnight. Adult fruit flies will try to leave the drain, and you'll find them in the bag in the morning. Make traps. Place them wherever you have seen fruit flies.

Why are Fruit Flies in My House?

Fruit fly larvae feed on the yeast that grows on fermenting, liquefying items. Contrary to their name, fruit flies will infest any rotting material (not just fruit). They’ll find any source of moisture or decaying material, including sponges, mops, or even puddles of water. This type of material is where adult fruit flies lay eggs.

What is a fruit fly?

Fruit flies (AKA vinegar or wine flies) are flies belonging to the Drosophila genus and the Drosophilidae family. Fruit flies are generally quite small (1/10 to ⅛ inches long) and brown, tan, or yellow, with bright red eyes. Though there are over 1500 species of small fruit flies, the common name “fruit fly” has become largely synonymous ...

How to get rid of fruit flies?

A few great ways to prevent fruit flies (and other pests) is to: 1 Clean out your garbage and rinse the bin and boxes 2 Make sure you don’t leave behind any food residue on dining or food prep surfaces 3 Clean your pantry and cabinets thoroughly 4 Rinse out or throw out your sponges or other dishwashing equipment 5 Keep an eye out for plumbing leaks (and fix them ASAP)

What are fruit flies attracted to?

They’re particularly attracted to garbage, compost, drains, and anywhere else they can find rotting food. If you leave fruit out until it ripens, it’ll attract all kinds of fruit flies. A few other spaces that fruit flies are drawn to include: Garbage Cans.

What do fruit fly larvae look like?

Fruit fly larvae look like maggots: they are cream-colored, 1/10 inch-long, thin, and spindle-shaped. Adult flies lay eggs in any fermenting liquid, especially vegetable or fruit matter. Fruit flies practice inbreeding and reproduce indoors rapidly—which is why fruit fly infestations can get out of hand very quickly.

What is the common name for a fruit fly?

Though there are over 1500 species of small fruit flies, the common name “fruit fly” has become largely synonymous with Drosophila melanogaster (the “common fruit fly”). The “ common fruit fly ” is yellow, brown, or tan with red eyes and translucent, bright wings.

How to keep fruit flies out of house?

The Best Way to Keep Fruit Flies Out of Your Home: Plunkett’s Pest Control. Hopefully, we’ve shown you how to prevent fruit flies! However, if you ever decide you need a little help wiping out some particularly pesky flies (or other pests), give Plunkett’s a call any time.

What to do if you have a fruit fly invasion?

If you suffer from a regular fruit fly invasion, then you should consider keeping fruit in a container, away from windows, doors, and other areas that fruit flies use to get into your house.

What do fruit flies do?

Fruit flies can use small cracks and holes in the structure of your home to gain entry.

How long does it take for fruit flies to get into your house?

How do fruit flies get in your house… you may have bought them in! It takes a further 2-3 days for the larvae to develop into a fruit fly. Suddenly, you will notice a large influx of fruit flies… probably in your kitchen! 5. Vegetables.

How to keep flies away from my house?

Set up some fly traps outside your door, so they are attracted to them instead.

How do fruit flies get into your house?

Let’s take a look at the 7 most common ways that a fruit fly will get into your house. 1. Window. The window has to be at the number 1 spot on this list! It is the most common reason why you get ANY fly into your house, not just fruit flies. To combat this, you could either:

Where do fruit fly larvae lay eggs?

Flies may have laid eggs somewhere on the outside of your house, and the larvae have entered the building through a gap in the brickwork, through a window, or a door. Fruit fly larvae are tiny and white… so you may not have noticed them get into your house until it was too late.

What happens when a door is open?

Very similar to the window, doors are regularly opened to let visitors in or to let yourself in. When your door is open, you are exposing your home to a fruit fly.

What Causes Fruit Flies?

How to kill fruit flies in kitchen?

Fruit flies usually are not enough of a nuisance to warrant spraying insecticide around your kitchen, but this can be a tempting option if they're driving you crazy. As with traps, it works only on the adults. Don't spray your food in an effort to kill young flies because you'll just ruin the food. While commercial sprays such as permethrin are effective on fruit flies, you can also spray them with 91-percent isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), using a fine-mist sprayer. Alcohol is a great sanitizer, 1 and it doesn't harm most surfaces, but it can discolor some materials.

How long do fruit flies lay eggs?

Once they've found a good food source, adult flies lay eggs (up to 500 at a time!) directly onto the source. The next day (in 24 to 30 hours), the eggs become larvae, then pupae, and finally flying adults in the span of about one week. Fruit flies reproduce and feed on many common items in a typical kitchen, including: 1 Ripe, rotten, and decaying fruit and vegetables 2 Spilled juices and other sugary liquids 3 Trash cans 4 Recycling containers 5 Drains 6 Garbage disposers 7 Mop buckets 8 Bread 9 Beer, wine, liquor, and other fermented beverages 10 Fruits and vegetables from a home garden, including tomatoes, grapes, melons, squash, onions, and potatoes, among others

Why do fruit flies eat bread?

Moreover, because fruit flies like the yeast in foods , they are often attracted to breads and other baked goods. Fruit fly populations usually explode in the late summer and fall because that's when many fruits are ripe and are being harvested. The average fruit fly lives around 30 days, and the female fruit flies can lay hundreds of eggs at a time.

What are the flies that live in the house?

The tiny fruit fly is one of the most common flies found in homes. It is often brought indoors on fresh fruits and vegetables, and it sticks around because it can find plenty of food in a house. Fruit flies are 1/10 inch to 1/5 inch long and typically have red eyes, yellow-brown bodies, and black rings around their abdomens. They belong to the Drosophila genus and also go by the common names of vinegar flies, pomace flies, and wine flies. The fruit fly is not capable of causing damage to a home. It is just a great nuisance, especially when there are a lot of them.

How do fruit flies get into your house?

How to get rid of fruit flies?

The first step to getting rid of fruit flies is identifying all potential sources that support them, then doing away with (or putting away) those sources. In addition to fruit and vegetables, these tiny flies like sweet stuff (like spilled juice or jelly), fermented stuff (open beer cans or wine bottles), and rotten stuff (slime inside garbage disposers and drains). For the same reasons, they also like garbage, recycling cans, and compost containers. Most fruits can be stored in the fridge (where flies can't get to them). All other food sources for fruit flies should be cleaned up or taken out.

How to trap fruit flies in pool?

Here’s how: Pour some red wine and dish detergent into a disposable container and stir. Cover the container with plastic wrap. Poke small holes in the plastic wrap. Make sure the holes are big enough for the fruit flies to get in.

How to get rid of fruit flies?

If you still spot fruit flies hanging around, you can set a trap using things that you may already have in your kitchen. This includes any rotten or open food that attracts fruit flies. Follow these steps: 1 Instead of tossing out the rotten or open food, put the food in a disposable container. 2 Cover the container with plastic wrap. 3 Poke a few holes in the wrap, place it where fruit flies congregate, and wait.

What to do if you still spot fruit flies?

If you still spot fruit flies hanging around, you can set a trap using things that you may already have in your kitchen. This includes any rotten or open food that attracts fruit flies. Follow these steps:

What happens if fruit flies return?

If the fruit flies return after your house has been treated, the company may treat your home again for a free or reduced rate.

How long does it take for fruit flys to get out of your house?

Once you have a fruit fly infestation, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get rid of the nuisance. By taking proactive steps in cleaning and trash disposal, you can save yourself the time and hassle.

How to get rid of swarms in trash cans?

If they’re swarming around your trash can or if you’d like to prevent such a situation, take out the trash and wipe down the can using a heavy duty cleaner such as bleach. Make sure the cans are completely dry before using them again.

How to get rid of flies in my house?

The first thing you need do is figure out where the flies are coming from. If they’re hanging out around any open food items, throw the food out and scrub the area clean. You can use any type of cleaner to disinfect the area.

How to get rid of fruit flies in trash?

Open trashcans are worse because they allow fruit flies to escape easily into the kitchen. Use a garbage disposal to discard any food waste and rinse out cartons, bottles and boxes before throwing them into the trash can. Even the dregs of a beer bottle can invite a fruit fly infestation. If you have to throw away food scraps, put them into an old coffee can or jar with a lid and seal the container. This will prevent fruit flies from getting into your garbage and multiplying around your home. Keeping your trash clean could stop the pests in their tracks.

Why do fruit flies come out of the kitchen?

The kitchen is most likely where fruit flies began their infestation because they need a source of water and sugar for breeding. Rotting fruit is a favorite of these pests. Clean up any rotting fruit or food that is left out on your kitchen counters or dining table. Clean off all the surfaces and the drains to get rid of any food particles.

How effective is population reduction for fruit flies?

When you know where the most common sites of infestation are, you can take measures to prevent future fruit flies.

How to keep fruit flies from breeding?

Clean off all the surfaces and the drains to get rid of any food particles. As soon as you note fruit going bad on your kitchen counter, throw it away in a sealed bag. This will keep the fruit flies from breeding around it in the trashcan, which is another potential site of infestation.

Why clean out garbage disposal?

Periodically, clean out the garbage disposal to ensure that no food particles are left behind. The moist environment of the drain coupled with the food bits left in a garbage disposal creates an ideal environment for fruit flies.

What to do when you have fruit flies?

The food, wine, beer or juice left on plates, bowls and glasses are a feast to the fruit flies who are looking for a quick, sweet snack around your home.

Can you put fruit flies in a beer bottle?

Even the dregs of a beer bottle can invite a fruit fly infestation. If you have to throw away food scraps, put them into an old coffee can or jar with a lid and seal the container. This will prevent fruit flies from getting into your garbage and multiplying around your home.

Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?

While it seems like fruit flies come from out of nowhere to infest your home, this is mainly due to how quickly fruit flies breed and develop. Fruit flies often come in through cracks in walls or pre-laid eggs inside of a piece of fruit from the grocery store. Fruit fly eggs are very tiny, and adult fruit flies often lay them inside of fruit or vegetables.

What do fruit flies eat?

Fruit flies are mainly attracted to moist, fermenting fruits and vegetables. However, they are also drawn to things such as drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash bags, cleaning rags and mops. Essentially, they are drawn to food waste and moist environments. Fruit flies only feed on food surfaces, so the chance of ingesting these pests is close to zero.

How to spot fruit fly infestation?

The clearest way to spot a fruit fly infestation is by seeing these pests flying around your home. Look for them in kitchens and other areas where food can be found.

How to get rid of fruit flies?

Though fruit fly populations can be managed with aerosol insecticide sprays, the most effective way to get rid of fruit flies is to make a fly trap. Roll a piece of paper or strip of cardboard into a funnel shape and place it in a jar that holds two to three ounces of apple cider vinegar.

What is the step system?

Our proprietary process, the STEPS® Total Protection System™, looks closely at the total picture, top to bottom, inside and out. We carefully conduct a home pest inspection of your property looking for potential entry points and signs of pest activity that are often difficult to detect. This comprehensive pest and termite inspection is the only way to determine the real root of a pest problem, as well as the best way to solve it.

What Do Houseflies Eat?

Houseflies, like their many cousins, eat filthy things—such as garbage, manure, rotting fruit, and dead animals. You can reduce the number of flies that come into your backyard by making sure all dog messes are cleaned up, and your trashcan has a solid lid on it. Flies can transfer bacteria from feces to food.

How long do houseflies live?

The typical housefly lives between 15 to 25 days. Flies are more active during the day, but they can be a pest at nighttime as well when they’re looking for someplace to sleep.

Why are there flies in my house?

Why are Flies in my House? Flies are just trying to survive and, inside your house, flies will land on your food, soda, dog food and many other things to get a tasty meal. Anything sweet will definitely attract flies.

What plants can help keep houseflies away?

Don’t forget about the Venus flytrap and other predator plants. These predator plants may not completely solve your housefly problem, but they’ll help you keep flies in check.

How many legs does a housefly have?

Has six legs and antennae. Has a small, oval body, and two wings that overlap on their back. Houseflies are found throughout the U.S. The larvae are maggots—those creamy white-gray rice-like critters that you see wiggling around on an old banana peel in the garbage.

Where are the flies coming from?

When you ask, “Where are the flies coming from?” You can look at the temperature and wind current as well. On warm summer days (85°F and higher), flies will catch a cool breeze from your air conditioning unit and come inside. Conversely, on cooler days, houseflies hitch a ride on a warm air current, such as any heat coming from your house.

Why do you clean up cluster flies?

It is best to clean up dead Cluster Flies (or any insects) that you find – even it if is in a remote area like an attic – to prevent other insect populations from exploding.

What attracts fruit flies?

Fruit fly traps. Baited traps are a good way to help catch fruit flies while the breeding sites are being located, Merchant said. Suitable attractants for traps include apple cider vinegar, wine and bananas, he said.

What do fruit flies eat?

Fruit flies just need a little moisture in their food to breed, Merchant said. Larvae feed on decaying plant material, including fruits like strawberries and bananas, and vegetables like onions and potatoes, he said. They also are attracted to wine and beer, vinegar and other sugary beverages.

How long do fruit flies live?

Fruit flies have a life cycle of a week or less, so once the breeding sites are removed, flies will disappear relatively quickly. “They really bother people, but aren’t really hurting anything,” he said. “We get a lot of calls about them year-round.

How to get rid of fruit flies?

Removing the breeding site is the best way to get rid of fruit flies, Merchant said.

Where to check for no obvious breeding spot?

The top spots Merchant recommends checking if no “obvious” breeding spot is located are pantries and the trash can . “It’s good to check the pantry for those forgotten bags of potatoes,” he said. “Another top spot a lot of people don’t think about is the bottom of the trash can.

Is a fruit fly a pest?

The fruit fly is a pest that can find its way into homes relatively easy. But they’re also relatively easy to control once you’ve found the food source and breeding site. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Mike Merchant) Fruit flies can be a pesky pest, especially indoors.

Can fruit flies be indoors?

Fruit flies can be a pesky pest, especially indoors. While they can be annoying, Mike Merchant, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service urban entomologist, Dallas, said infestations of fruit flies and other flying pests are relatively easy to control.

What are fruit flies and where do fruit flies come from?

Although fruit flies can come in from through your open windows, they’re typically brought in from the grocery store on fruit and vegetables. They lay their eggs in rotting produce and sugary surfaces, and they enter into fruit in the grocery store through any knicks or cuts on the fruit’s surface.

How to get flies to get into a jar?

Place some bait inside a glass jar —overripe produce, ketchup or a fermented liquid like apple cider vinegar, beer or wine will all work. Then place a funnel over the opening of the jar with the spout pointing down to create a tiny entrance that is easy for the flies to get into but almost impossible for them to exit.

How to catch fruit fly?

Bowl and Soap Trap 1 For extra-tough cases, this is the way to go. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. 2 Microwave the bowl so the mixture becomes even more aromatic. 3 Leave the bowl out uncovered as fruit fly bait. The soap will reduce the surface tension, causing any fruit fly that lands on the surface to drown.

Why do fruit flies turn up the air conditioning?

Finally, because fruit flies thrive in warm environments (they’ll usually infest during warmer months of the year), turn up your air conditioning to create unfavorable living conditions.

How to make fruit fly bait?

For extra-tough cases, this is the way to go. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Microwave the bowl so the mixture becomes even more aromatic. Leave the bowl out uncovered as fruit fly bait.

How to get rid of fruit flies?

The first step of getting rid of fruit flies is banishing anything that they could lay their eggs on. Toss any ripe of fruit vegetables that are sitting out in your kitchen (after hatching, fruit fly larvae will tunnel their way into the food and begin feeding). Store new produce in the refrigerator until you’ve eliminated the infestation. Take out the garbage and clean all containers and surfaces — including the bottom of your trash can — of spills and food residue that could be nourishing these pests. Don't forget the drain: it's a moist environment that may contain fermenting waste. Finally, because fruit flies thrive in warm environments (they’ll usually infest during warmer months of the year), turn up your air conditioning to create unfavorable living conditions.

How many eggs can a female squid lay?

They don't bite, but they can carry bacteria from one source to another and they reproduce rapidly. One female can lay up to 50 egg s per day , each of which will grow from larvae to adult within a week. Eliminate them once and for all with these tips.