#HOW TO GET RID OF FRUIT FLIES HOW TO#

Bring a glass of wine to your bedroom? ThereвЂ™s a chance a fruit fly will follow. In homes, the kitchen draws the most fruit flies, but these tiny pests also go wherever they sense fermenting grub. They inhabit homes and grocery stores, vineyards, and gardens. They show up in hordes in summer and early fall, when seasonal produce begins to rot. They thrive on six of the seven continents (count your blessings, Antarctica). In all, these two families have about 9,000 different species, some feasting on many fruits, but most specializing on just one. There are two main families of fruit flies - tephrititdae (large fruit flies) and drosophilidae (common fruit flies). And the only invitation they need? A whiff of ripening fruit or veggies, or open containers of juice, wine, or beer. Seemingly appearing out of nowhere, fruit flies are not easily hindered from entering your home - even many screens canвЂ™t keep them out. So, if you see a crowd of minuscule, winged critters flitting about your kitchen, itвЂ™s probably safe to say you have fruit flies on your hands. Tan-colored with red eyes, fruit flies only reach 3 to 4 millimeters in length and tend to congregate around ripe and rotting fruit, as their name suggests. These pests are often confused with gnats and drain flies, and fending off an infestation targeting the wrong bug wonвЂ™t do you as much good. But how do you really get rid of fruit flies? It takes a mix of old-fashioned cleaning, things found in your kitchen, flytraps, and sprays.Д«efore you start eliminating these tiny, flying insects from your home, though, make sure what youвЂ™re seeing is truly a fruit fly. This works like the cider vinegar trap.If only saying, вЂњShoo, fly, shoo!вЂќ was enough to banish these annoying little pests, things would be a lot simpler. Bottle TrapД¬over a nearly empty bottle of beer or wine with plastic wrap and poke a few tiny holes in the top. The cider will lure the flies into the bowl and the soap will break the surface tension, causing the fruit flies to drown. Soap TrapД¬ombine apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a wide, shallow bowl and place it on the counter uncovered.

The funnel shape makes it difficult for the flies to escape. Roll a piece of paper into a cone shape and stick it into the jar. Place a little vinegar, wine, or a small piece of overripe fruit in a mason jar (anything sweet and fermented will work). If you donвЂ™t have cider vinegar, try using balsamic or red wine vinegar instead. Don't use white vinegar-the scent of apple cider vinegar is what attracts the flies. Cover with plastic wrap and poke a few tiny holes over the top. Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a Mason jar or glass. Tashka2000 Getty Images Cider Vinegar Trap

#HOW TO GET RID OF FRUIT FLIES HOW TO#

Find out what causes these critters and how to get rid of fruit flies for good right here. Plus, there are natural remedies, simple traps and store-bought sprays and treatments that can help. They donвЂ™t bite and their lifespan is relatively short, but once once they make their way into your home, they can lay up to 500 eggs at a time! Don't panic-first remember that they're pesky, but they're not the worst (we'll take fruit flies over cockroaches or spiders any day!). You just need to know how to get rid of fruit flies fast, and how to prevent them in the first place.ДЇor starters, how do you know if what's swarming your kitchen is a bunch of fruit flies or some other type of flying insect? Unlike gnats or drain flies, fruit flies are light yellow in color and they're often found near overripe fruit or sticky fermented liquids, like juice or wine. Don't worry-you don't have to swear off fruit for good.

These gnat-like flies are so teeny that it's hard to keep them out of your house: They can get through window screens, sneak in from the grocery store or come home with you from the farmerвЂ™s market. Fruit flies are just plain annoying-there's no other way to put it.

How to get rid of fruit flies