Quick Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Fruit flies can be rather annoying, especially since you usually find them hanging out around your kitchen. They are not only annoying but can be unsanitary. Fortunately, there are easy ways you can do to get rid of these tiny winged invaders.
What Are They and What Do They Look?
Fruit flies are part of a family of small flies that has approximately 3,000 species. Although they’re not harmful and don’t spread diseases and bacteria, their presence is disturbing. Any small sweet stains or spilled juice can be a breeding area for fruit flies as they can lay up to 500 eggs at a time. They can breed quickly if they find the right environment and their entire lifespan is only two weeks.
Fruit flies have a set of horns and they are small in size but can be a big problem when there is an infestation of them. Some of them are 3 mm while others are slightly larger. They have black and gray abdomens and are brown and (yellowish) beige in color. The color depends on the type of species of fruit flies that you are dealing with; Mediterranean, Western Cherry, Caribbean, Olive or Mexican fruit fly.
Prevention Tips and Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
If you want to make sure you’ll be able to keep flies away from your home is to take preventative measures. Follow these steps:
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Keep Your Windows and Doors Closed
Keeping your windows and doors closed during the spring and autumn when they appear to be the most active. It is also helpful to place screens over your windows, vents, and doors.
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Clean Your Home
If you have trashcans sitting around your home, clean them regularly and closed at all times. After cooking or if anything is spilled on your countertops, thoroughly wipe down the countertop to prevent flies.
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Fruit Fly Traps
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Pour a little apple cider vinegar into a glass. Cover the opening in plastic wrap and seal it with a rubber band. Poke a hole on the plastic to allow them enter into the glass. Fruit flies hate the scent of vinegar and they can’t come out of the glass once inside.
2. Vinegar and Dish Soap
If the plastic wrap makes them unmoved, try a different method: add two to three drops of dish soap to a bowl of vinegar and just leave it uncovered. The scent of the dish soap will attract fruit flies and make them drown.
Have a Fruit Fly Problem? Call Us Today!
If you have a massive fruit fly problem, Nassau County Pest Control can help you get rid of any fruit fly infestation you might be experiencing. We have proven methods of destroying the problem before it begins to get larger. If you have a problem with fruit flies, it is best to give our exterminators a call quickly to treat the problem for you.
You can determine if there is a serious problem with fruit flies when you see them swarming around your trash cans. They are drawn to decaying fruit, as well as, vegetables. If you have empty bottles of liquor or beer, you should rinse them before disposing of them since fruit flies are also attracted to them. Actually, drinking fermented beverages will give them energy to live longer, a day or two.
Therefore. it serves you well to contact us right away to find out the source of your problem. When we find the source, we’ll eliminate it so that the problem is brought under control as quickly as possible.***