fruit-flyFruit fly

How to get rid of Fruit Flies

Published on: January 11, 2022 Modified on: 22 June 2025

get-rid-of-fruit-flies

Why do fruit flies appear inside the house?

Fruit flies appear in homes because they are in search of food and a suitable breeding environment. They are particularly attracted to overripe or decaying fruit (such as apples, pears, bananas, tomatoes, onions), but also to sweet liquids (soft drinks) and fermented liquids (vinegar, beer, wine, borscht). Additionally, fruit flies can breed and thrive in damp places such as drains, garbage cans, wet mops or other dirty surfaces.

Their life cycle is extremely quick, taking less than a week to develop from egg to adult. For this reason, infestations can spread very quickly and control should begin as soon as the first signs appear. Before applying any treatment, it is essential to eliminate the source of the infestation – i.e. to remove spoiled food and sanitize the affected premises.

To get rid of fruit flies, specific insecticides can be used, either by spraying or as ready-to-use solutions. In addition to chemical treatments, adhesive attractant traps placed near problem areas help capture adult insects. Mechanical traps with a liquid attractant are also effective in reducing fly populations.

Traps with attractants for fruit flies

To control fruit flies, attractant traps can also be used to lure the insects in the vicinity of the trap and capture/monitor them. These can be used to control the activity of fruit flies in areas such as kitchens, dustbins, near windows, etc.

It is recommended to remove all food sources that may attract fruit flies (ripe fruit, sweet foods, spilled liquids) from the area where the traps will be placed. These traps should be positioned as close as possible to the areas where fruit flies are active (fruit storage areas, kitchen countertops, near garbage containers, etc.).

Ready-to-use insecticide treatments

Ready-to-use insecticides are applied to dry surfaces. Because they act by contact or ingestion, the pests must come into direct contact with the treated space. It is advised to carefully read and follow the recommendations on the label of the product used.

Treatments with insecticide concentrates for fruit flies – applied by spraying/fogging

In the case of an infestation of a very large area, after identifying the source and taking the appropriate measures, treatments with insecticides can be carried out by spraying. The solution will be applied to all the areas where the activity of fruit flies is observed. The treatments can be applied with any type of sprayer (manual or motorized) or by fogging. The insecticides must not be applied to food, surfaces or utensils that may come into contact with food.

The treatments can be applied with manual or motorized sprayers, depending on the size of the space.

In the case of very large areas (warehouses, storage rooms), the solution can also be applied with the fogging machine (cold mist). This will ensure a more uniform coverage of the treated area. Following this treatment, both a shock and a residual effect can be obtained.

! The use of specific protective equipment is recommended for the application of all insecticide treatments.

Recommended safety equipment:

Safety equipment protects the person using dangerous substances while performing the treatments. It includes protective gloves, coveralls, masks, etc. The equipment is chosen depending on the type of treatment, as well as the substances used or the pest to be controlled.

  • Anti-chemical hooded coverall
  • Protective gloves
  • Gas masks, goggles

Information about fruit flies

The fruit fly – Drosophila melanogaster, is a small insect that belongs to the order Diptera of the family Drosophilidae. They generally appear at the end of the warm season and can easily enter homes in search of food and shelter. They are attracted by ripe, fermenting or rotting vegetables/fruit (for example apples, pears, bananas, tomatoes, onions, etc.). Fruit flies, also known as vinegar flies can multiply and develop in drains, bins, trash cans, mops.

Vinegar flies are annoying and harmful insects for humans, as they can transfer bacteria or other pathogens to food or to surfaces with which food comes in contact.

Fruit flies – Signs of an infestation

The presence of fruit flies can be detected by spotting adult insects around garbage cans, ripe/rotting fruits and vegetables or open containers of alcoholic beverages (beer, liquor, wine, etc). Fruit flies can also be observed as larvae or pupae near food sources. The pupae are often misidentified as the droppings of cockroaches or rodents, but can be recognized by their pair of antennae.

Fruit flies are small insects that breed very quickly. Against them, it is recommended to use traps and sprays from the first signs of infestation. At the same time, to prevent their appearance, it is recommended to remove spoiled food and to constantly throw garbage away so as not to create optimal conditions for their development and to keep the environment as clean as possible.

New discussion

get-rid-of-fruit-flies
About Fruit fly
planta planta
Ask me anything, from simple watering and fertilization tips to pest control solutions. 🌱🐞
planta planta

Read and take part in discussions about Fruit fly

4 Active discussions
Write a new post:
Your information:

Your name must contain a maximum of 30 characters. If you would like to pass on the details of the problem you are facing, please complete the other fields.

The maximum document size is 59 MB.

Add
It helps if you attach some Images or Clips maximumm 15 sec