Ah… the beloved fruit fly returns for another season of high class pestering.
“I opened up my garbage bin and they came swarming out of the thing.“
Yeah, it’s that time of year when they’re plaguing everyone. There’s a few lingering around my kitchen right now as I write this post. They’re one of those pests that you really need to stay on top of this time of year. Most people are in fact seeing fruit flies. However, the majority of the year, the drain flies are often mistaken for fruit flies. We’ll get to that shortly!
TL;DR
To get rid of fruit flies, ideally you want to eliminate fresh produce from your kitchen counters. Cover your fruit bowls or place in the fridge, try your compost bin in the freezer in you have room. Then place some vinegar traps near infested areas, and then give your kitchen surface a vigorous clean. You can try DIY homemade traps like we talk about in this post, or buy traps from your local hardware store.
Identifying fruit flies
I think by now we all know what they look like. They are not hard to identify.
Official gangster name, Drosophila melanogaster.
Street name, the common fruit fly.
Fruit flies are about 2.5 to 4 mm in length, tan to light brown in colour with bright red eyes. They have three-segmented antennae with a feathery bristle on the last segment. Their bodies are yellow-brown with transverse black rings across the abdomen, and males typically have a distinct black patch on the abdomen.
Fruit flies feed on decaying fruit, gravitating towards healthy compost bins and ageing fruit bowls.
Are you sure you don’t have Drain flies?
People often mistake drain flies for fruit flies. They are both really small and have a similar nuisance level.
Drain flies (Psychodidae) are slightly smaller, about 1.5 to 5 mm in length and are generally grey or black in colour. They have a fuzzy appearance with moth-like wings covered with hair, giving them a furry look. The wings are typically held roof-like over the body when at rest.
Does it matter which ones you have? Not really. You still want to get rid of them.
Scroll down or use this link to jump to the comparison chart at the bottom of this post.
Homemade Fruit Fly Traps
This is probably what you are here for. Some actionable tips. Fruit fly traps are a simple and effective way to catch them.
Have a watch of owner Mike Londry on Breakfast TV showing Earl how to create a fruit fly trap.
Vinegar Fruit Fly Trap
You don’t need anything fancy here, you can make them yourself easy.
Cut some holes in the top of a yogurt container or something similar, and all you need to do is put a little vinegar in there. The flies get attracted through those holes, get stuck, and drown in the vinegar. These traps are absolutely amazing. Keep one next to your fruit and one underneath the sink next to your compost. Your fruit flies will be virtually gone.
Variation 1: You also add a drop or two of dish soap. The soap breaks the surface tension of the liquid, causing the fruit flies to drop into the liquid and drown.
Variation 2: Use a jar with plastic wrap over it. Fill a jar with apple cider vinegar, adding a drop of dish soap, and covering the jar with plastic wrap. Punch a few holes in the plastic wrap with a toothpick. The fruit flies will be attracted to the vinegar and get stuck in the dish soap. Voila!
Simple plastic wrap trap
One simple method is to place a piece of ripe fruit in a jar and cover it with plastic wrap. Some call it the “banana peel trap”. Poke a few small holes in the wrap, and wait for the fruit flies to be drawn into the jar. Once they are inside, they will be unable to escape. Then discard the jar and flies later on.
Commercial Fruit fly traps
If the DIY trap has failed your, go buy commercial traps. Purchase traps like TERRO Fruit Fly Trap or Flypunch that use attractants to lure and trap the flies. You can grab the TERRO product here from Canadian Tire. Or try the Garsum Fruit Fly Sticky Trap, it has some decent reviews.
Tips to get rid of Fruit Flies
Here are some tips to both get rid fruit flies and prevent them from coming back.
Technician Tip:
I asked Chief Fruit Fly Officer, Adam to share his favourite tips for getting rid of these buggers.
“By far the easiest and most effective thing to do is remove produce from your counters. Remove the source and they’ll be gone in a couple of weeks”
#1 Put compost bins in freezer
As silly as it sounds, putting your compost bin in the freezer during the summer months is a really great idea.
I know that our city is great in promoting composting and I think that’s fantastic, but if you’ve got a little compost bin, the place that you want to keep it, at least from May through September is your freezer not under the sink. So all food waste, everything should be going into a compost bin that sits in your freezer at least until the early fall. Without that decaying organic matter, they’ll have nowhere to hang out and will move onto somewhere else.
#2 Cover your fruit bowls or place fruit in the fridge
Cover with a tea towel, or fruit bowl mesh cover. Otherwise stick your fruit in the fridge for a couple of weeks until they’re gone. We’re removing possible breading sites preventing them from laying eggs.
#3 Empty those garbage bins more regularly
Don’t let anything build up for too long. Make an effort to clear out your garbage and compost more regularly during the summer months.
#4 Tackle your drains too
You might as well treat like you have drain flies too. In this case, it’s stagnant water buildup in the pipes underneath the sink.
First, try the clean drains by using baking soda and vinegar to eliminate any organic material buildup.
Next, try tackling the drains directly. It’s a horrible job, but if you’re a little handy, you can shut the water off and clean it out yourself. You can also jump on YouTube to see how to unscrew a drain under the sink. Clean out the nasty mess in there where they’re harbouring and breeding. If your drains are clean, your drain flies will be non-existent.
#5 Be vigilant about cleaning
Simply forgetting to wipe a spill off your counter in the summer can lead to increased activity. As with all pests, keeping your kitchen clean and tidy is a fruitful activity!
#5 try a spray
Fruit Fly Spray. There are several fruit fly sprays available on the market that can be used to eliminate fruit flies. These sprays use natural ingredients that are safe to use in your home. Simply spray the product in the areas where fruit flies are present.
Other common questions about fruit flies:
Where do fruit flies come from?
Fruit flies typically originate from outdoor environments and are drawn indoors by ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables. They can enter homes through open windows, doors, or even small gaps and crevices around these openings. Additionally, they often hitch a ride on produce brought in from outside, such as fruits and vegetables from grocery stores or gardens.
Why do more of them keep appearing?
All flies need decaying organic matter, usually fruit or compost.
Once inside, fruit flies lay their eggs on decaying organic matter. This includes overripe fruit, food scraps, and fermenting residues in drains, garbage disposals, and trash bins. They are particularly attracted to the smell of fermenting fruit and can detect it from a distance. Fruit flies can complete their life cycle from egg to adult in about a week, which allows them to multiply rapidly if conditions are favourable.
Are they harmful?
As annoying as they are though, these bugs aren’t usually harmful, and the most irritating thing is their ability to rapidly reproduce and infest your house!
Comparison chart: fruit flies versus drain flies
[see related: fruit flies vs drain flies – have we been deceived]
What do they look like?
This is our best shot at an AI generated image – our marketing team is getting real creative these days!!
And then some real life images to compare.
What are users on reddit saying about fruit flies?
We’ve explored various Reddit discussions on fruit flies to gather insights into effective strategies for dealing with these persistent pests. Here’s a summary of the community’s experiences and recommendations:
Homemade Traps: Simple Yet Effective
A widely endorsed method involves creating traps using apple cider vinegar (ACV) combined with a few drops of dish soap. The vinegar attracts the flies, while the soap breaks the surface tension, causing them to sink and drown. Some users enhance the trap’s effectiveness by covering the container with plastic wrap and poking small holes to prevent escape.
“Take a small bowl and put some apple cider vinegar in it with some sugar and a drop of dish soap. Cover it with plastic wrap and poke small holes in it.”
— r/CleaningTipsReddit+6Reddit+6Reddit+6
Targeting Breeding Grounds: Drains and Garbage Disposals
Many Redditors emphasize the importance of addressing potential breeding sites. Drains and garbage disposals are common culprits. A combination of baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water is frequently recommended to clean these areas and eliminate eggs and larvae.
“Try pouring baking soda and vinegar down your kitchen sink drain. We had a fruit fly infestation at my office several years ago. We couldn’t figure out where they were coming from. Turned out they were in the sink drain.”
— r/CleaningTips
Alternative Attractants: Exploring Different Baits
While ACV is popular, some users have experimented with other attractants like red wine, beer, or ripe fruit. These alternatives can be equally effective in luring fruit flies into traps.
“Only thing that’s ever worked for me is red wine. In a glass, or a bottle if they get in there once opened. They will gladly go in there, get drunk and die.”
— r/homeownersReddit
Vacuuming: A Hands-On Approach
For immediate relief, some Redditors suggest using a vacuum cleaner to capture adult fruit flies. This method, combined with traps and cleanliness, can significantly reduce their numbers.
“My secret to having fruit flies is to vacuum them up. If you do it every day for a few days they will be gone.”
— r/waterlooReddit
The Verdict on Fruit flies?
We don’t love and we expect you don’t either.
Yes, they are annoying. Vigilance, cleaniness and discipline. Follow the procedures and be patient and your kitchen will be free of fruit flies in no time.
Need help getting rid of them?
Westside Pest Control can treat homes and businesses for fruit flies. Our team can help eliminate a bad infestation and help you with preventative measures so they don’t come back. Call, chat, or message us for information on Fruit Fly Control services.