Fruit Fly Information and Control

The fruit fly, A.K.A. Vinegar or Pomace Flies, is often brought into a home or business via fresh fruit and vegetables, or merely fly in through a screen or any tiny opening. Once the fruit fly is established they are annoying, as well as a vector for disease in some cases, and a pain to get rid of.

The picture on the left is of a fruit fly. They are tiny flies that are attracted to and breed from rotting fruit. Their eggs are often laid in fruit and as it deteriorates the flies emerge, usually in your kitchen, restaurant, or bar.

BIOLOGY- The adult fly is about an eighth of an inch long including wings with red eyes and tan colored abdomen and thorax. They are attracted mostly to fresh and fermenting fruits and vegetables.

These flies are attracted to light and become sexually active two days after they emerge from the pupae stage. They mate more than once and deposit an egg mass of about 500 eggs on or near a food source.Fruit flies undergo complete metamorphosis. The eggs emerge in approximately 30 hours. The larvae feed on organic material for several days then pupate. The entire life cycle can be complete in eight days, so once established it is not hard to figure out how rapidly they multiply.

CONTROL- Elimination of breeding sites is essential for control of these pests. Traps are invaluable for trapping the adults but if one female lays eggs prior to capture you will have five hundred more to deal with. The obvious breeding sites are rotting produce.

Remove any of the above, and make sure lids are on any canned fruit or vegetables. Remove trash regularly as they can easily breed in any decaying food substance. Infrequently used drains and garbage disposals are perhaps the most common breeding site other than produce.

It does not take much food and moisture to create an ideal breeding site. The use of Drain Gel or a similar product will destroy the grease and food build up and eliminate odors. (See products.) Other breeding sites include foul mops that are not cleaned and dried, mop water seeping into floor cracks, refrigerator trays that hold water and food particles, and any leaking pipe or standing water.

Once the pests have entered the area several remedies are available. Banana Glue Boards will attract the flies with their smell and capture them. Aerosols such as Gentrol interrupt their life cycle by killing them in the pupal stage, thus eliminating future insects. This product is safe and recommended for residences and hospitals. Invite is a liquid bait designed to attract a maximum number of insects and can be conveniently use with a plastic cup trap. For additional details see Fruit Fly Control

For more information call 1-800-775-2847 913-599-5990 or e-mail us at info@scapest.com.