How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies Domain_10

It happens every year: Summer dies down and fruit flies come out in droves. While they're tiny, those little buggers have an annoying habit of hovering around your produce. Before long, they're everywhere.

While you've probably dealt with fruit flies on some level your whole life, there's likely a lot you don't get about them, like why one fruit fly turns into a dozen. Here, a little fruit fly 101—and how to get rid of them in your home for good.

Fruit flies vs. gnats: What's the difference?

Fruit flies look like gnats, but they're actually different. "Gnats are about half the size of fruit flies, frequently move in swarms, and may bite," says Daniel Baldwin, director of technical, training and regulatory services for Terminix. They are also generally found outside near compost piles or garden areas.

Fruit flies, on the other hand, don't swarm or bite and they tend to hang out around stuff that's fermenting, like spoiling fruit.

"Fruit flies are often lumped into the 'gnat' category, but they are not truly gnats, although gnats and fruit flies can share some behaviors," says Nancy Troyano, PhD, a board-certified entomologist with Ehrlich Pest Control, like invading very suddenly. But let's be real: Both are a nuisance.

Why are there are always so many fruit flies?

These tiny pests breed quickly, which is why you might notice one on any given day, and then a bunch more not long after. Fruit flies can be an issue all year, but they're more common at the end of the summer and during the fall when fruits and vegetables are especially ripe or fermented, Baldwin says.

"When fruit and vegetables that we eat are ready to come off the vine or tree, fruit flies will abound in nature," Troyano says, adding that they "can easily come into your home from nearby areas. You may also inadvertently bring them home from the grocery store or that farmers' market."

Fruit flies also tend to proliferate when you're not super careful about deeper cleaning in your kitchen—say, your garbage disposal and trash areas—which creates more breeding and feeding sites for the flies, Baldwin says.

How to get rid of fruit flies the right way

It can feel like they'll never go away if you're dealing with a fruit fly infestation, but there are a few things you can do to kill them and prevent them from taking over your home:

1. Cover up your fruit (or wash it as soon as you bring it home).

Fruit flies need moisture (like decaying fruit) to feed off of and lay their eggs on, Baldwin says. So, store your fruit in bags or cover them with bowls instead of leaving them out on your counter to keep fruit flies at bay. Washing and drying any fruit that you leave out, like bananas and apples, can also help remove any fruit fly-attracting liquids or substances.

2. Empty your trash regularly.

Troyano recommends doing it daily or every other day until you have control over the problem.

3. Use liners and trash bags.

"The smallest piece of fruit or vegetable or a leaking container in the bottom of a trash can be a source for fruit flies," Troyano says. "This applies to both the kitchen trash and bathroom wastebaskets." Always use a liner or bag so everything stays contained.

4. ...and don't forget your recycling bin!

"This is a big hot spot where we often find a great source for fruit fly problems," Troyano says. Use a liner here as well, and make sure to wipe it out after emptying, too.

5. Make a DIY fruit fly trap.

As a whole, finding and eliminating their food source and breeding area is "the most effective option," Baldwin says. But you can also try making your own DIY fruit fly trap. While these tactics don't always solve the problem, they can be worth trying to see if they help the issue. The following liquids can help attract, capture, and kill adult fruit flies:

Apple cider vinegar
Old beer or wine
Fruit juices

Pour a little bit of your preferred substance into a glass and leave it uncovered. The flies will be drawn to the sweetness, eventually hit the liquid to feed, and drown. In the case of using old wine or beer, simply leave the bottle out—the narrow neck will help keep them trapped.

If you prefer to use a bowl, pour in the liquid and cover it with plastic wrap (securing with a rubber band) with tiny holes poked throughout. This allows fruit flies to come into the trap, but makes it difficult for them to escape.

6. Clean your kitchen sink.

Disposer Care Foaming Cleaner

Sometimes a garbage disposal or drain can be to blame for a fruit fly problem, which is why Troyano recommends using a garbage disposal cleaner or safe drain cleaner to clear the issue.

7. Call an exterminator.

"As long as the proper conditions are available, fruit fly problems will persist and often get worse," Baldwin says. "Females can lay hundreds of eggs, and a single piece of fruit can support the development of thousands of flies." When it seems like you're dealing with fruit flies that are multiplying at an "uncontrollable rate," it's time to call in help from the experts, Baldwin says.

How to prevent fruit flies from breeding

Again, removing breeding sites is the best way to get rid of fruit flies, Baldwin says. This likely means fruit and other produce you have lying out, or it could be your garbage can. That's why Baldwin recommends removing damp things from your kitchen, keeping things clean, and storing your produce in sealed containers. Overall, you simply want to find fruit flies where they're breeding and knock out the source.

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Korin Miller Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men's Health, Women's Health, Self, Glamour, and more.

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