One of the most annoying things in the world is when you go to reach for a banana and discover that it’s covered in fruit flies. It can ruin your morning breakfast, which is why it’s important to know what causes these pests so that you can avoid them.
What are fruit flies?
Fruit flies are a species of fly that is very common all around the world. The adult fruit flies will typically only live for a few days, but the larvae can last for months without any food. They feed on rotting matter or anything that has been left out in the open for too long.
How do they get into your home?
A fruit fly can enter the home through open windows and doors, and can also be transported via fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, fermenting fruits, and flowers. They may also breed in compost piles with decaying fruit. The good news is that they do not carry any diseases or parasites and will usually die off once colder temperatures set in. 
Ways to prevent fruit fly infestations
One of the best ways to prevent fruit fly infestations is by keeping the area around your house very tidy reducing fruit fly breeding areas. In addition, you should be careful with food preparation and storage, including covering dishes when they are not in use. Also, as fruit flies are more common during the summer months, it is a good idea to ensure that all of your windows and doors have screens on them. This will prevent the fruit flies from crawling inside, as this is where they lay their eggs.
Will fruit flies go away on their own?
Fruit flies (also known as Drosophila) are a pesky problem for many people. These insects invade our homes and contaminate our food, leaving us feeling powerless to get rid of them. So the big question is: Are fruit flies dangerous? The short answer: No. Fruit flies will not harm you and they may very well go away on their own, but before you can tell if you have a fruit fly infestation or a common “hitchhiker”, we must determine what type of fruit fly is in your home.
How do I get rid of fruit flies?
To get rid of or kill fruit flies, you should thoroughly clean the area where they are being seen. This might be your kitchen sink, refrigerator, dishwasher, backyard compost pile, pet food dishes, sinks in the bathroom or kitchen, garbage cans, or any other damp places that fruit flies can live. You then need to dispose of the rotting matter that may have attracted them into your home. This might be a compost pit outside. You can also use fruit fly traps (food is not required for the fruit fly traps) to catch males, which won’t breed.
Do fruit flies bite?
Even though it is so annoying to have them around, fruit flies do not typically bite or carry diseases. They may often try and land on your face or food that you are eating but they will typically not cause any problems for people who do not have an allergy to them. In most cases, a fruit fly infestation will be temporary and short-lived.
Fruit fly larvae
One of the unique things about fruit flies is that they have a unique life cycle. The female fruit fly will lay her eggs on decaying material, and once fruit fly eggs hatch, the fruit fly larvae will feed on the rotting material for a few days before changing into a pupa. Once inside the pupal stage, it will transform into a fruit fly. This entire life cycle can be repeated within a few days and is why fruit flies are so common in the summer months when there’s more decaying material available.
Fruit Fly Control
When possible, try to prevent having fruit flies in the house. Keep your kitchen and home cleaner, especially around food preparation areas. Keep your garbage can covered tightly with a lid to prevent smells that will attract them. Don’t leave out open containers of water or juice until they are empty or recycle them immediately after drinking from them. Fruit fly control can also be accomplished with a fruit fly trap are also useful in catching these pests before they have the chance to reproduce.
But if the fruit flies do get established then you may want to try using insecticidal soap to kill the adult fruit flies. Neem oil is a non-toxic, organic option for getting rid of fruit flies. You can also try making your own all-natural insecticide by mixing one part water with two parts rubbing alcohol and five drops of dish soap. Then you just have to spray this mixture on the insects as they appear or as soon as possible after you discover them.
Drain Flies versus Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are actually the larvae of the vinegar fly, which is in turn a type of dipterous (two-winged) fly. The larvae feed on rotting fruit in grocery stores and in homes. The adult fruit fly is a very small fly that does not bite or sting and is harmless to humans. These flies lay their eggs in ripened or rotting fruit, such as bananas and tomatoes.
Drain flies are also two-winged flies, but they live in different environments. These include sinks, drains, garbage disposals, sewers, and other standing water sources that may be found outside or inside of homes or businesses.
Drain Flies live in drains and ferment liquids such as sewage and manure. They do not occur naturally outdoors but may be found around buildings or in wells. They are not attracted to fruit like other types of flies but feed on the microorganisms found in decaying organic matter. They can be very numerous in sewage treatment plants and septic tanks where decomposition occurs very rapidly.
Fruit Fly FAQ
1) What do fruit flies look like?
A fruit fly is a type of fly. They have a delicate body and resemble a housefly, but they’re no bigger than an ant. They’re usually beige in color with brown stripes on their abdomen.
2)What should I do if I find a fruit fly in my home?
If you find a single fruit fly in your home, that’s not very common or anything to worry about. However, if you notice more than 2-3 fruit flies, it would be a good idea to take immediate action. Fruit flies can reproduce quickly and start infesting your entire home before the day is done. Cleaning up any rotting food should go a long way towards getting rid of them. You might also want to try a DIY fruit fly traps, which will kill the adult fruit flies without attracting more.
3)Are fruit flies dangerous?
As houseflies are, fruit flies are basically harmless. They don’t carry diseases or pose any significant threat to humans unless they’re in huge numbers, at which point they can start to breed and make a mess of your home.
4) Can fruit flies bite?
Fruit flies don’t have strong jaws, so they don’t bite. They may occasionally fly up and try to land on your face or food that you’re eating, but they won’t actually sting or bite. The exception is when there are large numbers of fruit flies swarming around.
5)How do fruit flies reproduce?
Fruit flies lay eggs on or near decaying food sources. Once the larvae hatch, they feed for about a week, then form pupae in which they’ll transform into adults before emerging from the pupal case in 3-10 days to start the cycle over again.