There’s an old saying: time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.
If you’ve ever had a problem with fruit flies you know how annoying they can be. It’s not as serious an infestation as something like bedbugs unless things really get out of hand, but it can be bad for your health nonetheless.
How could something so tiny be bad for you? It’s true that the common fruit fly, or drosophila melanogaster doesn’t bite the way that ants or wasps do. But they can still be bad news.
That’s because they spent most of their time on your rotten bananas – or other fermenting food. And they’ve also been known to fly over and visit your dirty dishes. So, imagine the bacteria this little fly can carry with it. You don’t want your toothbrush or clean mug being contaminated with bacteria from rotting food or unwashed dishes.
This can be a serious problem. Every year, almost 50 million people get sick from food borne illnesses in the United States, and fruit flies can be a big source of things like E. coli. This dangerous health hazard can be especially harmful to those who are young, elderly, or unwell.
All this means that fruit flies shouldn’t be considered a minor issue – it’s a problem that has to be dealt sooner, not later. But before you call for pest removal in your Toronto home, here are some steps you can try on your own first.
Step 1: Prevention
The best defense is a good offense, they say. But in this case, let’s start with playing defense. Remember what fruit flies are attracted to. The most basic option, the one everybody thinks of, are those browning, aging bananas.
But in reality, fruit flies are attracted to anything with sugar. That’s because when sugar ages it ferments, which means that it starts to turn into alcohol. And there’s nothing a fruit fly likes more than a nice boozy treat. In fact, if you’ve ever left a wine glass out you’ll notice that fruit flies are especially attracted to it. Cheers!
So, make sure you’re dealing with these things. Don’t leave old fruit out, rinse out your beer and wine bottles, and do dishes promptly (your wife will love this). The flies might also be hanging around your garbage and recycling or around the sink drain and garbage disposal, so ensure that those are clean and sanitary at all times.
Put your fruits in the fridge if you can. There’s nothing like a really cold, crisp apple, after all. Throw out the garbage regularly or store it in a container with a good lid. And don’t forget to clean the sink and drain when you wash up the kitchen at the end of the night.
Try not to let your fruit get to this step in the first place. You’ve probably noticed that the flies seem to come out of nowhere. What’s actually happening is that the flies, who are attracted to the fruit, lay eggs in it. That’s pretty disgusting to think about, if you’re still considering eating that banana! The larvae hatch and continue to eat. By ensuring that your fruit never gets to the overripe state, you can help deny the fruit flies a place to lay their eggs.
Step 2: Treatment
If you followed all the steps and have fruit flies anyway, don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world and you can take steps to deal with these annoying pests.
One of the most common solutions is to build a small trap. Here’s how you do it:
- First, get a small jar or a glass and fill it with about an inch (2 cm) of cider vinegar. Add a couple drops of dish soap in afterwards.
- Next, cover the top of the glass or jar with a funnel.
- Third, you’ll want to tape around the funnel so there are no gaps left.
Your makeshift trap should begin to work right away. Remember we said fruit flies are attracted to sugar? The funnel should act like a one-way barrier for most flies (they aren’t the smartest insects in the yard) and they will get trapped and die.
This works because the dish soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies fall in, rather than landing on the surface. Result? Drowned flies!
If you don’t have cider vinegar you can also use beer or wine. Pour a glass for yourself while you’re at it.
This method is a great choice if you’re concerned about using toxic chemicals around the house (especially in your kitchen where most fruit fly infestations take place). There are no fumes, and it’s generally pretty benign to the environment. Just make sure small children don’t go near your trap.
If fruit flies or other pests are giving you trouble give us a call at 647-708-7378 or get in touch online. We’ll be there right away, and together our team of Toronto pest exterminators can conquer the flies, ants, wasps, or any other pests in your home.
