Fruit flies are the most persistent pests in a home. Without appropriate treatment, you will spot them coming back again and again. They are attracted to overripe fruit and standing water in gutters, drains, and other areas where water can pool. They are present almost year-round in areas of the South East where fruit trees are available in abundance. If you are tired of fruit flies in your home, you should contact pest control. 

How to get rid of fruit flies?

Like other flies, fruit flies can live for about 25 days or more, depending on the living conditions. Their life cycle can be divided into four phases: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. They mature from egg to adult within a week. 

Fruit flies and gnats are attracted to the same foods and can look the same from afar. But gnats can be differentiated from fruit flies. Gnats are often spotted near houseplants and generally have black bodies. As said, fruit flies are usually brown with red eyes and are commonly located near fruit. 

Spotting where the pests fly most is key to learning how to treat your problem. If you see the buzzing pest near plants in your home or office, you are dealing with gnats. But if you spot flies that are more active in the backyard, kitchen, or near overripe garbage or fruit, you probably have fruit flies. 

What attracts fruit flies?

Generally, you will find fruit flies near overripe or decaying fruit. Anything in the fermentation process can be appealing to fruit flies. The biggest attractors of fruit flies are fruit trees and fruit bowls near or in your home. 

• Bowls of fruit

It is likely to attract fruit flies if you have overripe or decaying fruits in a bowl. Fruit flies can always sniff out your afternoon snacks until you cover the bowl with a plastic film or towel. Fruits in the fridge are safe because it is sealed and too cold for them to survive in. 

• Fruit trees

If you have fruit trees, you should maintain regular groundskeeping, including disposing of rotten or fallen fruits near the tree. Fallen fruits can also attract rodents and other pests. 

Getting rid of fruit flies

One way to get rid of fruit flies is to find where they lay their eggs and remove them from the source. Locating and treating the eggs and habitat can be challenging unless you are specially trained in handling fruit fly infestations. 

With the help of a professional, you can proactively schedule periodic treatments to stop fruit flies from returning to your home.