Summer is an exciting season filled with sunshine, backyard barbeques, new adventures, and seasonal fruits and vegetables that we spend the rest of the year looking forward to.
From fresh berries and tomatoes to corn on the cob, fruits and vegetables are a hallmark of the summertime. But sometimes all those fresh fruits and vegetables bring unwanted visitors — namely, fruit flies.
When the heat rolls in, storing fruits and vegetables properly and keeping your kitchen clean and sanitary to avoid a pesky fruit fly infestation is critical. As your friendly neighborhood pest scientists, here are a few of our best tips to enjoy summer produce without inviting fruit flies into your home.
Fruit flies are attracted to rotting and fermented fruits. While storing your fruits on your countertop is often advised for the best-tasting tomatoes and watermelon, summer temperatures can speed up the ripening and rotting process.
When fruit and vegetables become overly ripe in a heated environment, they will begin to ferment and attract fruit flies. Fruits with high sugar content are especially prone to fermentation.
Even if you don't store fruit on the countertop, fermentation can still occur in common waste areas when improperly cleaned. A drain or garbage disposal may carry residue and fruit particles for a prolonged time without your knowledge. Keeping compost in indoor waste bins may also attract flies to a feast. Make sure to clean your drains and empty compost or garbage regularly to prevent fermentation that could attract fruit flies. Other tips include wiping up spills immediately if you spill fruit juice, smoothies, or wine on your counter. Leaving any sugary residue behind on any house surface can attract fruit flies.
Remember to wash your rags, mops, and cleaning supplies as well. While you may have cleaned up a spill, the flies will find it if the sugar is lingering on your cleaning supplies.
Fruit flies may enter your home without your knowledge through the fruits and vegetables you buy in-store or pick from your garden. While they are attracted to rotting or fermented fruits and veggies, they can lay larvae anywhere. Wash your produce before storing it to avoid unwanted tagalongs from your trip to the market.
Prevention truly is the key to keeping your life fly-free. Start by prioritizing a clean kitchen. Wipe up spills immediately, and flush your drain regularly to prevent build-up. This will help to keep the flies away, and it will keep your house looking and smelling fresh all summer long.
Make it more challenging for flies to reach their food source by storing your fruits and veggies in closed containers with lids whenever possible. It's best to keep your containers in the fridge during the summer to avoid fermentation and early rotting.
Alternatively, storing your produce in cool drawers can be a better choice than leaving them out on counters and tables if your fridge has no room. Whatever storage method you choose, regularly clean your containers and drawers to wipe away any juices or residue.
If your home is incredibly humid during the summer, it may be wise to invest in a dehumidifier. Removing moisture from the environment makes flies less likely to reside in your home. You may find the air more comfortable, too!
Composting is a great way to repurpose waste and support the environment. Still, during the summer, it may not be the best option. Instead of storing your food scraps in trash bins or on top of counters, consider storing your compost in your freezer for the summer. Your scraps won't rot; you can dispose of them in the fall or take them to a compost site away from your home.
An infestation is easier to prevent than it is to treat. By following these simple tips, you can increase the cleanliness and sanitation of your home and help prevent fruit flies.
While fruit flies do not have long lifespans, they can reproduce rapidly, especially when given an array of fruit and veggies to ingest. They will lay eggs in and around your fruit, quickly multiplying your fly problem.
While you may only see a couple of flies initially, each fly can lay about 500 eggs during their life. You won't see their microscopic offspring initially. Still, a few fruit flies can be considered an infestation that should be dealt with immediately.
The excellent news about fruit fly infestations is that they pose little threat to your health and do not last forever. Even if you struggle to treat your fly problem throughout the summer, the fall's cooler temperatures combined with the treatment options below should help clear out any remaining flies.
Homemade fruit fly traps can effectively catch fruit flies if you only have a few buzzing around your home.
Mix water, a few drops of soap, and apple cider vinegar in a small dish. The fermented sugar will attract flies, and they'll land in the water. The soap will break the water tension making it impossible for them to get out.
Place traps anywhere you find an infestation. Be sure to put them in places that won't be in your way to avoid spills, and clean the traps regularly.
If you're facing a small army, you may want to consider calling in the experts at Thorn Pest Solutions. As an expert pest control company in Utah, we can identify the source of your fly problem and help you eliminate it through professional traps and thorough cleaning. We'll also teach you the tools to prevent them from returning.
In most cases, fruit flies are a preventable inconvenience. You can keep your home fruit fly-free by keeping your kitchen clean, setting a few homemade traps, removing moisture, and disposing of waste properly.
If you need additional help cleaning your drains or dealing with a fly infestation, Thorn is happy to support you and get rid of the flies with professional pest control technology. We want you to have a summer of smiles and fun, and we can identify how best to prevent infestations from ever bothering you again. Contact us today!
Thorn is a Utah local pest management company. We are a QualityPro certified company which is a prestigious accreditation awarded too less than 3% of the pest management companies in the US.
Thorn is a Utah local pest management company. We are a QualityPro certified company which is a prestigious accreditation awarded too less than 3% of the pest management companies in the US.
