What Attracts Fruit Flies, Where They Lay Eggs & How Long They Live

Signs You Have a Fruit Fly Infestation

The clearest way to spot a fruit fly infestation is by seeing these pests flying around your home. Look for them in kitchens and other areas where food can be found.

Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?

Fruit flies often come in to your home through cracks in walls, loose seals around doors or windows, or via eggs laid inside of a piece of produce from the grocery store. Fruit flies can seem to come from out of nowhere to infest your home, but this is mainly due to how quickly fruit flies breed and develop.

What Attracts Fruit Flies?

Fruit flies are mainly attracted to extra ripe, fermenting fruits and vegetables. However, they are also drawn to things such as drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash bags, cleaning rags and mops. Essentially, they are drawn to food waste and moist environments. Fruit flies only feed on food surfaces, so the chance of ingesting these pests is close to zero.

How Long Do Fruit Flies Live?

Despite the popular myth that fruit flies only live 24 hours, the average lifespan of a fruit fly is to 40-50 days under ideal conditions. During that time, female fruit flies can lay several batches of eggs, allowing the fruit fly population in a home to grow quickly. Fruit flies also live longer in warmer temperatures.

When is Fruit Fly Season?

Although fruit flies can be found in any season, they especially thrive in the summer and fall. This is due to the multitude of produce that is typically available as a source of food. Some research has shown that fruit fly development can stop completely when the temperatures drop below 53℉. Winter seasons that experience cold temperatures are more likely to see the fruit fly populations decrease or temporarily end.

What Do Fruit Fly Eggs Look Like and Where Are They Laid?

Fruit fly eggs are very tiny, measuring only 1/2 mm in length. Visible only under a microscope, fruit fly eggs are oblong like a piece of rice, and pale yellow in color. Fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time — primarily in fermenting or decaying, sweet, organic material, including fruits and vegetables.

Are Fruit Flies Harmful?

Fruit flies on their own are not harmful to humans. Contrary to many other types of insects, fruit flies do not bite, sting, or produce any poison. Even if you were to accidentally ingest any of these tiny pests, there are no medical illnesses associated with doing so. Where fruit flies can potentially be dangerous is they sometimes carry harmful bacteria from one place to another. This usually involves infectious bacteria such as E.coli, salmonella, or listeria, which in turn cause the actual sicknesses.

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

The best way to catch and get rid of fruit flies is by using apple cider vinegar and dish soap to create a potent and irresistable trap. Fill a bowl or cup about half way with the vinegar and add a couple of drops of dish soap. You can also pop the mixture into the microwave for a couple seconds to maximize the potency and attractiveness. Cover with plastic wrap held in place with a rubber band and poke a few holes in the wrap covering the mouth of the bowl or cup.

The fruit flies will be attracted to the vinegar, enter through the holes, and become trapped in the dish soap. Any fruit flies that manage to escape the layer of soap will be trapped by the plastic wrap and effectively killed. This method is best used alongside measures to prevent future infestations.

How To Prevent a Fruit Fly Infestation

The best way to prevent a fruit fly infestation is to remove sources of attraction. Seal your produce in airtight containers, store it in the refrigerator and remove any overripe produce. Keep drains and garbage disposals clean and dry and regularly dispose of trash. You can also prevent fruit flies from even entering your home by installing mesh screens on windows and doors. If fruit flies have made your home or business their own, get some help from Arrow by filling out the form below.