What Causes Fruit Fly Infestation?
Key Points
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What attracts flies? Overripe produce, fermenting liquids (beer, wine, vinegar), and damp, organic gunk in drains or mops.
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How do flies get in? They hitchhike on grocery produce or squeeze through standard window screens.
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Reproduction speed: Lightning fast. Fly eggs hatch in as little as 24–30 hours.
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DIY Solution for flies: Apple cider vinegar traps and deep cleaning.
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When to call a Pro: If the infestation persists past 2–3 weeks.
What Attracts Fruit Flies to Your Home?
Fertilized fruit flies are looking for one thing: a moist, fermenting place to lay their eggs. While a bowl of bananas on the counter is the usual suspect, they aren't picky eaters. They are drawn to:
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Overripe or damaged fruit and vegetables: If it's turning brown, they are touching down.
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Drains and garbage disposals: That slime layer (biofilm) inside your pipes is a five-star hotel for larvae.
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Fermenting liquids: Leftover beer cans, wine glasses, and vinegar.
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Damp cleaning gear: Sour mops and wet rags.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
To kick fruit flies to the curb, you need to eliminate the adults and destroy their breeding grounds. Here are a few tactics you can try at home:
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Set an apple cider vinegar trap: Pour some apple cider vinegar into a jar and add a few drops of dish soap. The soap breaks the surface tension, causing the flies to sink. Cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke a few small holes in the top.
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Clean your drains: If you’ve tossed the fruit but still have flies, they’re likely breeding in your drain’s slime layer. Don't bother with bleach; it moves too fast. Use a bacterial or enzyme-based drain cleaner to eat away the organic gunk they call home.
Fruit Fly Prevention Tips
Once you've cleared the air, keep it that way with these sanitary efforts:
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Refrigerate Produce: Limit access by keeping susceptible fruits and veggies in the fridge.
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Seal the Trash: Ensure garbage cans are clean and fitted with airtight lids.
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Rinse Recyclables: Don't leave soda or beer residue in the bin.
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Sanitize: Vigorously clean food prep areas, counters, and sticky spills immediately.
When to Call a Professional
While these DIY methods can reduce the number of adult flies, they may not eliminate an entire infestation. If a fruit fly infestation doesn't die out within two to three weeks of your DIY efforts, it’s likely they have found a hidden breeding source you can't see, like under a cabinet or deep in a drain line.
This is when it’s time to call Orkin. Our Pros can identify whether you're dealing with fruit flies, drain flies, or fungus gnats and apply a targeted fly control treatment plan. Schedule a free pest control inspection for fly prevention and treatment options.
Learn More About Fruit Flies
How to Make a DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Fruit Fly Trap
Learn how to catch fruit flies by making this at-home elixir.
Learn about where larvae are typically found, what they look like and how they feed.
Discover the fruit fly lifespan and the journey a fruit fly takes in order to emerge as an adult.
Where do fruit flies come from?
Read about which factors contribute to a fruit fly infestation and why.