Fruit flies might not be dangerous, but nobody wants them swarming the kitchen. These little pests tend to show up once summer hits, especially in June and July, and they’re drawn to anything sweet or damp. Leave out a soda can, a glass of wine, or even a ripe piece of fruit, and you’ll probably see them appear.
To learn how to stop fruit flies and clear them out once they’ve already moved in, we spoke with entomologist Jody Green from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She explained the main causes of infestations and, more importantly, the steps you can take to keep them from sticking around.
Below, you’ll all the expert tips you need to prevent kitchen fruit fly infestations — or get rid of them if they’ve already arrived.
What’s the cause of fruit fly infestations?
Ripe produce and sugary foods are magnets for fruit flies.
The common name that entomologists give fruit flies is “vinegar flies.” That’s because they’re naturally attracted to fermented liquid, and when fruit rots, it also ferments.
But fruit flies don’t thrive only on rotten fruit or vinegar. They also love sugary substances like soda, wine and beer, and you can find them in the bottom of your trash bin or any wet place with a substantial food source.
“Substantial food source” may mean something different to you than to the small but mighty fruit fly, Green said. “It may not be the food you are wanting to eat, but fruit flies are so tiny it only takes a tiny microhabitat” — like the residual soda in a can in your recycling bin or leftover bits and crumbs in a takeout container in your garbage, Green explained. Those are prime spots for fruit flies to breed. Once the weather warms, it takes less time for fruit fly eggs to turn into babies.
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How to prevent fruit fly infestation
Take the garbage out as often as possible during warmer months.
Cleaning is the key to preventing fruit flies from taking over your kitchen. Keeping your place as dry and free of food as possible prevents pests from continuing their life cycle.
Throw away garbage and take out recycling frequently. Clean out the bottom of bins when liquid accumulates, wipe down counters after you’re finished cooking, and keep your sink and garbage disposal free of old food, empty of dishes and as dry as possible.
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Storing fruits and vegetables in the fridge instead of on the counter will also make it harder for the fruit flies to find them. And since they’re attracted to rotting fruit, you should carefully pick your produce at the store to make sure you aren’t bringing any rotten or bruised pieces home, Green said.
It’s especially important to store foods that ferment quickly. Fruit flies thrive on the rot produced by cabbages, strawberries, bananas and other fruits and vegetables that can often break down before you notice them aging out of edibility. Sugary substances should also be stowed away, cups should be lidded or washed out and trash bags should be regularly switched out to prevent fruit fly infestations.
She also added that you should recycle or compost cardboard boxes that hold produce as soon as possible because fruit flies could be breeding in them. Any place that catches water or is moist, like a wet kitchen rag or the rug beside the sink, could become a breeding ground for fruit flies.
Try vinegar and dish soap to slow down an infestation
Apart from consulting our experts, we also did some digging on the r/CleaningTips subreddit to see what other people experience. Some users found their issue wasn’t fruit flies but fungus gnats. It’s worth confirming the infestation by identifying the insect. Many users also noted that an ACV and dish soap trap caught a lot of the flies and helped fight their infestations.
To make a vinegar and soap fruit fly trap, put a few ounces of apple cider vinegar mixed with a few drops of dish soap in a small dish and cover with plastic wrap. Poke holes in the wrap so the fruit flies can get in but not out and place the trap near your fruit fly infestation.
What do fruit flies look like?
Once fruit flies descend on your kitchen, it’s tough to get them to leave.
Fruit flies are about an eighth of an inch long, have red eyes (though some species have darker eyes) and are light brown with dark rings around their abdomen. They also have two wings (many insects have four).
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Fruit fly FAQs
Can I get fruit flies without leaving out fruit?
Yes, you can get fruit flies even if you don’t leave fruits and vegetables outside of the fridge. Though fruit flies are attracted to fermented fruits and vegetables, they also love sugary substances. The flies will similarly swarm wine, beer, soda and other sugary liquids if you leave cups of them around the house.
How clean do I need to be to avoid a fruit fly infestation?
Fruit flies are able to subsist off very small amounts of food or drink — the scraps of a takeout box or the soda left at the bottom of a can, for instance. You’ll want to make sure you wash out any container before placing it in the trash can or recycling bin, especially in warmer months when fruit flies are breeding at a rapid pace.
Can fruit flies make you sick?
Although fruit flies don’t carry any diseases, they do carry bacteria on their bodies that are transmitted to the produce they touch. This can be transmitted to people if they eat food touched by fruit flies. The best way to stay safe is to throw out food touched by the flies to dispose of any potential bacteria. If you feel you’ve eaten fruit that may have been affected by a fruit fly, you should reach out to your doctor.
