Last Updated on May 6, 2021 by cmoarz

Did you know a single fruit fly can lay 500 eggs at any single time? So when you see that first fruit fly, it’s probably already too late. That’s why you need to take quick action to deal with the problem immediately, or else!

But don’t fret too much, We got your back. In this article, you will learn how to get rid of fruit flies from your household, but first, you need to know your enemy if you intend to win the battle. So let’s learn How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies!

Know Thy Enemy, Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?

Fruit flies will lay their eggs just about anywhere, but their favorite place to do so is on top of unripened fruit. When you buy an apple from the store, it’s almost guaranteed there are already fruit fly eggs on that apple.

So that’s how they sneak into your house, But what about after that?

Well, Once the fruit starts to over ripen and the juicy sugary goodness inside them starts to ferment, that’s when the larva will bury itself deep inside and start feasting.

Next thing you know you’ve got an infestation.

By washing your fruit and vegetables as soon as you get home, You can lessen the likelihood of having fruit flies, However, it only takes one so it’s not something you can rely on.

So how do you combat them?

Simple, You build a fruit flies trap apple cider vinegar trap.

Sorry, I know that keyword doesn’t really fit the sentence but I had to add it. Who types like that into google anyway?

Setting Up a Fruit Fly Trap

You’re going to see a lot of articles with a lot of different types of traps. They all work to an extent, and the main purpose for all is to lure them into a container, trap them, and let them drown.

It’s a very simple concept that can be evolved in many ways, But I found the simplest method to always be the most effective.

• Get a jar, doesn’t matter what kind
• Add orange juice, Apple cider vinegar, or fruit pieces to the jar, you don’t need much.
• Add a bit of water if you used fruit pieces so there’s some liquid, otherwise;
• Add a dollop of dish soap, dawn works fine
• Cover the container with plastic wrap
• Poke holes just big enough for the flies to crawl in but can’t get out. Might take some trial and error, if they are too small they can’t get in.

And that’s that. All you have to do is place the trap on your counter, Next to your fruit, or where ever else the outbreak is.

How it works: The fruit fly smells the rotting fermenting fluid and tries to get in through the holes. It lands on the surface of the fluid inside and because of the soap breaking the water surface tension, it falls in and drowns.

It’s very simple and effective, and as I said, most traps are based on this methodology. So really this is the only instructions you need, feel free to experiment further, however it likely won’t be necessary.

I can attest this trap works 100% of the time. You will even kill them faster than they are able to breed. Remember, breeding bad!

But there are fruit flies in drain too! Where did they come from!?

Fruit flies will lay their eggs on any damp wet surface. You will see this most often in say a bathroom sink, where you don’t use it as often as the other sinks in the house.

The insects will lay their eggs inside the drain because it’s cool and damp.

But don’t fret, they are easy to deal with as well. Along with the same trap placed next to the drain in question, You should fill the sink with boiling water and allow it to drain.

This should eliminate all of the eggs, No need to use bleach or anything like that. It won’t be effective since the bleach will pass by them and have very little contact while boiling water will kill them instantly.

Preventing fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) in the first place

It’s often said it’s better to deal in preventative messures rather than reactionary ones. So here are a few methods you can use to try and elliminate the threat before it begins.

• Empty your kitchen garbage bin every day, Don’t let it sit. Especially with fruit or other vegetable refuse.
• Store ripe fruit in the fridge
• Wash your produce very well after you buy it to eliminate surface eggs
• Spilled some juice? Wipe it up with warm water! Don’t let it sit.
• If you’re in a habit of recycling, make sure you clean your jars and containers before putting them aside. Secure covers.

Related questions

what do fruit flies eggs look like

 

Best Fruit Fly Traps on Amazon

Our editors individually analyze, test, and advocate for the most effective products. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Any prices shown from Amazon API are subject to change often.

Maybe you don’t have an interest in making your own traps, or you simply don’t have the time. This section of the article is for you. We selected the best fruit fly trap products on Amazon and used our rating system to recommend you the best and most guaranteed to work.

How We Selected

We have 3 categories that we strive to fill with the best choices for those categories as possible. These are Best Value, Best Choice, and our Premium Pick.

Best Value: When choosing a product for our best value category, we look to take a few things into account. It’s price first and foremost, as this determines the rest of the quality markers. For example, build quality vs price. It is inexpensive and brittle built with cheap materials? Then it’s not going to fit in the best value selection. We look for good durability to price ratio.

We also look at other various features such as ease of use, access, other people’s opinions, and experiences, etc.

Best Choice: The best choice is the product we recommend the most to the average buyer. It will have good durability of what you would expect for a more expensive (but not always more expensive) product. A strong reputation behind it in the community and overall not too expensive.

Overall with our best choice, You are getting more for what you paid in terms of quality and effectiveness, and is over all our favorite. If we were to choose to continue using any of these products, The BEST CHOICE would be the product we would continue to use.

Premium Pick: The premium pick is something we sometimes add when we find an extraordinary product. It’s of the utmost quality, design, and premium materials. It’s sturdy, looks amazing, and most importantly, Functions to the best of its ability and for what it’s designed to do. 

We recommend this to people who don’t mind paying a premium on an excellent quality product. 

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Terro Fruit Fly Trap – 4 Pack

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Tens of thousands of happy customers can’t possibly be wrong. Being one of the most sold fruit fly trap on Amazon gives all the credit where credit is due. These traps are affordably priced, and a brand name thousands of people have come to trust.

It’s also our personal choice and our best choice. Fruit flies were gone within days of using this product and it’s an easy reorder every fruit fly season.

So when you see fruit flies starting to swarm around your house, this ready to use out of the box trap will save you a lot of trouble. Keep a few handy in storage or a closet, Or the top of the fridge you never clean. You’ll never have to google “How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies” again!

Pros

• It’s affordable and ranks high for easy re-order

• It’s extremely effective and uses strong bait to lure in flies

• Re-fillable with low maintenance (every 30 days)

Cons

• Strong bait produces a strong smell, although you get used to it quickly, guests might notice it immediately.

BEAPCO 10036 Prefilled Fruit Fly Traps, 6-Pack

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The BEAPCO 10036 came in at our best value selection do it it’s bulk options. Each trap lasts 30 days once unsealed and with 6 per pack should last all summer long.

Once your done you just toss them out. They are completely none toxic. If you don;t like the idea of throwing them out, You can also refill them with the companies fill solution or normal apple vinegar you may have at home.

Pros

• Doesn’t smell as strong as other traps

• Manufactured in Canada

• Improved greatly over the old model

Cons

• Bait’s not nearly as strong as other traps

• Doesn’t do so well catching gnats

FENUN Mosquito Traps, Gnat Trap, Moth Traps, Mosquito Trapper Indoor with 10 Sticky Glue Boards Mosquito Eradicator

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros:

Strong high-quality build materials

glass housing

looks amazing

Bright

long-lasting

Cons:

Cost

glass housing might shatter if it gets knocked over

not as bright as other lights

This Fenun trap is our premium pick due to it’s hilarious overkill capacity. With the simple press of a button you can unleash scorching hell with this OP hammer of justice framed like a fly trap. It’s priced according to it’s methods and features, and does a good job living up to that standard.

It takes care of mosquitoes, fruit flies, moths, and gnats by using a sticky pad at the bottom of the canister. It does all this while only using a tiny 5 watts of electricity.

Pros

• Does what it claims to do with aggressive overkill

• Uses a powerful fan to prevent escape

• Uses light and heat to attract insects to their death

• easy to clean storage box comes right off

Cons

• It’s a luxury fly trap, the price is as overpowered as the machine itself

People tend to have a lot of questions about fruit flies. I’ve tried to answer some of the most common ones here.

What are fruit flies?

Fruit flies, scientifically known as Drosophila melanogaster, are small insects that can fit through tiny apertures in order to enter structures such as homes and grocery stores. They have been described by scientists as “one of the most important [insects] in history.”

What do fruit flies eat?

Fruit flies feed on fermenting or overripe fruits, vegetables, and dairy products like cheese, milk, and yogurt. They have also been known to lay eggs near animal droppings because of how moist they are.

How long do fruit flies live?

Fruit flies can live for up to two weeks. They are also good at reproducing, so it’s not a surprise they have been known to infest homes and businesses in large numbers.

What causes fruit flies in the house?

Fruit flies are attracted to the sweet smell of rotting fruits and vegetables. They also enter homes through tiny holes in screens, crevices, or openings on windows that may be covered by leaves from trees around your home.

What is the fastest way to get rid of fruit flies?

Aside from the products listed above, the fastest way to get rid of fruit flies is to remove any fruit that has been left out and make sure windows are tightly closed.

What is the best way to get rid of fruit flies?

The best way to avoid attracting them in the first place is to only keep fresh fruits and vegetables inside your refrigerator or kitchen cupboards. When you cut up your produce at home, immediately put it into containers with airtight lids so they cannot reproduce near food items. If there are already some around, buy fly traps from a local store that will lure them away before killing them off on surfaces where they land. To really save yourself the trouble, however, be proactive when grocery shopping by checking for holes in packaging and avoiding products that have seen recent recalls due to potential contamination problems such as insects.

What are some ways to prevent fly problems at home?

Eliminating potential food sources and making sure that screens for doors and windows are in good condition can help reduce how often you encounter these pests. Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids as well. If you notice eggs near animal droppings, clean them up with a paper towel soaked in vinegar or water inside a zip-lock baggie; this should also keep ants away from those areas too!

Are fruit flies harmful?

No, these bugs won’t hurt you! While they might not be quite as annoying as other insects like mosquitoes or bedbugs, fruit flies are still a nuisance.

What smell will keep flies away?

Fruit flies hate the smell of vinegar, so you could try putting a little vinegar in the bottom of your trash can or spraying it around other areas where they are becoming bothersome.

What is fruit fly season?

Fruit flies typically start showing up during the summertime months when there’s more plant material available for them to feed on. This means that if there are any fresh fruits and vegetables sitting out on your countertop, then this might be attracting an unusually high number of these pests!

How do I get rid of eggs from my house?

Remove potential food sources like rotting produce as well as egg-laying sites such as pet bowls and compost bins with moist piles of leaves or grass clippings inside them by using pesticides according to package instructions; keep your trashcan lid closed.

Do fruit flies die in winter?

Yes, fruit flies are cold-blooded animals and they cannot survive the winter. however, inside a temperature-controlled house or greenhouse, they can survive and breed through the winter months as long as there is a food source.