February 25, 2015
Fruit Fly
“Where on earth did all these fruit flies come from?” Have you ever battled a fruit fly problem? No? Seriously? You have never seen small flies around banana peels, or your kitchen trash can? These tiny flies breed really fast. With the optimal temperature and moisture, fruit flies can go from egg to adult in as short as 8 days. Once they are around, it is rather difficult to get rid of them. So, back to the question, how did they get in? Or maybe, as some people believe, do fruit flies really come from banana peels or spontaneous generation?
Fruit flies are natural born super drinkers. They are built to find the tiniest amount of alcohol in fermenting fruit, hence the name – fruit fly. Given the small size and soft, slender body, they can detect alcohol from quite a distance away. They would have no problem getting through the kitchen window screen to get to the bowl of sweet fruit on kitchen counter or the food waste in garbage can. And pretty soon, you are facing an infestation.
“Wait, it is 20 below outside and I don’t open my windows in winter!” Sure, sometimes fruit flies do hitchhike on fresh produce into your homes. They will lay egg on over-ripen fruit, such as banana. This is how they “generate” from banana peel. Apples, pears, onions, tomatoes and many other fruits and vegetables can face the same danger as well.
Here are a few tips to help you eliminate the potential breeding source of fruit flies inside,
- Dispose of any rotting fruits and vegetables. Yes, anything that is beyond ripe, oozing liquid, or has been cut or broken open must go.
- Empty and clean garbage can often. Don’t wait too long before you take the garbage out, remember that fruit flies can go from egg to adult in 8 days? Also, don’t forget the recycle bin. Little bit soda left in the soda cans will be a source.
- Fix slow drains and keep plumbing and garbage disposals free of organic matter. If you can smell it, they can too.
- Check food storage bins. Many people store root vegetables like onion, sweet potatoes in cupboards. Check, clear and clean them.
- Give the kitchen a thorough cleaning. You will be surprised where food bits can accumulate in a kitchen.
