Managing Fruit Flies

Sanitation

Cleaning the home or business will have the most dramatic effect on fruit fly reproduction. The presence of adult flies usually means that larvae are developing in some nearby fermenting material. This could be in decaying fruits or vegetables on the counter, in the garbage disposal system, cracks and crevices, sink drains, floor drains, dumpsters, garbage cans, lockers, or even vending machines. Think of where fruits, fruit juices, vegetables (like onions and potatoes), beer, liquor, fruit syrups, vinegars, and condiments have spilled or are being stored. Clean the area with detergents, and hot water. Remove the residual layers of food spills and throw out the decaying material in tight trash bags and put them in a trash can outdoors. A detailed cleaning will be necessary to remove the hidden breeding sites.

Exclusion

Fruit flies do live outdoors in large numbers during the summer and fall months. Keeping doors closed during days when the wind is low will help reduce invaders. Breezy days make it difficult for the small flies to get around. If the flies are coming from outdoors, reducing the screen mesh size can be helpful because most species can penetrate ordinary screens. Move waste bins and dumpsters further from any entrances or windows.

Trapping

The number of adults can be reduced through the use of GreenWay Fruit Fly traps which allow access but prevent escape. Place as many traps as convenient to accomplish the removal in a day or two. The more you use, the quicker you will remove adult flies. Insect light traps do not effectively trap adult flies, although you can catch the occasional one.

Cleaning out Drains

Microbial-based drain cleaners such as DrainGel™ InVade Bio Foam™ are used to break down organic matter in drains and other potential breeding sites. This helps remove material they can breed in.

A good program will use all the strategies listed above.