Fruit flies (also known as vinegar flies) are a common type of pest found around food, particularly ripe or fermenting fruits and vegetables. You will also find them buzzing around your dirty drains, garbage can, recycling bin, open food containers or soda bottles, and spills of juice or alcohol. They breed so rapidly and lay so many eggs that scientists often use them in genetic studies; their extreme fertility also makes them incredibly difficult to eliminate.
Are they dangerous?
Fruit flies, unlike some other fly species, cannot bite, so they will not cause you direct pain. However, this does not mean that their presence is not harmful. Their association with rotting food exposes them to various viruses and bacteria, which they can then transport all over your house. Everything this tiny fly touches becomes a possible site for these bacteria to breed, including silverware, drinking glasses, fresh food, and even your toothbrush–all things that will touch your mouth. The longer fruit flies are present in your home, the more surfaces they can come into contact with, increasing your own risk of infection.
How can I get rid of them?
There are a number of household remedies that claim to get rid of fruit flies, from bleaching their breeding grounds to building your own traps. However, their breeding grounds are often varied and difficult to reach or to clean, and traps are often unreliable and ineffective.
Are you suffering from a fruit fly infestation? You don’t have to fight this battle on your own. Contact us today for more information on factors that contribute to fruit fly-friendly environments and reliable means of ridding your home of these pesky pests!
