Fruit flies are a common pest here in the North Carolina Raleigh/Cary/Durham triangle area. The can show up from seemingly out of nowhere within a few days of placing a bunch of bananas on your kitchen counter. How do Fruit Flies get into my Raleigh home? Well, here’s an interesting fact: although a fruit fly has no nose, they have an incredible sense of smell by using their antennae to detect odors in the air. Plus, they are small enough to squeeze through the holes in your kitchen window screen or around the screens edges if they are loose or not tightly sealed to the window frame.
Another way they can get inside your Raleigh home is from buying very ripe fruit or vegetables that have not been kept in refrigeration, or if you like your tomatoes to ripen on the vine before bringing them in from your garden (or the farmer’s market). These fruits and vegetables may have fruit fly eggs already attached to their skin. Only someone with very good eyesight would be able to see these tiny egg deposits. It only takes a fruit fly about eight days to grow from an egg to an adult. Raleigh fruit flies are attracted to fruits.
A fruit fly infestation can sometimes be hard to get rid of. Even after removing the fruit, they can continue to reproduce in partially clogged plumbing drains and wet or sour mops and sponges.
If you are battling fruit flies in your kitchen, here’s a DIY trick you can try:
Homemade Vinegar Trap For Fruit Flies
- Pour an inch or so of cider vinegar into a glass or jar.
- Cut a corner off of a sandwich baggie and place over the glass or jar.
- Secure with a rubber band—make sure cut corner is facing up.
- Now push the cut corner down into the glass, but not so far as to touch the vinegar.
- The fruit flies, attracted by the vinegar, can get in, but they can’t get out.
- Refresh the vinegar every few days or so as needed.
If you have any questions about fruit flies or any other pests or our pest control programs, let your Raleigh, NC Pest Control company give you a hand.
Innovative Pest Solutions… a solution to all your pest needs.
