FRUIT FLY-GETTING RID OF FRUIT FLIES

Fruit Fly Size: (3mm)

Fruit flies are small about 1/8-inch in length including the wings.

Fruit Fly Key Identification:

• A key identifying character is its bright red eyes.
• The Fruit fly is about one third the size of the filth or house fly.

Color:

• Body color is usually a light yellow to tan color.

Just because you may see a small fly or gnat type flying around in the kitchen, do not assume it is coming from the drains. Check all possible breeding sources to help identify the fly. Using a drain cleaner like DF 5000 would only work in they are breeding in the drains.

Understanding the different breeding sources for the different flies will help you in identifying and managing the respective flies. The other flies that are found around drains are: Fruit Flies, Drain Flies and Sphaerocierid Flies.

Breeding Sources of Drain Flies, Fruit Flies, Phorid Flies and Sphaerocerid Flies:

Drain flies: breed in drains, sewers, septic tanks and soil that has been contaminated with sewage.

Fruit flies: can be spotted around fresh fruits/vegtables, rotting fruits and vegetables, drains, garbage and damp organic materials

Phorid Flies : are found in sewage contaminated soil, garbage, drains, human cadavers, rotting vegetables and fruit, garbage as well as damp organic materials

Sphaerocerid Flies: may be found in manure, damp organic material, drains, rotting fruits and vegetables and garbage

Fruit Fly : Biology and Habits

• Fruit flies comprise several different species belonging to the genus Drosophila. The most common species encountered in homes and other structures is D.melanogaster. Fruit flies are also identified as pomace flies or vinegar flies. These pests can be found throughout the world, in homes, food processing plants, warehouses, grocery stores, wineries, restaurants and other structures.


• Populations tend to be greatest in late summer and early fall as they infest fruits during the harvest season.


• The fruit fly is among the smallest flies found in homes.
  


• With the end of the summer season, many homeowners often encounter fruit flies in and about their kitchens and near garbage storage areas.


• Fruit flies are generally found hovering around decaying vegetation and overripe fruit.
  The fruit fly is most often found hovering around overly ripe fruit.
  Fermenting materials, such as leftover beer or soft drinks, also are a favorite food of fruit flies.
  Fruit flies are often found in the kitchen, especially when vegetable or fruit materials are present after major home canning efforts.


• Occasionally, pomace flies, similar in appearance to fruit flies, may infest the home. The source of a pomace fly problem is often standing water like a forgotten mop pail or an open sewer drain.


• Because it frequents such unsanitary areas, it could potentially carry disease-causing bacteria onto food products.


• Like all flies, the fruit fly develops by complete metamorphosis.
  Eggs are laid near or on top of attractants (fermenting materials) such as beverages, decaying fruit and vegetable matter, garbage or slime in drains.
  The fruit fly is attracted to any area where moisture has accumulated including mops and wet rags. The larvae emerge from the eggs and feed near the surface of the fermenting material for 5-6 days.


• This surface-feeding characteristic of the fruit fly larvae is significant in that damaged or over-ripened portions of fruits and vegetables can be cut away without having to discard the remainder for fear of retaining any developing larvae.
  However eating the larvae can cause intestinal discomfort and diarrhea.
  For this reason, health professionals and sanitarians are concerned when fruit flies are found infesting facilities where food is prepared, processed, or served.


• Newly-emerged fruit fly adults are attracted to lights, but egg laying females will not leave fermenting materials. The fruit fly larvae then crawl to drier areas of the food source or even out of the food source to pupate. Under ideal conditions, the life cycle of the fruit fly, from egg to adult can be completed in as little as eight days.
  Life cycle from egg to adult is approximately 10 days.

Recommended Control and Treatment for Fruit Flies :

Exclusion and Sanitation, Insecticides, Traps, and Aerosols

1. Exclusion and Sanitation:

The key to controlling these fruit fly infestations is to locate and eliminate their breeding sources.

Fruit Fly Inspection:
Look first for fruit fly sources in areas where vegetables or fruits are stored outside refrigeration.
Also look for fruit fly sources in garbage cans , under appliances, and recycling bins. When searching for fruit fly breeding sources, remember that the larva can only survive in decaying organic matter that is moist.

All stages of a fruit fly infestations depend on organic debris to complete the complete fruit fly cylcle.

Whenever possible, food and materials on which fruit flies can lay their eggs must be removed, destroyed, as a breeding medium, or isolated from the egg-laying adult.

Killing adult fruit flies will reduce infestation, but elimination of fruit fly breeding areas is necessary for good management.

A space spray such as V One Pyrethrum

(Pyrethrin spray) can be used as a quick kill, reducing populations of flying insects.

Garbage cans and dumpsters should have tight-fitting lids and be cleaned regularly.

Drainage will often aid control, getting rid of extra moisture.

Openings of buildings should be tightly screened with screen.

The fruit fly larvae may feed on the sides of the drain and in the drain trap if there is an accumulation of organic debris there. You can check it by placing some tape over the opening (leave some opening for air flow). If you find these flies stuck to the tape, you have discovered the source.

Pouring bleach down the drain is not effective.
A bacterial digester like   DF 5000 or Invade Bio Gel   may be used to break up the organic debris.

Gentrol Aerosol is an aerosol insect growth regulator to use to kill fruit fly eggs and discourage immature fruit fly development.
Gentrol can be applied into drains, under appliances, floor mats, around plants, dumpsters, etc.

Re-grouting tiles to prevent water seepage into walls will stop fruit fly breeding in those sites. If found in rotting vegetable matter, the source should be destroyed.

Clean dirty garbage containers, wet lint under the washing machine, and even standing water in containers under houseplant pots. Outside the home, inspect air conditioners, bird baths, shallow stagnant pools of water and sewage treatment facilities upwind as the fruit fly will travel with the wind.

2. Insecticides for Fruit Fly Control: Residual and Contract

DEMON WP  or  Cyper WP  are wettable powders, mixed with water to spray exterior surfaces where fruit flies would land, sprayed once a month.

We also carry fogging material and professional fogger equipment:
FOGGING MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT

3.Trapping : 960 Vector Fruit Fly Trap

960 VECTOR FRUIT FLY TRAP

4. Aerosols for Fruit Fly Control

Pyrethrin contact aerosols would be:

V One Pryethrum

 V TECH MIST FLYING INSECT KILLER /     is an automatic dispenser to be used with the the V Tech Mist Flying Insect Killer.
The V Tech Mist Automatic aerosol will last 30 days.

Gentrol Aerosol is an aerosol insect growth regulator to use to kill fruit fly eggs and discourage immature fruit fly development.
Gentrol can be applied into drains, under appliances, floor mats, around plants, dumpsters, etc.