Fruit Flies

Size: (3mm)
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Fruit flies are small about 1/8-inch in length including the wings.
Key Identification:
- A key identifying character is its bright red eyes.
- The Fruit fly is about one third the size of the house or filth fly.
Color:
- Body color is usually a light yellow to tan color.
Biology and Habits:
- The 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.
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Populations tend to be greatest in late summer and early fall as they infest
fruits during the harvest season.
- Fruit flies are 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.
- They are generally found hovering around decaying vegetation and
overripe fruit.
Fruit flies most often are found hovering around overly ripe fruit.
Fermenting
materials, such as leftover beer or soft drinks, also are a favorite food of
these flies.
These pesky insects 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.
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Like all flies, fruit flies develop 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.
They are 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.
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This surface-feeding characteristic of the 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 these flies are found infesting facilities
where food is prepared, processed, or served.
- Newly-emerged adults are attracted to lights, but egg laying females will not
leave fermenting materials.
The 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 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 Measures :
Exclusion
and Sanitation, Insecticides, Traps, and Aerosols
1. Exclusion
and Sanitation:
Sanitation is the first measure of defense, even though there are various
traps and sprays that are used to kill flies, it is necessary to eliminate the
source in order to eliminate them.
The key to controlling these infestations is to locate and eliminate their
breeding sources.
Whenever possible, food and materials on which the flies can lay their eggs
must be removed, destroyed, as a breeding medium, or isolated from the
egg-laying adult.
Killing adult flies will reduce infestation, but elimination of breeding
areas is necessary for good management.
A space spray
KONK II
(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 Vector
Drain Gel or DF 5000 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 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 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 adult
flies will travel with the wind.
2. Insecticides : Residual and Contract
DEMON
WP or Cyper
WP are wettable powders, mixed with water to spray exterior
surfaces where 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
Electronic traps: Inside Use These electronic fly traps are
very efficient and functional for an ongoing problem:
Insectakill Professional Fly Traps and Insectalite Fly Traps
INSECTALITE 18 and the INSECTALITE 30 WATT
REFLECTOR FLY TRAP
5. Aerosols
Pyrethrin contact aerosols would be:
KONK II
V TECH / AUTOMATIC DISPENSER is an automatic dispenser to be used with
the the V Tech Flying Insect Killer.
The V Tech Automatic aerosol will last 30 days.

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