FRUIT flies can be a nuisance in your home, and what's worse, they're after your food!
Here's all you need to know about the creepy critters lurking in your five-a-day.
Where do fruit flies come from?
Fruit flies are attracted to fermenting fruit, and are particularly common in the summer months when fruit and veg are ripening.
These winged insects are hardwired to follow the smell of ripe produce and can detect them from great distances.
The fruit bowl in your home will be a veritable feast for a fruit fly, and you'll likely find a hungry one buzzing around somewhere nearby.
As fruit flies are extremely small, they're able to sneak through gaps in the window cause an infestation because they reproduce so rapidly.
Do they bite?
Mercifully, though these insects may be a bit annoying, their buzz is worse than their bite.
They live off fermenting fruit and do not feed on blood like mosquitos.
They don't even have the right equipment to bite humans, even if they wanted to.
The problem is their capacity to reproduce, as they can quickly multiply into the thousands.
Will fruit flies go away on their own?
The bad news is, once fruit flies are in your kitchen, they won't just go away on their own.
Fruit flies are breed prolifically and can lay up to 500 eggs.
These then hatch into larvae, which moult twice before reaching maturity.
Development from egg is quick, taking just eight to ten days.
How do you get rid of fruit flies?
But if your larder is becoming overwhelmed, there are some simple ways to get rid of them.
- Make sure you throw out overripe produce
- Wash produce as soon as you get home to remove potential eggs or larvae
- Clean up spills as soon as possible, especially fruit juice or alcohol.
- Store fruits and vegetables in the fridge
- Ensure you take the rubbish out regularly
You can also tackle them by making a vinegar trap.
To do this, you just pouring about an inch of apple cider vinegar into a glass or cup.
You then pop a plastic bag over it and secure it in place with a rubber band.
After that, snip off one of the corners of the bag to create a small hole and place the trap near the infestation.
The fruit flies will be attracted to vinegar, but they won't be able to escape from the plastic.
MOST READ IN NEWS
BURN OUT Forecaster warns of hottest May day in 100yrs as maps show African blast on way
Evil Putin 'now at his DEADLIEST' as puffy-faced despot displays 'anger signals'
Paedo Doctor Strange star was pals with evil kickboxer who raped teen girl
Chilling clues at burial site reveal shock truth as couple found dead in yard
What's the difference between fruit flies and gnats?
Fruit flies range from tan to black in colour, whilst fungus gnats are dark grey or black.
While fruit flies have a rounded body like a smaller version of the common house fly, while gnats have dangling legs and long bodies, like a mosquito.
Source: Read Full Article