01

Mar
2016

Try sleeping with a Fruit Fly outbreak!

March 1st, 2016 | by Mel-Lynda Andersen | in Worms |    0   

Is your kitchen or worm composting area suddenly filled with small flies or gnats?

They’re probably fruit flies.

These miniature pests can be an annoying problem throughout the year, but are especially common during late summer and fall when fruits and vegetables are ripe and ready for harvest.

Adult fruit flies are less than 1/8” long with tan and black bodies. Once they emerge from their eggs, the tiny larvae continue to feed near the surface of the ripened or fermenting organic matter. By cutting away and composting any damaged or over-ripened portions of fruits and vegetables, you are eliminating their food source and any developing larvae. Fruit flies are crazy breeders. If left unchecked each little fly can lay as many as 500 eggs, and babies become adults in about a week!

Fruit flies love to inhabit:

Worm composting systems
Drains
Garbage disposals
House plants
Empty bottles and cans
Trash containers
Mops
Cleaning rags…

Basically… any place that has the potential for a moist (EW!) film of fermenting material to form.

I know, gross, I'm sorry!

Not only are fruit flies annoying pests, they can also contaminate food with bacteria and other disease-producing organisms, and they can be incredibly difficult to eradicate. Prevention is the key! By eliminating sources of attraction, such as over-ripe produce, you can ensure your home is not a comfy place for fruit flies to hang out and get jiggy in.

Keep in mind: A single rotting potato or onion forgotten at the back of a cupboard, or fruit juice spilled under the fridge can breed thousands of fruit flies – even your recycling bin can attract them if any spills have occurred from cans or bottles that you have recycled.

Eliminating Fruit Flies

Firstly, Installing tight-fitting screens on all windows and doors will also help keep fruit flies and most flying pests outside where they belong in adult form.

If its too late for your home, launch your attack on fruit flies by first locating and eliminating all potential breeding areas. Not just places you’ve seen fruit flies, but any places you can think of that accumulate moisture within your home. No amount of insecticide will destroy all of the fruit flies in your home until you remove all breeding sites and thoroughly clean counters, under your sink, recycling tubs and areas, and all other sources of moisture. It’s not always easy to find all of the source(s) of attraction and breeding…

Patience and persistence is key!

Here’s a way to search for them:

One method of inspection involves taping a clear plastic food storage bag over the opening of your garbage can and leaving it overnight. If flies are breeding in these areas, the adults will emerge and be caught in the bag.

Because fruit flies are so small, it’s difficult to swat them all, so let Mr. Hoover be your accomplice. Use your vacuum to suck up air-borne flies, and remember to empty and dispose of the bag afterwards.

Fruit Fly Traps

There are a number of commercial fruit fly traps are on the market. Check out the fruit fly traps and replacement attractant packs available online at the ATO Store.

If you are a “do-it-yourself” kind of person, you can also construct a trap by placing a paper funnel (rolled from a sheet of notebook paper) into a jar which with a few ounces of cider vinegar. This is the most delicious smelling of all the vinegars for those pesky fruit flies.

Place the jar trap(s) in select areas of your home, wherever you see fruit flies flying around. This simple but effective trap will soon catch any remaining adult flies.

Diligence, persistence and patience are paramount when battling these pesky pests. Even if your efforts seem futile, by systematically eliminating all sources of breeding and attraction, you are creating an inhospitable environment for fruit flies to live, breed and eat. Eventually, your home will be free of these pests, and you can once again enjoy indoor composting and food preparation without fear of attracting this nuisance back into your home.

Insecticides

If all of the breeding places you can think of have been dealt with, cleaned and removed, you can spray the areas with a pyrethrum-based, aerosol insecticide to kill any remaining adult flies in the area. Of course, you should always read and follow the directions on the label of the product you use to ensure you’re safely using the pesticide.

*Our suggestion is a natural insecticide option, made from dried flower heads of Chrysanthemum.*

Here’s a quick recipe for homemade insecticide:

Chrysanthemum Flower Tea:

You can make your own spray by boiling 100 grams of dried flowers into 1 liter of water. Boil dried flowers in water for twenty minutes. Strain, cool and place in a spray bottle. Can be stored for up to two months. You can also add some organic neem oil to enhance the effectiveness.

If you’ve got any other successful ways to rid your home or office of the wicked fruit fly, let us know!

Contact us in the following ways...

1. Call us toll free at 1-877-372-1835
2. Send us an e-mail at info@allthingsorganic.com
3. Click here to follow us on Twitter!
4. Click here to like us on Facebook!