Using Vinegar to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
For such tiny little things, fruit flies can be a major nuisance. Once you get them, they can be pretty hard to get rid of. Fortunately, something as simple as vinegar can start you on your way to eliminating them for good.
Jump Ahead
- Difference Between Gnats and Fruit Flies
- How Fruit Flies Invade Your Home
- Using Vinegar to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
- How to Locate and Kill Fruit Fly Eggs
- How to Prevent Fruit Flies
- References
Difference Between Gnats and Fruit Flies
Before effectively eliminating fruit flies, you must ensure this is the pest you are dealing with. Fungus gnats are a similar nuisance but often require different elimination strategies.
Because these flies are so small, they may look the same to the naked eye, but gnats are darker and look like tiny mosquitoes, while fruit flies resemble houseflies. [1]
An easier way to identify your infestation is by the insects’ behavior. If your insect problem surrounds your plants, it’s likely fungus gnats. Fungus gnats prefer to develop in houseplant soil, where the larvae can feed on decaying plant material. [2]
Fruit flies are attracted to fermenting matter, which means they are drawn to overripe produce. They can also be found anywhere fermenting and wet, such as garbage disposals, drains, and unwashed cans and bottles. [3]
How Fruit Flies Invade Your Home
These flies can invade your home from the outside or, in many cases, are transported in from outside sources. If your house harbors anything fermenting and wet, these tiny flies can find a way into your home.
Even if you keep your house immaculate and completely dry, you can inadvertently introduce fruit flies to your home through newly purchased produce. Adult females lay tiny microscopic eggs on slightly ripened fruit, so if they are present at the time of purchase, they will hatch soon after if left out to ripen, such as bananas. [4]
Using Vinegar to Get Rid Fruit Flies
Expert Laurie Stevison, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Auburn University, recommends a simple vinegar trap to rid your home of fruit flies. “They are drawn to rotting fruit, so vinegar, a byproduct of the fermentation process, sets a perfect trap. Apple cider vinegar is probably best, but in a bind, beer or wine will work well, too!” says Stevison.
Stevinson advises mixing two ounces of vinegar with dish soap and placing it in a container. The vinegar will draw them in, where they will stick to the dish soap and drown. [5]
For containers, she suggests something with a narrow opening and a wide base, such as a soda/beer bottle. Alternatively, you can use a larger container like a mason jar and cover the opening with plastic wrap that has tiny holes poked through. [6]
How to Locate and Kill Fruit Fly Eggs
To treat a fruit fly infestation, you must take additional measures to locate and eradicate the infestation’s eggs, larvae, and source. Knowing that fruit flies are attracted to rotting food and moistness, inspect any places in the home where these conditions could attract them, such as food that has fallen to the back of a cabinet or recycle bins filled with old cans. Discard and sanitize anything that could be causing the infestation. [7]
Most often, you will find an infestation in a drain, especially one that does not get used or cleaned frequently. Stevinson recommends pouring hot water down your drain, then covering it and filling it with water as if you were going to wash dishes. Leave the water in the sink overnight to kill the flies by depriving them of oxygen. [8]
How to Prevent Fruit Flies
- Inspect your fruit and vegetables at the market to ensure they are free of fruit flies.
- Immediately wash and dry your fresh produce to remove any eggs that may be present.
- Throw away any unrefrigerated, overripe fruits and vegetables beginning to ferment, such as browning bananas.
- Take the trash out daily, especially if it contains food waste.
- Run the garbage disposal regularly with plenty of hot water.
- Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher.
- Thoroughly wash your returnable cans and bottles and return them regularly.
- Regularly run hot water through drains that aren’t used often, such as in a guest bathroom. For sinks, pour hot water into the sink overflow drain, as the larvae can collect there, too.
References
- [1] Orkin – “Fruit Fly vs. Gnat: Difference Between Gnats and Fruit Flies.“
- [2] University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension – “What Are These Little Flies?“
- [3] University of Kentucky Department of Entomology – “Fruit Flies.“
- [4] University of Michigan – Museum of Zoology – “Drosophila melanogaster.“
- [5][6] Auburn University – “Buzz kill: Auburn researcher offers advice for ridding homes of pesky fruit flies.”
- [7][8] Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – “Pesky Little Flies.“
