Fruit Flies Guide

Locate the Food Source
The Secret to Fruit Fly Elimination

Successfully eliminating fruit flies hinges on identifying and removing their food source. If the source isn’t addressed, a reinfestation is likely as new fruit flies are drawn to the area. Once the source has been located and removed, you can eliminate the adult fruit flies using space sprays, fogging methods, or fruit fly traps.

anitation and Pest Prevention Tips

Sanitation is a crucial element of any pest control program, especially when dealing with fruit flies. While sprays and traps can help reduce the population, removing or cleaning their breeding and feeding sources is essential for complete elimination. Fruit flies rely on fruit, vegetables, or decaying organic material to thrive and reproduce. Your goal should be to eliminate as much of this material as possible through proper sanitation practices:

• Use trash receptacles with tight-fitting lids.
• Regularly clean trash bins and receptacles.
• Dispose of rotting or overripe produce promptly.
• Store edible produce in sealed plastic containers.
• Clean any food spills or messes discovered during your inspection.
• Lift and clean under floor mats or rugs.
• Re-grout damaged tile grout to prevent moisture buildup, which can serve as breeding grounds for fruit flies.
• Wipe down counters with an appropriate cleaning solution.
• Mop floors thoroughly using an effective cleaner.
• Use drain gel to clean sink and floor drains where food debris may have accumulated.

Effective Methods to Eliminate Fruit Flies
To control fruit flies, you can choose from several methods, including:

• Using a contact spray or fogger to quickly eliminate adult fruit flies.
• Deploying disposable fruit fly traps to capture and reduce their population.
• Installing fly lights to attract and trap adult fruit flies effectively.

Products or Tools Needed:

• Pyrethrin aerosol spray or a ready-to-use fogger

Space spraying involves using a contact-kill aerosol spray to release the product directly into the air, rather than applying it to surfaces. Only pyrethrin-based aerosols are typically labeled for this purpose. Space sprays are ideal for small areas where a fogger may not be suitable or as a quick knockdown solution for later use. For larger spaces, a fogger is often more effective.

Both space sprays and foggers are excellent options for quickly eliminating high fruit fly activity indoors. These methods target fruit flies present at the time of application but do not provide residual protection.

How to Apply:

• Follow the product label instructions carefully.
• Apply the aerosol spray or activate the fogger in the infested room.
• Vacate the room immediately after application, as most space sprays and foggers require the area to remain unoccupied during treatment.
• Ventilate the room thoroughly before re-entry.

Always refer to the product label for specific re-entry and safety requirements.

Products or Tools Needed:

• Fly light

A fly light trap uses ultraviolet rays to attract flies and other flying pests, capturing them on a glue board without the use of insecticides.

Fly lights are especially useful for homes and businesses where fruit flies are a recurring problem or where insecticides are not permitted or preferred. These devices are available in various sizes, designs, and price ranges.

Proper Installation:
Choosing the right location for a fly light is critical for its effectiveness.

• Install the fly light away from areas where flies could bother people or contaminate food products.
• Avoid placing the light near doors or windows that open to the outdoors, as competing light sources can reduce its efficiency.
• Refer to the product label or instruction guide for optimal placement recommendations.

Products or Tools Needed:

• Fruit Fly Traps

Fruit fly traps are an affordable, low-maintenance, non-toxic, and pesticide-free solution for managing fruit fly infestations. Most traps use a fruit-based attractant to lure fruit flies into the trap. These traps are typically ready to use and should be replaced every 30 days.

Fruit fly traps are an excellent option for individuals who keep fresh produce in their homes and can even be placed directly in fruit bowls. They help monitor the level of infestation while reducing the fruit fly population by up to 80%.

Fruit Fly Treatment Infographic(Click to View Full Graphic)