Fruit Flies

What do fruit flies look like?

a fruit fly on a blade of grass in davenport iowa

Fruit flies can easily be identified by their very small size. Adults only grow to be about 1/8 of an inch in length. While too small to distinguish their color with the naked eye, they are usually brown, tan, or black. Some have distinctive red eyes and others have darker colored eyes. The larvae are about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long, nearly white, eyeless, legless, and their bodies taper towards their pointed heads from their larger rear segments. The larva head contains 2 dark mouth hooks.

Where are fruit flies found?

Fruit flies are found living outside in the spring and summer months, breeding until they reach their peak numbers in autumn. In the fall farmers are harvesting crops, and there are more than enough breeding and feeding sites available for them to thrive in. The most common way that fruit flies enter Iowa or Illinois homes is on fruits and vegetables purchased from stores that are already infested. They may also enter homes through small spaces found in windows, doors, and exterior walls as they forage for food and water. Properties that have large gardens, compost piles, and fruit trees often attract fruit flies.

What do fruit flies eat?

Fruit flies feed on very ripe fruits and vegetables such as bananas, strawberries, melons, cucumbers, potatoes, and many others. Fruit flies are also found feeding on fermented liquids like beer, cider, vinegar, and the liquids found on the top of cans and jars that have not been sealed properly.

DIY fruit fly prevention and control tips

Fruit flies enter homes in very large numbers, are difficult to eliminate, and carry dangerous diseases that they can transmit to people. The following tips can help to control fruit flies in your home:

Make sure to inspect fruits and veggies for signs of fruit flies before purchasing and bringing them home from the market.
Store produce in the refrigerator instead of out on the counters.
Quickly remove overripe fruits and vegetables from your home.
Pick up fallen fruits and vegetables from gardens, and make sure that compost bins have lids on them.
Remove garbage from your home daily, storing it in outdoor trash cans with tight-fitting lids until trash pick-up day.
Wash dishes daily, and clean up crumbs and spills quickly.

Professional fruit fly control

To find out how Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators solves fruit fly infestations in homes and businesses, please give us a call or fill out our online form and we’ll reach out to discuss the fly issue more in depth. Reach out to us today!