Tired of fruit flies in your house, and want to know how to get rid of fruit flies? These pests can definitely be a nuisance – and a dangerous one – inside your home, but there are some tricks to keeping them away. Here's what Oahu homeowners should know about fruit flies, how to prevent these pests, and the best way to get rid of fruit flies with pest control in Oahu.
How To Tell If Fruit Flies Are In Your Home
Some infestations can grow over time, but with fruit flies, it can feel like your home has become infested in a matter of days – and it can! Fortunately, identifying a fruit fly infestation in your home is not difficult, and there are only a couple of signs you need to keep in mind.
The first sign is that you're seeing a bunch of fruit flies, especially in your kitchen and areas where you prepare or eat food. Fruit flies are small, oval-shaped flies with tan thoraxes and red or dark-colored eyes. These flies can take flight, and may hover around you if you've got food sitting out, making them easy to spot.
The other major sign of a fruit fly infestation is fruit fly larvae. Unlike adults, fruit fly larvae can't fly and have worm-like appearances with tan bodies. Fruit flies lay their eggs near fermenting food, so their hatched larvae have an accessible food source, so you may find their larvae around trash cans, dirty dishes, or other rotting food.
Is It Safe To Eat Something A Fruit Fly Has Landed On?
So, you've been spotting fruit flies hovering around your kitchen and landing on your food – is it still safe to eat something that a fruit fly has landed on? Unfortunately, the answer is usually no.
Despite only living a couple of months, fruit flies can be vectors for dangerous bacteria. Because they spend so much time around rotting and fermenting organic material, including in drains and sewers, these flies can pick up harmful bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, all of which can lead to food poisoning.
Not all fruit flies carry disease, but if they're landing on your food or clean kitchen surfaces, they have the potential to spread bacteria and make you sick.
Fruit Fly Prevention Tips
What causes fruit flies? There are a couple quick facts that are key to understanding these pests and why they may be in your home. First of all fruit flies are attracted to ripe and rotting fruits, vegetables, and other fermenting food. They are most likely to end up in homes with easy access to food.
Second, while fruit flies only live around fifty days, one female fruit fly can produce up to 500 new flies in her short lifespan, making these infestations hard to control. Their prolific nature makes fruit flies crucial for scientific research but a huge nuisance if they've infested your home.
Fruit fly infestations aren't just annoying. They can come with health risks, too. Luckily, there are ways to prevent these pests in Oahu, including:
- Refrigerate your fruits and vegetables rather than leave them sitting out in the open.
- If unused fruits and vegetables begin to rot, make sure you throw them out immediately.
- Don't leave full or overflowing garbage cans sitting in or outside your home, and empty cans and compost piles regularly.
- Wipe off countertops after preparing and eating food.
- Don't leave dirty dishes marinating in the sink, and clean out the sink and drain after you wash a load of dishes.
- If you spill a drink or something you've eaten, make sure you wipe up the spill immediately.
Fruit flies are after your fruits, vegetables, and other rotting food, so practicing good sanitation in your home will go a long way toward preventing these pests.
The Best Fly Control In Oahu
Of the common types of flies in Oahu, fruit flies are some of the biggest – and most dangerous – nuisances to have in your home. Their presence can even make you sick if they manage to spread bacteria, which is why it's important to control fruit flies if you have them.
The best way to get rid of fruit flies is by working with the professionals at Pest Tech Hawaii. If you're seeing one too many fruit flies around your home, there's no reason to risk your health or someone else's – contact us today to learn more about how our home pest control services work for Oahu homes.
Client Review
I have been using Pest Tech for the unit I manage and my personal property for the last 3 years. They are always on time, makes sure to follow up before regular service, cost efficient and always friendly.
Request An Estimate
Complete the form below to request your estimate.
