Where do fruit flies come from and how to get rid of them
When flies form in the kitchen, many people are interested in how to get rid of fruit flies using simple methods without harming others. The method of control largely depends on the number of pests. In order for insects not to reappear in the house, it is necessary to observe preventive measures and promptly clean the room.
Who are fruit flies
Externally, the insects are small in size, at least 2 mm. The body of the fruit fly is light brown and the eyes are red. Insects appear in places where vegetables and fruits accumulate, as they feed on spoiled food. Insects reproduce quickly and can appear in large numbers in a short time if food is available.
How to enter the house
In nature, Drosophila most often settles near fruit and vegetable crops.Very often insects lay their eggs on fruits. Insect eggs are very resistant to the external climate, so they can get into the house during the period of buying fruits and vegetables. Under warm conditions, the insects emerge from the eggs in 1-2 days. However, if the rotting process has started in the fruits, the flies hatch faster.
Insects can also appear from soil used for houseplants. Drosophila eggs are also very often found in the soil. Exposure to hot temperatures and regular watering very often leads to the formation of whole hordes of pests.
In summer, insects can enter the living space through ventilation and open windows. Fruit flies react to various odors, especially those from spoiled food. Therefore, the appearance of insects in the bin area is common.
Cleanliness is the best method
To reduce the risk of fly formation, the room should be kept clean. Regularly perform the following actions:
- take out the trash every day;
- do not leave unwashed dishes;
- put vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator;
- do not leave tea leaves;
- do not leave pieces of fruit;
- spray indoor plants with pest control medication.
Observance of cleanliness is a preventive method, with the help of which there will be no problems with the appearance of fruit flies.
Fresh air
To get rid of harmful insects, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the room with the help of detergents and to ventilate the apartment well. Drosophila are attracted to unpleasant odors, which can be eliminated by airing the house.In winter, cold air can negatively affect the condition of insects and lead to their death. You can also get rid of insects in an apartment with the help of natural smells such as elderberry, mint.
Deprive of food
The most common insect problem occurs in the kitchen. To get rid of fruit flies, you must eliminate all food by putting it in the refrigerator. Do not store vegetables and fruits in vases, especially in summer, when food deteriorates rapidly. Make sure no food particles remain on the floor and take out the garbage in time or keep the garbage bag closed.
keep it clean
With a large accumulation of insects, regular maintenance of cleanliness in the room will help eliminate fruit flies. Flies reproduce very quickly, one insect can lay up to 400 eggs. If you do not clean the premises regularly, insects may appear permanently; during the cleaning process, you should use detergents or a vinegar solution.
Important. The female Drosophila lays up to 400 eggs, which hatch in 24 hours. In the process of eliminating pests, it is necessary to observe preventive measures for several days after the elimination of flies in order to reduce their reappearance.
Disinfect pet trays
Pet food bowls can cause fruit flies to spawn because the food is sour and has an unpleasant smell, and trays that aren't cleaned in time can also contribute to the outbreak of insects. To reduce this type of problem, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect containers intended for pets once a week. Cells and the aquariums are also cleaned regularly special medications that can be purchased at pet stores.
Monitor water in pallets
Abundant watering of plants leads to the accumulation of water in the containers. The water stagnates and begins to cause an unpleasant odor that attracts insects. Fruit flies accumulate in jars and on pallets, and when food becomes available, they spread throughout the home.
Wash the plants
Since insects can form in flower pots and trays, they usually lay their eggs on the leaves of houseplants. Washing the plants will reduce the number of eggs. For this, cotton wool soaked in water is used, with the help of which the leaves and shoots are wiped once a week.
Chemical methods
In the event of a heavy accumulation of insect pests, special chemicals can be used to eliminate fruit flies in a short time.
Tape
An effective method is to use fly tape. The tape is placed in the places with the greatest accumulation of fruit flies and left for a day. Insects stick to the sticky side and die. This disposal method does not harm others and can be used for a long time.
Aerosols
Fruit flies can be destroyed using aerosols, including:
- Dichlorvos;
- Raptor;
- "Fight";
- "Raid".
The aerosol is sprayed in places where insects accumulate, the room is closed for several hours. After using aerosols, ventilate the room. When using a chemical preparation, children and pets should be away from the apartment.
Mosquito repellent plates and liquids
For cases where fruit flies have spread throughout the apartment in large numbers, you can use mosquito fumigators.The action of drugs allows you to fight insects without leaving home. The fumigator is plugged into the mains and left for several hours.
Shop and house traps
To eliminate fruit flies without harming others, special traps can be used.
Velcro shop "Raptor"
Duct tape allows you to get rid of fruit flies in no time. The tape contains a special sticky liquid that attracts fruit flies with its scent. Velcro has liquid adhesive on one side, the other is designed to be attached to the surface. If necessary, the liquid included in the kit can be reapplied, allowing the bait to be used for more than 1 month.
Pot with a cone
Homemade bait that effectively kills midges. To prepare it, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:
- rotten fruit or insect-attracting liquid is placed at the bottom of a 0.7 ml glass jar;
- it is necessary to roll a cone out of thick paper;
- lower the cone into the pot with the narrow end and secure it with tape so that there are no holes, except for the main one in the cone.
The pot is placed in a place where insects accumulate, get inside the bait, midges cannot find a way out.
Low glass and film
To make this type of bait, you need:
- put jam or rotten fruit at the bottom of a low glass;
- a film is placed on top of the glass, in which several holes are made;
- fruit flies, falling into a trap, cannot get out.
Instead of a film, adhesive tape can be used, in which case the insects will stick together, which will lead to their death.
Wine vinegar with dish detergent
Gnats flock to wine or apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is mixed in equal proportions with dishwashing detergent and placed in saucers in several places.Insects, penetrating into the liquid, cannot subsequently take off. The mixture should be changed every 4-6 days.
Folk recipes
You can get rid of pests using special dry mixes and plants that have a specific smell. The use of traditional methods does not contain chemical components and does not affect human health.
A mixture of ground pepper and juice
Mix sweet juice and ground pepper in equal proportions. The resulting composition is poured into shallow saucers and placed in places where insects accumulate. The liquid should be changed every 2 days.
Black pepper acts as a poisonous component for flies and allows you to get rid of pests in a short time.
Important. In order for fruit flies to flock to the bait, you need to use a dark banana or wheat beer. These odors tend to trap insects in one place.
honey and saccharin
To prepare such a recipe for eliminating flies, you need:
- mix honey and saccharin in equal proportions;
- soak the newspaper and dry;
- put a piece of newspaper on a saucer and sprinkle with a little water.
Flocked insects die within 24 hours.
Bread, sugar and soda
To kill flies, mix equal parts baking soda and sugar and add a pinch of black breadcrumbs. The resulting composition is laid out on a plate and moistened with water. After eating, midges die from the negative effects of soda.
Milk, sugar and ground pepper
This composition poisons fruit flies throughout the day. To cook you will need:
- mix a glass of milk with two tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of ground pepper;
- bring the composition to a boil and pour into saucers;
- saucers are placed in places where insects accumulate.
After consuming the composition, the flies die.
Geranium
With a small buildup of wine midges, you can use simple control methods, including geranium. The houseplant gives off an odor that repels pests. To fight, it is enough to have a flower on the sill of the window. Mint, lavender or wormwood have the same properties. To combat and eliminate pests, it is enough to spread dry or fresh grass around the apartment.
Drosophila indoors can adversely affect the health of living family members, also have an unpleasant appearance, and often signal a lack of cleanliness.
It is simple to avoid the formation of such problems, it is enough to regularly remove dirt and debris from the premises, as well as carry out general cleaning every 1-2 weeks. Cleaning is especially important when there are large numbers of pets or houseplants. To reduce the risk of midges appearing in summer, it is recommended to use mosquito nets to protect windows.