Fruit flies, which belong to the Diptera order of flies in the Drosophilidae family, are small insects that feed on rotting or decaying foods and vegetation. They’re common in households all around the United States. 

Do fruit flies bite? The simple answer is no. However, these pests may cause allergic reactions, so it’s still important to rid yourself of these pests.

WHAT ARE FRUIT FLIES? 

Fruit flies (Drosophila spp.) are small flies around ⅛ inch in length that gather around food that is rotting or fermenting. They lay their eggs near the surfaces of moist, fermenting soils or foods so that the emerging larvae can feed there. After around a week, the larvae grow into adults and begin to fly—that’s when most people realize they have a pest problem. 

Fruit flies can be in your kitchen on fruits or vegetables, and they’re also known to infest trash cans and garbage disposals.

DO FRUIT FLIES BITE PEOPLE? 

While fruit flies might annoy you, you don’t have to worry about them biting. In fact, they don’t even have teeth. 

When people think they’ve been bitten, it’s usually because fruit flies can spread bacteria that can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have little red bumps on you after a fruit fly has landed on you, you may have an allergy. Fortunately, the allergy is unlikely to be serious and is usually limited to the localized area where the fly landed.

HOW DO I GET RID OF FRUIT FLIES? 

There are lots of ways to eliminate fruit flies if they’ve infested your home. Try these options, and give our experts a call if you don’t see a reduction in fruit flies within a few days. 

SEAL UP FOOD SOURCES

Fruit flies eat many of the same foods people do, so if they have access to bananas, tomatoes, or other foods you might leave on the counter, they can become troublesome. An important part of getting rid of these pests is to seal up all food sources. Put your bananas in a bag or a container in your refrigerator’s fruit section. Place tomatoes in a sealed container if they’ll be out on your counter. If new fruit flies emerge, they’ll be trapped with the food items, making them easier to throw away.

GET A LIDDED TRASH CAN

Another helpful tip is to use a trash can with a lid. Fruit flies can go into your trash to eat, mate, and lay eggs, so eliminating that breeding and feeding ground is a must. 

MAKE A DIY FRUIT FLY TRAP

Along with sealing off breeding and feeding areas, you can set up a trap to eliminate fruit flies already flying around your home. The bowl and soap trap is simple: Just set out a bowl of one part apple cider vinegar and one part water. Add a few drops of dish soap and mix thoroughly. 

This trap lures fruit flies with its sweet scent, but once they land on the surface, they can’t break free.

GET HELP WITH A FRUIT FLY INFESTATION

While no one wants to look down at their fruit or vegetables and see flies congregating around them, fruit flies are a common problem that can crop up from time to time.

Fruit flies irritate and annoy, but they’re fairly simple to get rid of. If you’ve been battling with them and can’t see an end in sight, we’re here to assist. We want your home to be comfortable again. Contact us now to say goodbye to annoying pests.

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SOURCES

• https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/articles/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Fruit-Flies
• http://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef621
• https://study.com/academy/lesson/fruit-fly-allergy-symptoms-treatment.html 
• https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/how-get-rid-fruit-flies 
• https://www.sanbi.org/animal-of-the-week/common-fruit-fly/

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AUTHOR BIO

Courtney Enzor has worked in the pest control industry for about a decade. From helping you build a fly trap to giving you the best tips for identifying various bugs, she loves answering all your pest-related questions and sharing her pest-related expertise through writing. At the end of the day, she hopes her content will help people avoid mishaps and keep families happy and healthy!