Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster)
The Fruit Fly is a common pest in homes, restaurants, bars, industrial kitchens, and even restrooms because this insect feeds and thrives in the organic material (gunk) that builds in pipes, drains, and food sources such as fruits and vegetables.
To get control of these fruit fly infestations you must locate the food source and either clean it or remove it. Easy-to-use Fruit Fly traps can alert you to the presence of the infestation.
Fruit Fly Traps
Fruit Fly Description
Adults: 3 mm (0.125 inches) long. Common Fruit Flies have red eyes. The thorax is brown/tan and the abdomen black.
Eggs: 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) long. They are yellow in color and similar in shape to a grain of rice.
Larvae: AKA (maggot) are 3-4mm (0.125 inches) long and is wormlike and pale white/yellow in color.
Pupae: Yellowish brown and 3 mm (0.125 inches) long.
The Life Cycle of the Fruit Fly
The reproductive potential of fruit flies is quite high. Females can lay upwards of 500 eggs in her lifetime and the entire lifecycle, from egg to adult, can be completed in about 7 days in warm temperatures. Eggs are laid directly on food sources and under average room temperature, the eggs hatch into larvae within a day or two.
The larva grows for about 4-5 days followed by a pupation period of about the same length.
Fruit Fly Damage & Detection
Fruit flies feed primarily on moist, decaying, organic food items including fruits, vegetables and other fermenting liquids. Fruit fly infestations can be identified by numerous adult insects flying around a food source or from the maggots infesting decaying food. In heavy fruit fly infestations, pupae can be found some distance from the food source when the larvae migrate away to find a dry, dark, and safe place to pupate. Fruit fly traps can be helpful in early detection and management of fruit fly populations.
Fruit Fly Facts
Similar species include phorid flies (Phoridae) and fungus gnats (Sciaroide)
Fruit flies initiate flight at temperatures above 15°C (60°F).
Fruit flies are one of the most studied organisms in regard to genetics, physiology, ecology, behavior, and developmental biology.
Fruit Fly Monitoring Tips & Tricks
Lure: Red liquid concentrates specifically tested and designed to attract adult Fruit Flies.
Trap Storage: Keep unopened bottles of fruit fly traps in cool storage less than 16°C (60°F) or place in freezer for extended storage. Lures can remain frozen for up to 24 months or at room temperature for 12 months to retain their full effectiveness for use afterwards.
Trap Designs used with Lure: 15 ml bottle with a screw on cap. Liquid is included with each bottle and the devices are ready to use.
Trap Placement Techniques: Liquid food attractants can be placed year-round but are especially recommend during warmer months when temperatures exceed 12.5°C (55°F). Liquid food attractant traps like the GreenWay Fruit Fly Trap are most effective at capturing fruit flies. In areas such as a kitchen or home, place one or two traps per room.
In commercial areas, such as warehouses or retail stores, place liquid food attractants 7.5–15 m (25–50 feet) apart to determine the presence or absence of fruit flies. Increase liquid food attractant density to 4.5–7.5 m (15 – 25 feet) apart to help locate source of fruit flies. Fruit fly liquid food attractants are best utilized in areas that store canned foods, fruit, vegetables, beverages, and areas that prepare food.
Trap and Lure Maintenance: Replace fruit fly traps when bottle is filled with insects or dries out. Record date and number of catches to identify trending information.
Take this information about Fruit Flies with you
Fruit Fly Traps
Fruit Fly FAQs
Where do Fruit Flies come from?
You walk into your kitchen and you see fruit flies everywhere. Where do they come from? Fruit flies typically travel from one spoiled piece of fruit or vegetation to the next. They are readily found in the wild but will seek out the odors associated with the spoilage of fruit and produce.
Many times, they are brought into a home along with the purchased fruit or vegetables that were obtained at the grocery store. Their relatively short life cycle of 18 days from egg to adult means that the minute eggs on the produce that you buy goes unnoticed and within a few days there is a hatch out of adults in your kitchen.
What do fruit flies look like?
Adult Fruit Flies: small flies that are only 3 mm (0.125 inches) long. Common Fruit Flies have red eyes. The thorax (area behind the head) is brown/tan and the abdomen black.
Fruit Fly Eggs: 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) long and can’t be seen by the naked eye. They are yellow in color and similar in shape to a grain of rice but much, much smaller.
Fruit fly larvae: AKA (maggots) are 3-4mm (0.125 inches) long and is wormlike and pale white/yellow in color.
Pupae: Yellowish brown and 3 mm (0.125 inches) long.
How do I get rid of fruit flies?
The removal of infested produce combined with increased sanitation practices can generally help rid you of fruit flies. Any questionable fruit or produce should be bagged up and disposed of. Refrigeration of non-spoiled produce will slow or stop the development of fruit flies on those materials.
Residual liquids or food in recycling storage bins is often a source of the flies. All materials to be recycled should be thoroughly rinsed out and removed at least once each week to prevent fruit fly populations from developing there. Trash bins should be washed out regularly with warm, soapy water to remove food and liquid residues that allow the propagation of the fruit flies.
Fly populations can be monitored using food-based fruit fly traps sold through Insects Limited. These traps will let you know when fruit flies are present and will remove both males and females from the environment.
Are all small dark flies, fruit flies?
There are thousands of species of small flies in the world and most are not considered to be fruit flies. Dark eyed fruit flies typically do not infest fruit and produce but are instead found in the nasty organic ooze found in drains and trash containers.
Moth flies are also considered to be drain flies and are commonly found in bathrooms or kitchens. Fungus gnats are small, dark flies that feed on the fungus growing on the soil of over-watered potted plants. To check to see of the flies that you are seeing are common fruit flies, look closely for their telltale red eyes.
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