Fruit flies may be small, but they can be incredibly frustrating. They’re drawn to anything ripe, rotting, or fermenting, making your kitchen the perfect breeding ground if you're not careful. Whether it’s fruit, vegetables, or anything else giving off the scent of fermentation, fruit flies will find it. Studies have shown that bananas are attractive to them. So, if you’re a fan of bananas, here are a few simple steps you can take to keep these pesky flies out of your home.
What Are Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies are common household pests found in places like kitchens, restaurants, grocery stores, and anywhere that food is exposed. They’re especially drawn to the sugars in fermenting fruits and vegetables, but they also have a taste for beer, wine, ice cream, and even fermenting flour.
These flies don’t live long, but they multiply fast. A single female can lay hundreds of eggs, which hatch in as little as 15 hours. From egg to adult, a fruit fly can fully mature in just about a week. That means if you spot one, there are likely many more nearby.
How to Prevent a Fruit Fly Infestation
Eliminate Attractants
Get rid of any ripe, overripe, or damaged fruits and vegetables as soon as possible. If you’re not going to eat them right away, store them in the fridge or toss them out. Fruit flies may lay eggs inside produce, so even one bad apple can quickly lead to a swarm.
Seal Up Food Properly
Keep your food in sealed containers or covered with wraps to reduce the scent of fermentation. Cutting off their access to food is one of the easiest ways to prevent them from hanging around your home.
Take Out the Trash Regularly
Even if you throw away spoiled food, the job isn’t done. Fruit flies can still find and feed on leftovers in your garbage or recycling bin. Empty your trash frequently and clean out the bins regularly to prevent the buildup of juices or residues that attract flies.
Already Have a Problem?
If fruit flies have already made themselves at home, skip the insecticide. These pests are persistent and can hide in places you wouldn’t think to check. Your best bet is to call a local pest control professional who can safely and thoroughly handle the infestation.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
