Are Fruit Flies Dangerous In Naples?
11/21/2021
Fruit flies get their name from their favorite foods, which are ripening, fermenting fruits. However, even if you’ve never accidentally left out a plate of fruit on your kitchen counter or patio table—particularly in the fall or summer—you’ve probably still run into these buzzing flies in Naples and more than a handful of times.
Basic Info About Fruit Flies
In Naples and elsewhere, fruit flies are common pests, and though their presence is more of a nuisance than anything, they are known to carry harmful microorganisms and parasites which can cause sickness and disease to humans and pets. These tiny flies transmit bacteria to nearly every surface they land on. For this reason, it’s essential to take precautions if fruit flies are in your home.
Read on for more about fruit flies, how to distinguish them from other small flies, and how to identify a fruit fly infestation. Also, we will discuss why fruit flies are dangerous and offer tips on fruit fly prevention.
How To Identify Fruit Flies And A Fruit Fly Infestation
Fruit flies, also known as vinegar flies, are tiny, winged, and smaller than most flies, measuring just one-eighth of an inch long. In Southwest Florida, common fruit flies are identified by their black-colored back, whitish-gray abdomen, and red eyes.
A fruit fly infestation may seem to have occurred overnight, and that’s because it probably did. In addition to outdoors, fruit flies commonly breed in garbage cans and disposals, as well as in drains and mop buckets. Once breeding begins, a single female can lay 500 eggs at once, which take a little more than a day to hatch. Because having fruit flies in the house can quickly develop into an infestation, it’s wisest to refer to pest control services.
Why Are Fruit Flies Dangerous?
As their name implies, fruit flies prefer to feed on moist, decaying, sugary foods, including fermenting fruits and vegetables, soda, fruit juice, and spilled alcoholic beverages. However, one of the places where fruit flies commonly find these foods is in unsanitary areas such as garbage cans and dumpsters. When they land in dirty conditions, they become exposed to all sorts of bacteria, including salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, which all cause food poisoning.
Fruit Fly Prevention Tips
For how to avoid fruit flies in your home, consider the following three tips.
- Keep Areas Clean Of The Foods That Fruit Flies Like Most: Refrain from leaving fruits and vegetables out on the kitchen counter. Be sure to clean up all spills from fruit juice, soda, and alcoholic beverages. Keep trash cans clean and store trash in airtight contains. Also, be vigilant about cleaning garbage disposals and sink drains, as well as recycling and composting bins, to be sure that no sticky residue is left behind.
- Thoroughly Clean All Produce: To avoid bringing fruit flies or their larvae or eggs into your home, meticulously wash and clean all produce, and examine it for signs of damage.
- Store Produce Properly: Keep the produce out of reach of fruit flies by storing the fruit in the refrigerator, be mindful that fruit flies can survive in the fridge. This temperature prolongs shelf life and delays decaying, thus preventing fruit flies.
Get Rid Of Fruit Flies In The House—For Good
Because of their rapid breeding behaviors and their large number of offspring, it’s difficult for homeowners to eliminate fruit flies independently. The easiest and most effective way to get rid of fruit flies is with help from pest professionals. Since our founding at Keller’s Pest Control, we’ve been eradicating infestations, including fruit flies and other pests. For more advice or assistance, give us a call today.
