Neither does pouring Borax or diatomaceous earth powder down the drain, keeping your environment extra cool, or washing your fruit right as you get home, since running fruit under water can cause it to ripen quicker.Instashare Removal Tutorial - How to Easily Uninstall Instashare Pouring hot water down your drain? That doesn't work. When I asked Green about the tips and tricks I've seen online, she debunked plenty of them. If you have a fruit fly problem, you've probably searched for some outlandish "miracle" tips to eradicate them. Any place that catches water or is moist, like a wet kitchen rag or the rug next to the sink, could become a breeding ground for fruit flies. She also added that you should recycle or compost cardboard boxes that hold produce as soon as possible, because fruit flies could be breeding in them. And since they're attracted to rotting fruit, you should carefully pick your produce at the store to make sure you aren't bringing any rotten or bruised pieces home, Green said. Storing fruits and vegetables in the fridge instead of on the counter will also make it harder for the fruit flies to find them. Clean out the bottom of bins when liquid accumulates, wipe down counters after you're finished cooking, and keep your sink and garbage disposal free of old food, empty of dishes, and as dry as possible. Throw away garbage and take out recycling frequently. Keeping your place as dry and free of food as possible prevents pests from continuing their life cycle. To prevent fruit flies from taking over your kitchen, it all comes down to cleaning. How can I prevent a fruit fly infestation? Once the weather warms, it takes less time for fruit fly eggs to turn into babies. Those are prime spots for fruit flies to breed. "It may not be the food you are wanting to eat, but fruit flies are so tiny it only takes a tiny microhabitat" - like the residual soda in a can in your recycling bin or leftover bits and crumbs in a takeout container in your garbage, Green explained. "Substantial food source" may mean something different to you than to the small but mighty fruit fly, Green said. They also love sugary substances like soda, wine and beer, and you can find them in the bottom of your trash bin or any wet place with a substantial food source. The common name that entomologists give fruit flies is "vinegar flies." That's because they're naturally attracted to fermented liquid, and when fruit rots, it also ferments.īut fruit flies don't thrive only on rotten fruit or vinegar. What sorts of foods and environments attract fruit flies? They also have two wings (many insects have four). What do fruit flies look like?įruit flies are about an eighth of an inch long, have red eyes (though some species have darker eyes) and are light brown with dark rings around their abdomen. So take a look and keep your place fruit-fly free.įor more home tips, here are the best air purifiers for clean air and the best cordless vacuums. Some steps can help prevent an infestation, while others can help eliminate one. Thankfully, there are ways to kick fruit flies out of your kitchen and expel them from your home. And once they're in, they're laying eggs everywhere they can. As it gets warmer, their life cycles quicken. Once fruit flies are in your house, they'll lay eggs in rotten fruit or any fermented substances and continue their life cycle, Green explained. They can also find a way into your home by latching onto your clothing or flying in when the windows are open. In a fruit fly infestation, fruit flies will normally hitch onto overripe fruit that you bring home from the grocery store, or bruised fruit, which tends to ripen and rot more quickly. Jody Green, an entomologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, told CNET that it might seem as though one day your kitchen is insect-free and then the next hundreds of fruit flies appear out of nowhere, but the reality is a bit different. But once the weather gets warmer, it seems like these little pests, sniffing out all that ripe (or rotting) summer produce you got at the farmers market, flock to your kitchen in full force. Fruit flies can take up residence in your home at any time of the year.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |