Why Are Fruit Flies In Charlotte, NC So Hard To Deal With

How To Tell If It's Fruit Flies In Your Charlotte Home

Are you suddenly seeing a swarm of flies and are wondering if they are fruit flies? There are several ways that you can tell if it's fruit flies in your Charlotte home. Fruit flies are very small and oval in shape. Their maximum size is about ⅛ if an inch. While they look black from afar, you might notice their grey belly when looking up close. Their eyes are either dark or red. They are attracted to overripe produce, juices, and alcohol.

If you have determined that you do, in fact, have fruit flies everywhere, you will most likely want to eliminate them. 

Is It Safe To Eat Something A Fruit Fly Has Landed On?

Before discussing fruit flies pest control methods, let's talk about what immediate precautions you must take when you are plagued by a robust swarm of flies that is getting into your food. Technically, if a fruit fly just landed on your food, it is acceptable to swat it away and eat the food. That being said, in order to eat, fruit flies mix food with a compound mix of saliva and vomit to break it down. The more your food breaks down, the more likely it is to be a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Furthermore, fruit flies lay their eggs in food sources, and if left undisturbed, the eggs will hatch into maggots that you definitely will not want to eat.

Fruit Fly Prevention Tips For Charlotte Homes

After reading this, you are most likely determined to get rid of fruit flies in your home. First, here are the best fruit fly prevention tips from our team at Go-Forth Pest Control to help you avoid a fruit fly problem. 

• Do not keep overripe produce outside of the fridge or at all if possible. Overripe produce is irresistible to fruit flies, as they provide an excellent source of food for them as well as a place to hatch their eggs.
• If you have fruits and veggies, which is likely since they are part of a balanced diet, keep them in the fridge. Fruit flies like warmth, and they will rarely go inside a refrigerator. If they do, they are likely to die in the cold because they have a chance to reproduce.
• When bringing produce home, wash it well in case the surface has already been visited by fruit flies. You can use a special detergent made for produce or a mix of water and white vinegar.
• Do not keep trash in your house for long periods of time. During fruit fly season, it can be a good idea to take out the trash daily and keep a lid on it to keep fruit flies out.
• It's not just produce that is the issue. Anything containing sugar, like juices and alcohol, can become fruit fly magnets. Keep lids on them, and wipe off spills immediately.

We are all human and make mistakes. If you find yourself forgetting to properly store food or remove that apple from the bottom of your purse, be sure to discard contaminated food immediately to remedy your problem.

The Best Fly Control For Your Charlotte Home

If you did not know about the tips above or still ended up with fruit flies in your house, you probably now want to learn how to get rid of these nasty pests. Here are the best fruit fly control tips from our team at Go-Forth Pest Control:

• Keep all surfaces spotless. None of us keep a pristine kitchen all the time, but when you're plagued by fruit flies, you will want to do your best to keep your surfaces clean. Any food or spill will attract fruit flies and can even be perfect mediums for them to lay their eggs.
• If you have been keeping overripe produce in your fridge, but it is still attracting fruit flies, it might be a good idea to throw them out. Only buy enough fruits and vegetables to last you a few days rather than buy more at once.
• Make fruit flies trap by pouring apple cider or juice into a cup, covering the cup with tightly spread out plastic wrap secured with a rubber band around the cup, and then poking a few small holes in the plastic. Fruit flies will go inside the cup only to find themselves trapped for good. You can add a drop or 2 of dish soap to decrease the surface tension of the juice, effectively drowning the fruit flies as soon as they land.

If none of these natural remedies work for you, reach out to our pest control team at Go-Forth Pest Control. We will discuss fruit fly control options and come up with a plan that will work for you and your unique problem. Contact us today to learn more about how we can keep your Charlotte home pest-free all year long.