FRUIT FLIES DON'T BOTHER ME!

Common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)

HORTICULTURE TOPIC: Fruit Flies Don't Bother Me!

Fruit flies are tiny, gnat-like flies that are pale yellow to reddish-brown, with red eyes. Fruit flies are a nuisance all year, but are especially common during late summer/fall because they are attracted by ripened or fermenting fruits and vegetables. Horticulture Chair Nancy Percivall shared facts, avoidance techniques, and ways to “unalive” these pesky insects. 
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FACTS: Fruit flies are annoying! If you see one, there are probably 12 around. They lay approximately 100 eggs at a time and those eggs hatch within 24-30 hours. Perfect for genetic studies, fruit flies share 75% of the genes that cause disease in humans. Over the course of a century, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded six times to 11 scientists for their fruit fly findings.
 
AVOID: Fruit flies dislike the smell of many herbs and essential oils, including lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, citronella, cinnamon, and clove. If you have an infestation, remove all food sources from the area. Keep kitchen and laundry room areas dry and clean, as low humidity levels help keep the bugs away. They like to breed in drains, so keep those clean or covered. A solution of baking soda and vinegar (1/2 cup baking soda: 1 cup vinegar) left in a plugged drain overnight can break down mineral deposits and debris that could be a cause of fruit fly infestation.
 
“UNALIVE”: A bowl of apple cider vinegar with dish soap and covered in plastic pierced with tiny holes is the old fashioned and best solution to attract and unalive these pests. Many retailers have come up with other solutions, such as the plastic apple and plug-in light sources with sticky pads. Spraying rubbing alcohol on fruit will safely kill any bugs on your food.