Why do I have so many fruit flies and how do I get rid of them?

Fruit flies will appear when there’s ripe or rotting fruit, sugary liquids, or other organic material around your home. They’re especially drawn to overripe fruits and vegetables, uncleaned spills, drains, dirty and wet counters,  racks in tile or even leftover trash. Here are common reasons you might have so many fruit flies:

 

1.Overripe or Rotting Produce: If you leave fruit or vegetables out for too long, they can start to decay, attracting fruit flies. fruit flies can also come home from the store with you to your kitchen.

2. Dirty Dishes or Trash: Food scraps left on dirty dishes or in trash cans can attract them.

3. Standing Water in Drains: Fruit flies can breed in wet and scummy drains in your kitchen,  bathroom or utility rooms where food particles and slime get stuck.

4. Spills or Crumbs: Even small spills of juice, soda, or beer can become a breeding ground for these bothersome pests.

 

1. Remove Food Sources: Dispose of overripe fruit and thoroughly clean up any food residues. Wash fruits and vegetables with soapy water. Store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator.

2.Clean Drains: Pour boiling water or a vinegar and baking soda mixture down drains to clear food particles and bacteria or higher a professional pest control company to clean the drains with a bio enzyme.

3. Empty Trash Regularly: Make sure garbage cans are tightly sealed, clean and take out the trash daily.

4. Make Traps:

   – Vinegar Trap: Pour apple cider vinegar into a small bowl or cup, add a few drops of dish soap, and cover it with plastic wrap, poking small holes with a toothpick. The flies will be attracted to the vinegar, and the soap breaks the liquid surface tension, causing them to sink.

   – Wine or Beer Trap: Fruit flies are attracted to fermented liquids, so you can leave an open bottle of wine or beer and they will drop down in the container.

5. Use Insecticides or Fly Traps: If the infestation is severe, consider using insecticides labeled for indoor use or sticky fly traps.  Hiring a professional exterminator who will integrate a sanitation and treatment plan is often times needed to the best results.

 

Consistency and thoroughness  is paramount when breaking the fruit fly life cycle, as their lifecycle is short, and they reproduce quickly.

 

 

 

When choosing a pest control company to help with a fruit fly problem (or any pest issue), there are several things to consider to ensure you’re hiring a reliable and effective pest control service. Smart Solutions Wildlife Removal offers and array of pest control and wildlife removal services. They have been in business for 18 years and are highly trained both locally and nationally. There are on staff biologists that filed test and study products and techniques to assure that your problem is solved and stays solved. Smart Solutions uses the best and most safest Pest Control measures to ensure that your pet and your family is safe.  Check out there website here at  https://www.smartsolutionspestcontrol.com . Here’s a checklist of what to look for in a good pest control company:

 

   – Make sure  the company is **licensed** and their pest technicians are registered to apply pesticides in your state. Extermination companies should comply with local regulations, safety and training standards.

   – Check if they are members of professional organizations, such as the Georgia Pest Control Association(GPCA),  Certified Pest Control, Operators of Georgia(CPCO), National Wildlife Control Operators Association(NWCOA) or the  National Pest Management Association (NPMA), all of which indicates a commitment to industry best practices.

 

   – Ask about their experience dealing with specific infestations, as pest control for fruit flies may require different treatments and practices than other pests like ants or cockroaches.

   – A good company should use an Integrated Pest Management approach, which emphasizes non-chemical solutions first (like sanitation and exclusion) and uses chemicals only when necessary. This ensures an environmentally friendly and long-term solution.

   – They should be willing to explain preventive measures you can take after treatment to avoid recurring problems. Examples of these measures  of fly control are drain cleaning, replacing grommets on faucets, removing and re-caulking, countertop joints and more.

 

   – Check online reviews (Google, Yelp, Next Door, etc..) or ask for references and testimonials. This gives you an idea of customer satisfaction and the quality of their work.

   – The company should offer a thorough inspection and provide a treatment plan tailored to your home’s specific needs and the target pest. One-size-fits-all treatments or spray and pray technique are less effective.

   – Ask about how they will treat your fruit fly issue and whether they will address breeding sites (like drains and food sources).

 

   – Many reputable pest control companies offer a guarantee on their services. Ask if they provide a warranty or a  follow-up if the problem persists.

   – They should have a clear **follow-up schedule** or routine program to ensure the fly infestation is fully eradicated.

 

   – Inquire about the safety of the products they use, especially if you have pets, children, or allergies in the home. They should be transparent about potential risks and safety precautions and use techniques that minimize exposure to pesticides.

   – Ask if they use **low-toxicity or eco-friendly** pest control solutions.

 

   – Get multiple quotes to compare pricing and quality but be wary of very low offers, which might indicate cut corners or less effective service.

   – Ensure that pricing and process is transparent and includes details of the service, such as follow-up visits, service frequencies, inspection fees, and guarantees.

 

   – Pay attention to how the company communicates with you from the phone to the filed. Are they responsive, polite, and willing to answer your questions? Are the experts on what is being offered? A good company will take the time to explain the process and make you feel confident in their service and put you in touch with a technician or manager.

 

   – Review the contract carefully. Make sure you understand whether the service is a one-time treatment and this may not be the right fit to solve a pest problem or part of a recurring plan, and clarify any cancellation policies or long-term obligations.