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Fruit Fly Identification
Fruit flies are small flies measuring about 1/8 inch in length, including their wings. Click here to see image of Fruit Fly. The key identifying characteristic of the fruit fly is its eyes, which are red in color. The head and thorax are tan in color with the abdomen somewhat darker. This fly is easily mistaken for the Phorid fly which has very similar markings but lacks red eye color. The Phorid fly also has a "humped back" appearance. Without the aid of a microscope or a good field magnifying glass, fruit flies would merely fall into the category of Small Flies, with elimination methods being similar for all flies in this category.
Fruit Fly Elimination
The key to controlling fruit fly infestations is to locate and eliminate their
breeding sources. Restaurants, buffets and night clubs often have reoccurring
problems with fruit flies, Phorid
flies (Hump Backed flies,) house flies and
other flying insects. In these instances, the use of a Professional
Fly Trap in the food preparation area and one or more discreet, low
profile fly traps in front
end areas are needed.
Although there are several sprays and traps used to kill flies in
a home, restaurant or other structure, the infestation cannot be eliminated without
eliminating their source. A space spray (Pyrethrin spray) can be used as a quick
kill, reducing populations of flying insects. Pyrethrin spray is also a crack and
crevice tool that is used by pest control operators to spray the tiny areas where fruit
flies and other insect pests breed. To monitor the area, use a Gold Stick trap. These traps use a fly
lure to attract flies to the trap. Every fruit fly caught is one less breeding
adult! If you locate a drain that is a breeding ground for fruit flies, use Invade
Bio Drain or Invade Bio Foam to destroy the film in which the fly
eggs and larvae are developing. When applying Bio Foam into drains,
cracks, crevices where slime or gunk needs removing, many food handling
managers prefer to ad an IGR for fly control. An IGR will prevent fly
eggs and fly larvae (maggots) from maturing properly, causing the fly
population to crash due to lack of reproducing adults. As an added
bonus, professional IGR products last for at least 3 months.
Gentrol and NyGuard are the two IGRs labeled for use in food and non-food
handling areas. Of the two, NyGuard has the broadest label, covering
dozens of listed pests. NyGuard
and Gentrol
can be tank-mixed with Invade
Bio Foam and applied with a Chapin
Foamer.
A surface spray is not recommended in this
situation, unless there are great numbers of flies resting on the surface of trash cans,
dumpsters or exterior walls. Fruit Fly Traps
are also an excellent tool for capturing fruit flies. Attach the trap to the inside
lid of garbage cans, dumpsters or compost bins to capture adult flies before they breed.
Dispose of traps when full of flies or after 3 months. Click here to see fly elimination products.
Inspecting the area for possible breeding sources is the key for fruit fly elimination.
Inspecting for Fruit Flies
When searching for fruit fly breeding sources, remember that the larva can only survive in decaying organic matter that is moist. The first obvious place to check is where any fruits or vegetables or stored outside of refrigerators or coolers. Other areas to inspect would be recycling bins, seldom used (or cleaned) garbage cans, underneath and behind large appliances. Do not overlook drains where small flies are often found breeding in the super thin layer or film of debris that naturally accumulates in pipes, traps and drains.
In commercial and residential structures, tiny amounts of organic debris are often found where the legs or feet of appliances, tables or cabinets touch the floor. These tiny spaces can harbor thousands of fly larvae. All small cracks and crevices at floor level need to be inspected and thoroughly cleaned.
Once one source has been located, continue with your inspection. Fruit flies easily follow air currents and usually have several breeding places in any structure. Do not assume that all of your breeding sources are indoors; fruit flies will wander in from nearby dumpsters, outdoor garbage cans or even damp compost piles where fruits and vegetables are disposed.
Fruit Fly Biology
The fruit flies comprise several different species belonging to the genus Drosophila. The most common species encountered in homes and other structures is D.melanogaster. Fruit flies are also known as pomace flies or vinegar flies. These pests can be found throughout the world, in homes, food processing plants, warehouses, grocery stores, wineries, restaurants and other structures.
Life History of the Fruit Fly
Fruit flies develop by complete metamorphosis. The eggs (which are difficult to see with the naked eye) are deposited near the surface of fermenting fruit or organic matter. A pair of filaments that are attached to the eggs protrude above the surface of the liquid. The female fruit fly will lay about 500 eggs. The larvae emerge about 30 hours after the eggs have been laid and feed near the surface of the fermenting material. The larvae feed for five to six days then crawl to drier areas of the food source or even out of the food source to pupate. The larva transforms into the pupa in the last larval skin, or puparium, which bears a conspicuous pair of filaments on the anterior end. The adult fruit fly emerges several days later. The newly emerged fruit flies are attracted to light and become sexually active in about two days. The adults mate more than once. Under ideal conditions, the life cycle from egg to adult can be completed in as little as eight days. The sudden appearance of large populations is not uncommon inside buildings.
The complete dependence of all stages of the fruit fly on moist, decaying (or fermenting) organic materials is a key point to remember in inspection and elimination of fruit fly infestations.
The fruit fly breeds in and feeds on ripened fruits and vegetables, as well as moist, decaying organic matter. Fruit fly larvae living in fruit which is eaten can cause intestinal discomfort and diarrhea. In vinegar-producing facilities, the fruit fly is responsible for infecting tanks of vinegar with a tiny nematode called the vinegar worm.
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Fruit Fly Life History Inspecting for Fruit Flies Fruit Fly Elimination