Tiny but mighty pests could be occupying your Ohio home. Here’s how to get rid of them
Sure, they are little, but they’re mighty. Mighty annoying, that is.
If fruit flies are in your Ohio home this time of year, you are not alone. In fact, warmer weather is the perfect climate for them to roam and reproduce.
Fruit flies are the most active during hot weather and a single generation of the pests can be made in a week when the temperature is between 80-89 degrees.
And get this: female fruit flies have “incredible reproductive capabilities” because they can lay 500 eggs at one time.
Although there are over 177 different species of fruit flies, only eight of them are rampant in the US. They typically aren’t a health risk, just an annoyance. Here’s more about the tiny pests and how to get rid of them:
Why do fruit flies come into our homes?
Their scientific name, Drosophila, means “lover of dew,” which shows their natural tendency to flock towards moist, sweet foods and juices.
They can be found on fermenting fruits and vegetables, and their favorites are ripe bananas, apples, melons and squash. Fruit flies also gravitate towards garbage disposals, trash cans and unclean countertops.
However, they are also lovers of “drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash bags, cleaning rags and mops,” according to Arrow Exterminators.
How to get rid of them & keep them gone
Here are some tips to get rid of these pests, according to General Pest Control in Cleveland.
Eliminate areas of your home where moisture builds up and check for rotting debris like old fruit.
Remove the can liner and inspect the bottom of your trash can. Keeping it clean can also keep the pests away.
Beware of empty soda pop cans. The small amounts of juice or sugary soda inside your recycling could mean lots of fruit flies.
Clean up used coffee grounds daily.
Inspect under every food preparation counter or table. Remove food and debris that is trapped behind rear table legs or wedged against the wall.
Open up floor drains to brush and scrape out old food. You may need to use a degreasing solvent and a stiff brush to loosen the material. Do not pour bleach down the drain. It will not solve the problem.
Put fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator for storage if they aren’t being eaten immediately.
Look for standing water under ice machines and around floor drains.
Make sure mops are hung properly and allowed to dry completely. Fruit flies can breed in the food that accumulates in the top of the mop head.
Keep doors and windows closed or install a mesh screen door.
If you still have problems with fruit flies when all is said and done, it’s probably time to call a local pest control expert in the Mahoning County area.
How often do you see fruit flies in your Ohio home? Comment below to let us know.
This story was originally published August 27, 2024 at 8:00 AM.
