Can Fruit Flies Make You Sick? Here’s How To Rid Of Them

Lumpkin Emmanuel Last Updated: July 6, 2024

0 4 minutes read

Have you noticed those little flying bugs in your kitchen? They’re called fruit fly, and they’re really annoying.

These tiny insects love to live where there is rotting food and other dirty places. This article will tell you about fruit flies, whether they can make you sick, and the best ways to make sure they don’t bother you anymore.

Fruit flies are a problem that can grow quickly inside your house. They are drawn to old food, especially fruits and vegetables that have gone bad. These little bugs don’t live long, but they can make lots of babies quickly. This means you can have an infestation in just a few days.

Life Cycle of Fruit Flies

These bugs go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This cycle can happen in about a week to 10 days if conditions are right. That’s why they can take over your home so fast.

Behavior and Habits

Fruit flies love the smell of fruit that’s going bad or fermenting. They can smell this from far away. When they find this kind of food, they lay eggs on it, and the baby flies, called larvae, eat the rotting food.

Can Fruit Flies Make You Sick?

Yes, they can. Fruit flies can carry germs and other bad stuff on their bodies and leave it on your food. If you eat this contaminated food, you could get stomach aches, diarrhea, or even food poisoning. It’s really important to keep fruit flies away to stay healthy.

1. Fruit Flies as Disease Carriers

Fruit flies themselves don’t make you sick, but they can carry diseases. They can pick up bacteria and other germs from dirty places and bring them to your food.

2. Health Risks Associated with Fruit Flies

Having fruit flies in your house can be dangerous because they may touch your food. If you eat that food, you could end up with a stomach ache, diarrhea, or food poisoning.

3. Common Illnesses Caused by Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can spread bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, and fungal infections like candidiasis. These can be especially bad for people with weak immune systems, older adults, and kids.

Prevention and Control

Getting rid of fruit flies takes some effort. Here’s what you can do to keep them away:

1. Identifying the Source of Infestation

First, find out where the fruit flies are coming from. Check if you have any old fruits and veggies or spills that might attract them. Look at garbage cans, drains, and places where you put food scraps.

2. Removing Breeding Grounds

Get rid of any places where they can lay eggs by cleaning up and keeping things tidy. Make sure to clean up any messes, close garbage lids tightly, and keep your drains and places where you put scraps clean.

3. Using Traps and Baits

You can catch grown-up flies with traps and baits. You can make your own traps at home using items like vinegar or fruit juice, or you can buy sticky traps or special traps that attract flies with chemicals.

4. Natural Remedies for Fruit Fly Control

You can also try natural ways to keep fruit flies away.

Mixing apple cider vinegar with some dish soap can trap them, or you can place herbs like cloves, basil, or bay leaves near where they like to be, which can help keep them away.

Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

1. Cleaning and Sanitation

Cleaning often and well is key. Scrub surfaces with hot, soapy water, especially where you keep fruit. Don’t forget to get into small cracks where eggs or baby flies might hide.

2. Fruit Fly Sprays and Insecticides

If things are really bad with fruit flies, you may need to use sprays or insecticides. Make sure to pick the ones that are safe to use inside your home and follow the directions carefully.

3. Professional Pest Control Options

If you’ve tried everything and still have fruit flies, it might be time to call the experts. Pest control services have the right skills and tools to find where the flies are coming from and get rid of them for good.

Conclusion

Fruit flies are more than just bothersome. They can actually bring germs into our homes. But with the right cleaning and preventive steps, you can keep them away and keep your home safe and healthy.

If we don’t take care of them the right way, fruit flies can be a big problem.

Learning about how fruit flies act, taking steps ahead of time to stop them, and using good ways to get rid of them can help you make sure fruit flies don’t bother your home. This can also cut down on the chances of getting sick because of these small bugs.

FAQs

Can fruit flies lay eggs in your food?

Yes, they can. Fruit flies often lay eggs on top of fruit, vegetables, and any other food. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae start eating the rotting parts, which could make your food unsafe.

What is the best way to prevent fruit fly infestations?

The best way to stop fruit flies from infesting is to keep things clean, get rid of rotting organic stuff quickly, and make sure trash cans are covered well. Also, clean your drains often and store your fruits and veggies the right way.

How long do fruit flies live?

Fruit flies usually live between 10 to 25 days. But this can change based on things like how warm it is and if there’s enough food for them.

Are fruit flies attracted to clean homes?

Fruit flies are drawn to rotting organic matter, not to whether a home is clean or dirty. But if you keep your home clean and practice good hygiene, you can help stop fruit flies from coming in.