Are Fruit Flies Seasonal Pests?

Understanding Where They Come from and When to Call an Exterminator

Fruit flies seemingly appear out of nowhere and one fly quickly turns into five. They often invade kitchens and pantries where most produce and food are stored. But do fruit flies go away on their own once temperatures change? Here are some important facts about fruit flies and when it might be time to call in the professionals.

Are Fruit Flies Seasonal?

Fruit flies are typically seasonal pests, so, yes. They thrive during the warmer months and are most active from late summer to early fall. Ripe or decaying fruits and vegetables, often abundant during summer and fall, provide fruit flies with the moisture and sugar they need to reproduce. Any fermenting organic matter, like food left in the garbage, drains, and even the residual from spills that haven’t been cleaned properly attracts fruit flies.

Although fruit flies are more common in warmer weather, they can survive all year in homes with moist conditions and available food sources. This means they can still reproduce in your home if the environment is right even after winter arrives.

Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?

Fruit flies often seem to pop up as soon as your bananas get a brown spot, but they actually enter your home in several different ways:

• Fruits and vegetables: Fresh produce from your local grocery store or farmer’s market can carry fruit fly eggs. Once inside your home, these eggs hatch into larvae and mature into adult flies within days.
• Open windows and doors: If fruit flies detect the smell of ripe or fermenting food, they can make their way into our homes through screens or cracks in windows, especially if they detect the scent of ripe or decaying food.
• Drains and garbage disposal: Old food and juices caught in your drains or garbage disposal can attract fruit flies and give them a place to lay eggs. These areas provide the perfect breeding ground, especially if they’re moist and rarely cleaned.
• Garbage cans and recycling bins: Fruit flies love the leftover food or sugary residues in our trash cans. Even a small remnant of decaying food can be enough to draw them into our homes.

Life Expectancy of a Fruit Fly

Fruit flies have a relatively short lifespan. A typical fruit fly can live for nearly 40 to 50 days with constant moisture, ripe food, and warm temperatures to help speed up their development. They can go from egg to adult in just a week, and one female can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime. This rapid reproduction means a small infestation can quickly become a major problem if left unchecked.

If you’re noticing more and more fruit flies around your home, they’re multiplying faster than you can manage, making professional help even more crucial.

When Should You Call an Exterminator?

If you notice a few fruit flies, you can often manage the problem by cleaning up potential food sources and setting DIY traps. However, if flies continue to surface despite your best efforts, it may be time to call in an exterminator. Here are a few signs that warrant professional help:

• Persistent infestation: Fruit flies keep returning after you’ve cleaned up food sources and used DIY methods.
• Rapid reproduction: An increasing number of flies appearing daily indicates an infestation is out of control.
• Hidden breeding sites: Breeding sites are often located in drains, garbage disposals, and under appliances.

Let Betts Pest Control Help

Still plagued by fruit flies well after temperatures drop? It’s time to call the professionals. Betts Pest Control has the expertise and tools to eliminate fruit flies from your home and prevent them from returning. Our team of professionals can locate hidden breeding grounds and create a tailored solution to meet your needs.

Contact Betts Pest Control today to schedule a consultation and reclaim control over your home!