Fruit Flies: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Let’s face it, when they are annoyingly flying around us, we probably aren’t going to imagine there is anything beneficial about a Fruit Fly, but surprisingly, there is!

The Good

Although it may not be good in most situations that Fruit Flies can reproduce at a very fast rate, the common Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is a useful specimen in scientific research. Scientists have had much success using Fruit Flies to study mutations and genetics due to their short lifespan, easy storage, and comparable chromosomes and chemical pathways to humans.

The Bad

Honestly, I just told you. Fruit Flies reproduce at an incredible rate, meaning that once an infestation begins, it quickly races out of control.

Fruit Flies are attracted to sweet things such as fruit, as their name suggests, but they also will breed in dumpsters, on decaying meat, in unclean drains; basically all that is needed is a moist area of fermenting material.

The Ugly (Unless you find them to be cute)

Adult Fruit Flies are about 1/8 inch long and have red eyes. Their reproduction cycle is incredible; one female Fruit Fly can lay over 500 eggs in its lifetime (which can be up to 30 days).

Prevention

The best way to prevent an infestation of Fruit Flies is to be as sanitary as possible.

· Clean up garbage and spills

· If you are noticing a problem, keep fruit and vegetables in the refrigerator, discard of any overripe fruit

· Rinse out cans and bottles that you may be storing for recycling

If you find yourself with a Fruit Fly problem that you cannot control, call a licensed pest management company for advice and instruction.

Image by NPMA