Symptoms
- Tiny tan or brown flies hovering around fruit, trash, or the sink
- Numbers increasing quickly over just a few days
- Flies seem to reappear even after some are killed
Likely causes
- CommonOverripe or rotting fruit and vegetablesFruit flies lay eggs directly in and around decaying produce, which hatch within days.
- CommonResidue in drains, garbage disposals, or recycling binsOrganic buildup in a drain or bin provides an ongoing breeding site even without visible fruit.
- PossibleTrash or compost left uncoveredAny source of fermenting organic material can support a breeding population.
What to do
- Throw out any overripe or rotting produce and store remaining fruit in the refrigerator or covered.
- Clean the kitchen trash can and recycling bins, including underneath if residue has leaked there.
- Run the garbage disposal with ice and a bit of dish soap, or clean it with a brush, to remove buildup that can breed flies.
- Set out a simple trap of apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap in a bowl, covered with plastic wrap and a few small holes poked in it, to catch existing adults.
- Wipe down counters and clean any sticky spills that might be an unnoticed food source.
- Empty kitchen trash more frequently until the population is under control.
- Repeat cleaning and trapping for about a week to break the breeding cycle, since eggs already laid will keep hatching for a few days.
Tools and parts
- Cleaning supplies
- Small bowl
- Plastic wrap
Apple cider vinegarSearch: “apple cider vinegar fruit fly trap”
When to call a pro
Call a pest control professional if fruit flies persist for more than a couple of weeks despite cleaning and trapping.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.