Do you suffer from fruit flies in kitchen cupboards, around empty wine bottles or at the fruit basket? Nu.nl asked an expert where these critters come from and how you get rid of it. “You can have an invasion in your kitchen within one or two days.”
Fruit flies are small flies of a few millimeters long. There are different types, but in the Netherlands they have a yellowish, white, brown body and red eyes, says Bregje Wertheim. She is professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Groningen.
Chances are that you will find them mainly around the fruit bowl. “They are looking for overripe and decaying fruit to lay their eggs.” It is not that they can affect the fruit themselves, but as soon as a banana or apple has a crack in the skin, they will leave their eggs there.
Fruit flies live all year round, but go in a kind of hibernation in the winter. “From spring they go looking for fruit. A female can lay a few hundred eggs, in a period of a few days to two weeks,” says Wertheim.
“The development from egg to adult flying takes about two to three weeks in the spring, but in the summer it goes a bit faster. Then a fruit fly can already mature in ten to twelve days.”
The GFT bin is a breeding ground for fruit flies
The numbers of fruit flies will therefore increase rapidly from spring to autumn. “If you start with a few hundred flies, a few weeks later you have tens of thousands, and a few weeks later a few million.”
That can quickly turn the GFT bin into a beautiful breeding ground, especially if it is collected only once every two weeks, Wertheim sees. Although you don’t always have to realize that in the kitchen. “You usually notice it quickly, if there is a banana rot.”
Fruit flies lure peers with fragrances
Despite the fact that the banana is now in the trash, do you keep a fruit fly plague? “Once they have found a rotten fruit, they use fragrances to lure their peers. Fruit flies can smell very good, so you can have a true invasion in your kitchen within one or two days.”
Filthy detail: they do that so that several females can lay a breeze in the same fruit. For example, the larvae of those fruit flies are more likely to survive, because the larvae have to compete with the fungi that also grow on the fruit.
The name ‘Fruit flies’ is not entirely correct, says Wertheim. “We should actually call them yeast flies. They also come to the scent of fermentation and fermentation, including alcohol. That is why you also find them in wine and beer bottles.”
If you want to prevent them from entering your house, it is best to ensure that there are no overripe fruit, fruit residues or empty bottles with leftover beer or wine for them. “Keep your fruit in the fridge and rinse empty bottles that helps. Just like the GFT waste.”
If you have them at home, you can easily catch them by building a fall, Wertheim knows. “You put a little fruit, for example a banana peel or a piece of peach, in a jar. You put a funnel on it, with the tuut down. If you close the rest of the jar well, fruit flies will come to the scent. Because of the funnel they fall into the jar, but they will no longer come out.”
Are you Bothered by Fruit Flies in Kitchen Cabinets, Around Empty Wine Bottles, Or near The Fruit Bowl? Nu.nl asked an expert where these creatures come from and how to get rid of them. “You can have an invasion in your kitchen within one or two days.”
Fruit Flies Are Small Flies, Just A Few Millimeters Long. There are Different Kinds, but in the Netherlands, They have a Yellowish, White, Brown Body and Red Eyes, Says Bregje Wertheim. She is a professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Groningen.
CHANSES ARE YOU’LL FIND Them Mainly around the fruit bowl. “They look for overripe and rotting fruit to lay their eggs in.” It’s not that they can affect the fruit itself, but as soon as a banana or apple has a crack in the peel, they will leave their eggs there.
Fruit Flies Live All Year Round, But Go Into A Kind Of Hibernation In The Winter. “From the Spring, They Start Looking For Fruit. A Female Can Lay A Few Hundred Eggs, In A Period of A Few Days to Two Week,” Wertheim Knows.
“The Development from Egg to Adult Fly Takes About Two to Three Weeks in the Spring, But It Goes a Bit Faster in the Summer. Then A Fruit Fly Can Become An Adult in Ten Telve Days.”
The Green Waste Container is a Breeding Ground for Fruit Flies
From Spring to Autumn, The Number of Fruit Flies Increases Rapidly. “If you start with a few hundred flies, you will have tens of thousands a few week later, and a few million a few week later.”
That can Quickly Turn the Green Waste container Into a Wonderful Breeding Ground, Especially If It is only collected Once Every two Week, Wertheim Sees. AltheHe you don’t always have to realize that in the Kitchen. “You USUALLY Notice It Quickly If A Banana is rotting.”
Fruit Flies Attract Congpecifics with Fragrances
Despite the fact that the banana is now in the trash, do you continuously to suffer from a fruit fly plague? “Once they have found a rotten fruit, they use fragrances to Attract Their Concpecifics. Fruit flies can Smell very well, so you can have a real invasion in your kitchen within one or two days.”
Dirty detail: they do this so that several females can lay an egg in the same fruit. This Gives the Larvae of Those Fruit Flies A Better Chance of Survival, because the Larvae have to compete with the fungi that also grow on the fruit.
The name ‘Fruit Flies’ is not entirely correct, accordance to Wertheim. “We should actual call them yeast flies. They are also attracted to the smell of fermentation, including alcohol. That is why you can also find them in Wine and Beer Bottles.”
If you want to prevent them from Entering your house, it is quite to ensure that there is no overripe fruit, fruit remains or empty bottles with remnants or bear or wine for them to find. “Store your fruit in the refrigerator and Rinse Empty Bottles, that helps. Just liketekout the green waste more often.”
If you have them in the house, you can Easily Catch Them by Building a Trap, Wertheim Knows. “You put a little fruit, Such as a Banana Peel or Peach of Peach, in a jar. You put a funnel on it, with the spout down. If you close the rest of the jar properly, fruit flies will be attracted to the smell. Through the Funnery Fence Intall.”