Shoo Flies!

With warm weather approaching, you’re likely to see more fresh fruits and vegetables on your grocer’s shelves, as well as your own kitchen counter. Unfortunately, you may also see more pesky insects, particularly fruit flies. Fruit flies, also called vinegar or pomace flies, feed on microscopic yeasts found on fruits and other foods. The good news is that fruit flies, although annoying, are essentially harmless. The bad news is that while the average life span of a fruit fly is only 12 days, one female can lay up to 2,000 eggs. The best way to get rid of fruit flies is to get rid of what’s attracting them. Try these methods to rid your kitchen:

• Keep your kitchen very clean and close the tops of garbage bags. Keep foods covered. Fruit flies are also drawn to dirty mops and dish towels.



• Dispose of refuse often, including recyclable food containers, cans and bottles.



• Buy unblemished fruit and store it in the refrigerator if possible. Seal tomatoes and avocados in a plastic or paper bag to ripen, and eat ripe fruit right away.



• Check around the sink and under the refrigerator for any hidden, old pieces of produce, peel, or spilled juice. These are all potential breeding grounds.



• Garbage disposals and drains can attract fruit flies. Run the disposal frequently. To check for flies, tape a plastic bag over the drain. Adult flies will emerge overnight and can be disposed of.