Fruit Flies
Vinegar Flies
Pomace Flies
The fruit fly is a major pest in restaurant and food areas due to the ideal breeding grounds hidden in the area. They survive easy enough, and breed quickly. For this reason, they are a major health concern. Fruit flies are often confused with another fly of the family Tephritidae, especially in Australia where the term fruit fly refers to economic pests in fruit production.
- Fly Species
- fruit flies, pomace flies, vinegar flies, wine flies
- Family: Drosophilidae
- Genus: Drosophila (Latin for "dew loving")
- Locations
- About 1,500 species can be found Worldwide
- Size
- approximately 1/8 inch (3mm) including the wings.
- Identify
- Has bright red eyes and a tan colored head and thorax.
- The abdomen is blackish on top with a grayish under side.
- Life Cycle
- The entire life cycle can be completed in as little as 8 days under ideal temperatures of 82 °.
- Eggs hatch in 15 hours to 1-2 days.
- The larvae feed near the surface of the fermenting mass for 5-6 days.
- Also, the larvae molts in 3 stages called "instars" before pupation.
- After becoming an adult the fruit flies become sexually active in about 2 days.
- Breeding
- Common wherever fruits and vegetables are allowed to rot and ferment, as well as moist decaying organic matter.
- Even flour paste and fecal matter.
- They have also been found in liquids such as wine, cider, vinegar, and beer.
- Feeding
- The larvae feed primarily on yeast of the fermenting material, and feeding occurs near the surface.
- Congregation
- Fruit flies can be found around homes, restaurants, food handling and processing areas, markets, and canneries which contain ideal breeding grounds.
- Typically located around drains, food and fruit storage, garbage areas, mop rooms, and concealed areas around baseboards that do not get sanitized.
- Health Importance
- Because it breeds and visits unsanitary areas, fruit flies can potentially transmit bacteria and microorganisms onto food intended for human consumption.
- For this reason health professionals are concerned when these flies are found around food establishments.
- Eggs and larvae are hard to see and can unknowingly be eaten by humans.
- How to Kill / Control
- Eliminate breeding grounds
- Sanitation
- Use Fly Traps and Fly Sprays to kill adult flies
- View our Fly Control page for extended information on these methods.
- Extra Info
- Fruit flies have played a major role for research in genetics and developmental biology. Mostly because they are small and take up little space, as well as fast and easy to grow and care for.
- More importantly, about 75% of known human disease genes have a recognizable match in the genetic code of fruit flies
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