Insect · Low risk
Fruit Fly
The fruit fly, or Drosophila, is the tiny insect that shows up around ripe fruit and garbage cans. Drawn to fermentation, it breeds at lightning speed and invades kitchens and bars in just a few days.
2 to 4 mm · Yellowish brown, red eyes
§1Distinctive features
How to identify it
The fruit fly measures 2 to 4 mm, with a yellowish brown body and large, distinctive red eyes. Its wings are clear and its flight is slow and erratic. It is often confused with the fungus gnat or the drain fly, but its red eyes and its attraction to fruit set it apart.
§2Habitat
Where to find it
It is found in kitchens, near fruit bowls, garbage cans, recycling bins and drains. Bars, restaurants and grocery stores are frequent targets. Any sugary or fermented residue becomes an ideal place to lay eggs.
§3Reproduction
Lifecycle
Left alone, a new generation emerges every 8 to 10 days and the population multiplies within a few weeks.
§4What to look out for
Signs of infestation
- Small flies hovering around ripe fruit
- Insects near garbage cans and drains
- Swarms above recycling bins
- Slow, erratic flight in the kitchen
§5Why act fast
Risks
- Food contaminated with bacteria
- Explosive growth within days
- Yeasts and germs spread from one surface to another
§6Prevention
How to avoid it
- Keep fruit in the refrigerator
- Empty and clean garbage cans often
- Clean drains and sinks regularly
- Get rid of any sugary or fermented residue
§7Pro method
How MW works
Inspection
Inspection of infested areas to find egg-laying sites: fruit, garbage cans, drains and recycling.
Sanitation
Removal of whatever attracts them and deep cleaning of contaminated surfaces and drains.
Treatment
Targeted treatments and traps to eliminate the adults and break the cycle.
Follow-up
Follow-up and recommendations to prevent any reinfestation and keep the place healthy.
§8Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of fruit flies?
Where do fruit flies come from?
Are fruit flies dangerous?
The fruit fly does not only come from the fruit bowl: it also lays eggs in hidden fermented residue, the bottom of a recycling bin, a drain trap, the drip tray under the refrigerator. As long as the source is there, the population comes back within days. Our pest control service starts by finding it, in restaurant kitchens as well as in homes, in Granby, Sherbrooke, Saint-Hyacinthe and Victoriaville.
Sources consulted for this fact sheet: Espace pour la vie, Montréal Insectarium · Montréal Science Centre · Protégez-Vous · Cornell IPM, Fruit Flies.
React quickly, sleep well.
The longer the infestation lasts, the more expensive it becomes.