Why do fruit midges appear in the apartment? Description, spring appearance, midge reproduction. Causes of infection. How can you quickly get rid of midges? The use of specialized means and folk methods. Making your own traps. Tips and tricks. Preventive actions.
The small, annoying and ubiquitous midge causes a lot of unpleasant emotions. If she appears in the kitchen, then you will have to fight with her, since she will no longer leave her home on her own, where it is warm and a variety of food is freely available.
Next, we will take a detailed look at these insects, find out where fruit flies come from, whether they are dangerous for people, and what effective methods will help you quickly get rid of them.
Description and reasons for appearing in the apartment
So, this insect is the common drosophila, a representative of the order Diptera, belonging to the family Drosophiliadae. It is also called fruit midge or fruit midge.
The insects have a yellow-brown body, with black transverse rings visible on the abdomen. Females are much larger than males; their body sizes can reach 2.5 mm. Drosophila is one of those insects that prefer to live near human living quarters, feeding on food from the table, as well as waste.
Regarding their diet, which consists of foods of plant origin, they have their own preferences. They have little interest in fresh products, but they really like spoiled and fermented ones.
Their favorite treat is sweet fruit that has rotted or even rotted. When searching for food, they rely on smell, so they can be lured not only by the aroma of a rotten apple in a trash can, but also by a drain hole containing food debris. Very often they enter apartments from neighbors through the ventilation pipe.
Females lay eggs on fresh fruits, as well as organic debris. The fact is that when food begins to deteriorate, an ideal environment is created inside for the development and growth of offspring.
For this reason, midges can also enter an apartment with purchased fruits on which there are larvae. 24 hours are enough for a young, mature individual to emerge from the larva. It is worth saying that these insects are very prolific, since one female is capable of laying up to 400 eggs.
It is very difficult to combat a huge number of fruit flies, since it is necessary to get rid of not only adult individuals, but also clutches of eggs that are laid daily.
Fighting methods
In order to completely get rid of vegetable midges, you need an integrated approach, which involves both the use of traps and thorough cleaning in all rooms where they were found.
We ensure cleanliness
Let's start by making the house perfectly clean, especially in those rooms where there are food. The main task in this case is to find the source of the spread of vegetable flies and its mandatory destruction.
However, this measure is far from the only one - if these insects have been “living” with you for quite a long time, then it is necessary to apply a whole range of measures.
- We sort through the products that are stored openly: they can be on tables, in vases, in the pantry or in cabinets in the kitchen. In this case, it is necessary to throw away absolutely all spoiled vegetables and fruits. Therefore, we put them in a trash can and immediately take them outside the apartment.
- We put all fresh vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator. As a last resort, they should be folded into a plastic bag and hidden in some cool place. We do not leave anything in the sun or above a working battery.
- The sink should always be clean and dry. Wash dishes immediately after eating, then be sure to remove any remaining food from the sink and wipe it with a dry cloth. Glasses after sweet juices, cups after tea, glasses after wine - all these dishes can also attract vegetable midges, so they should also be washed immediately after use.
- These parasites can also be attracted to baked goods, so it is advisable to store them either in bags or in a well-closed bread box.
- It is not uncommon for vegetable midges to slightly change their usual diet and switch their attention to pet food. For this reason, you need to keep your pet's bowls clean.
- Garbage should be taken out of the house as often as possible, especially if it contains leftover vegetables or fruits, and after that, be sure to wash and completely dry the trash can.
- After eating, carefully clean the table: sweep away all crumbs, clean surfaces from sweet drops of juices and compotes, and then be sure to wipe everything dry.
- Don’t forget about the gas stove, on which pieces of food may well remain after cooking. It is advisable to remove all sticky and greasy stains using a special product.
By maintaining perfect cleanliness in the apartment for several days, in the future getting rid of vegetable midges will be as easy as shelling pears.
Traps
Three simple traps will help you fight vegetable midges.
- For the first trap, you will need an empty plastic or glass bottle with a narrow neck, sweet fruit juice and dishwashing liquid or liquid soap. Pour the aromatic juice into the bottle, add literally a teaspoon of soap and mix gently so as not to create foam. The sweet smell will attract insects, and once they get into the bottle to the bait, they will not be able to fly back out.
- To make the second trap, you need to prepare a glass jar, mug or any other container with a wide neck, a sheet of thick paper and several pieces of rotten vegetables. We put the spoiled products in the selected container, make a funnel out of paper and insert it into the neck above the bait. Thus, vegetable midges will fly to the bait without a chance to get out later.
- And one more simple trap, consisting of a garbage bag and several vegetables. Cut the vegetables into pieces, preferably thinner, and place them on an unfolded garbage bag. We leave it like this in the kitchen overnight. We do not close the bag so that insects have free access to food. In the morning we approach the bait and roll up the bag in one quick movement. We immediately take it out of the house and throw it away.
On a note! However, remember that using traps you will not be able to get rid of all the midges at once in one day. This way you will only catch flying individuals, which have probably already laid eggs on the food! For this reason, the trap should be made daily for a week or two and at the same time follow the recommendations prescribed above - maintain perfect cleanliness!
Is it dangerous for humans?
If we take into account the fact that midges are not interested in fresh fruits, but only spoiled ones that are not eaten, then they do not pose a threat.
But it should be remembered that females can choose fresh foods for laying eggs, therefore, after swallowing several larvae, very unpleasant intestinal myiases are possible.
It is also worth saying that the very fact that a huge number of midges are flying in your kitchen, which are absolutely everywhere, is not at all pleasing, but on the contrary, causes the most negative emotions.
How to get rid
First of all, you need to understand that midges live where there is a food source, so the first step is to deprive them of their food source.
To do this you need:
- Check food products regularly and immediately dispose of spoiled ones and those that are starting to rot. You should not store fruits in trays in the kitchen; it is better to store them in the refrigerator. They really love compotes, juices, sweet drinks; for them this is a real delicacy, so you can’t leave them open.
- Be sure to wash purchased fruits thoroughly and douse them with boiling water to destroy any larvae, if any, on the products. Even if the appearance of the product is perfect, this does not mean at all that it is not infected, since no one knows which product the female chose to lay eggs.
- Fruits that spoil quickly, for example, bananas, grapes, apples, after purchasing and washing, immediately put them in the refrigerator.
- A trash can for midges is like a buffet of various products freely available. You should throw out garbage regularly; remember that in summer food spoils and rots especially quickly, which attracts insects.
- You should also be aware that they can grow in a flower pot. In this case, you should remove the top layer of soil and throw it away, and then be sure to treat the soil with specialized preparations.
- If you have pets that are fed food, you should follow the rule - after each feeding, the bowl must be washed, even if the animal leaves a little food, it must be removed.
At the second stage, means, traps, and baits are used that will help get rid of the annoying midges.
An unusual option for fighting is predator plants
Plants that feed on small flies, mosquitoes and other insects. They do not require special care, tolerate unfavorable conditions well and do not take up much living space, but, nevertheless, they fight flies well.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the reproduction of flies occurs quite quickly, which is why they are extremely popular among biologists. They are an ideal object for conducting many experiments. The genetic code of these insects has many similarities with humans. Thanks to this, scientists have the opportunity to develop new means of combating cancer and hereditary diseases.
To a greater extent, fruit flies are not pests; they process waste and enhance decomposition processes, returning minerals and oxygen to the cycle of substances, but, nevertheless, they extremely poison human life. When used in combination, the remedies proposed in this article will help make life easier and get rid of annoying fruit flies.
Tags: fruit fly, trap, hand, yours, vinegar
About the author: admin4ik
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Specialized means
Now you can purchase a variety of specialized products that will help you quickly get rid of pests. You should always remember that you will have to fight insects in the kitchen, where food and utensils are located, so there should be no talk of toxic chemicals. It is not recommended to use sprays that may come into contact with work surfaces when sprayed.
Specialized traps, for example, Raptor, are very popular and effective. This is a fairly compact, small-sized bottle that has a sticky lid.
In the middle of the bottle there is an attractant, which serves as an ideal bait. Midges flock to the bait and stick to the sticky surface, making it impossible to get out. Such traps are placed in the kitchen, in places where insects accumulate. When the sticky side becomes full of insects, they are replaced with new ones.
Aquafumigators are also quite effective and popular. The principle of operation is as follows: when water and insecticide are heated, steam is formed, which can penetrate into hard-to-reach places, thereby poisoning the midge and causing death.
They are safe for people and animals, but deadly for pests. They are installed in the center of the room; it is better to open all the cabinets so that steam can penetrate into the middle. Windows and doors should be closed.
Use of chemicals
It is worth poisoning midges with purchased products only in extreme cases, if there are too many of them. They can harm residents, so you should try folk remedies first.
If you still cannot do without the use of chemicals, you need to buy any repellent. They need to be sprayed in the kitchen, after removing all open food and drinks. Regular Dichlorvos will help, as well as mosquito repellents - for example, electric fumigators. Turpentine or kerosene works well. With their help, you can get rid of uninvited guests very quickly.
When using household chemicals, you should remember the safety rules. You can only spray products while wearing gloves. You should try not to inhale harmful fumes. There should be no pets or people nearby during the procedure. After treating the room, all surfaces in it - cabinets, countertops, floors - should be washed. The kitchen needs to be well ventilated.
Any store-bought repellent will work against midges.
You can make an effective remedy for fruit gnats with your own hands. You need to fill a spray bottle with 70 percent medical alcohol and spray it on flying insects. 95% liquid will also work. This is a cheap product that gives guaranteed results. During the procedure, be sure to wear gloves and ventilate the room. This method is safer than using household chemicals.
Important! Having gotten rid of the adults, you need to deal with their larvae. A good cleaning of the room will help.
Window cleaner will also help against flying pests. You need to find a place where midges accumulate, spray the product on it, and wipe the surface. A cleaning spray containing chlorine will also work.
Plain water can slightly disorient fruit flies. You need to spray it on the midges so that they fall down. Their wings will become damp and they will not be able to fly into the air. This way they can be removed with a rag.
A product containing pyrethrin will help get rid of midges. It will save you from adults, but not from larvae. The product must be used according to the instructions in the instructions. Spraying it on food is prohibited. Special pyrethrin sprays with fragrances are now sold. They can be hung at home in places where fruit flies are spotted.
If you can’t cope on your own, you can always call exterminators. For a reasonable fee, they can quickly remove pests.
Lures and traps
There are traditional methods of combating midges, which over many years of practice have proven their effectiveness. These methods are based on the use of baits and traps, which you can easily make yourself at home.
Paper funnel
This option allows you to catch a large number of midges at one time. So, for this method you will need a tall jar, if you don’t have one, you can take a vase or a wine bottle. You can use a regular jar, but it is not as convenient to work with.
Next, you should choose a bait; in fact, there are a huge number of options. First of all, they have a sweet tooth, so you can use not only fruits, but also juice, honey, and even alcohol.
Let's look at the most effective bait options:
- Fruits that are a little overripe or even rotten. For example, strawberry, banana, peach.
- Of course, syrups and honey. It can be maple syrup, corn syrup, or regular honey.
- Juice or drinks. Any fruit juice will do, you can also use carbonated drinks, but remember that low-calorie drinks are ineffective, you should take regular ones.
- Soy sauce and apple cider vinegar also work.
- Alcohol. They are not interested in alcohol itself, but the remaining sugar in it is very attractive.
We place the selected bait on the bottom of a bottle or jar. Next, you need to take a sheet of paper and roll up a funnel. The paper can be very different, a regular sheet of white paper, a sheet from a magazine, not thick cardboard, the main thing is that it holds its shape.
The funnel itself should be small in size so that midges can easily get inside and cannot get out back. The edges need to be secured so that the funnel does not come apart; tape is ideal for this. And then insert the funnel into the neck of the bottle, narrow side down. Make sure that the bait does not come into contact with the funnel.
The trap is ready and can be used. It should be installed in a place where midges accumulate. Most often they are found near the trash can, sink, and fruit trays. If they fly all over the kitchen and there are quite a lot of them, it is better to make several traps and place them in different parts of the kitchen.
It is best to leave such traps overnight; in the morning you will be able to observe a large number of caught insects in the jar. It is possible that the trap will not work, do not be upset. In this case, it is necessary to change the bait used or widen the hole in the funnel.
At the last stage, you need to get rid of the caught midges. You can use two options, the first is to take the container outside and remove the container. Option two is to pour water into a jar and add dishwashing detergent, which reduces the surface tension of the water and then the insects will drown.
Afterwards, the container is washed in hot water and can be used again until absolutely all the midges are caught. It should be remembered that traps are effective against adult individuals; they have no effect on egg laying.
Therefore, having caught all the adults, new ones will soon appear from the clutches of eggs, and this must be taken into account and the procedure must be repeated until you get rid of all the offspring.
We use bowls
This method is based on the same principle as the previous option, namely, it uses a trap that has a small entrance and a very difficult exit from it. To make such a device, you will need to take a bowl, preferably a large one, but a medium one will do.
Next you need to place the bait on the bottom; there are also many options for what you can use. But since the bottom of the bowl is quite large, it is better to use sweet liquids.
For example, you can take a spoiled banana, cut it into pieces and add a little balsamic vinegar. You can also add strawberries, honey or sugar.
In other words, what was found in the apartment can be used. Next, take plastic wrap and close the top tightly. It is better to wrap it completely, the main thing is that the top is tightly stretched.\
Next we need to make several holes in the film, they should be small, for this it is better to use a toothpick, but if you can’t find one, a fork will do. You cannot make large holes, because it is important to lure the midge into the middle and not release it.
It needs to be installed in the place where the largest accumulation of midges is. Leave it overnight, in the morning, if you don’t find insects in the middle, then the holes are too large and should be redone.
Once you catch the insects, you will need to get rid of them. As in the first option, you can use water and dishwashing detergent, or simply throw the entire contents outside.
Afterwards, wash the bowl with hot water and can be used again. Remember that individuals left offspring in the form of clutches of eggs, from which new individuals will soon appear. Use the trap until you get rid of it completely.
Reproduction of fruit flies
These insects can most often be found in close proximity to a person’s home, as well as on garden trees.
This is explained by the feeding habits of fruit flies. They prefer rotting fruits, as well as sources of sugar: sweetened water and other sweet liquids, sour juice, flower nectar. When deciding how to get rid of fruit flies in an apartment, you need to know that they also live near plants. Insects are attracted to moist soil, evaporation, and, to a greater extent, rotting foliage.
The body length of fruit flies is small - up to 2 mm, and the female can be distinguished by its pointed abdomen and larger size in comparison with males. These flies have a light brown, yellowish body and red eyes. The lifespan of fruit flies is up to 3 months, however, in a short period of time they manage to increase the population many times over.
One clutch can contain from 40 to 90 eggs. Given the high rate of reproduction, you should quickly find a solution to the problem of how to get rid of fruit flies in your apartment. Typically, females lay eggs on plant leaves and rotten fruits. Larvae require a liquid or semi-liquid medium for development. Insects appear in an apartment in different ways: along with soil, fruits, vegetables, through windows, ventilation shafts.
The fruit fly has 3 stages of development - egg, larva and adult. The larvae live in liquid or semi-liquid environments. The eggs are laid by the female on decomposed fruit or other places where there is a supply of nutrients. During this period of development, flies especially need nutrition; the viability, size and development of the future insect depends on its intensity.
After about 3-5 days, young individuals appear and soon (7-9 hours) become sexually mature. After this, already on the second day, the females lay eggs; this process is continuous. One clutch contains from 40 to 90 eggs. The life cycle of a fly ranges from 15 days to 3 months, depending on temperature.
Drosophila flies are also called fruit flies. Their occurrence is associated with fruits that have begun to ferment, because fruit flies, especially their larvae, eat rotten parts of fruits and vegetables. In city apartments, flies mainly appear in indoor plants. Waterlogged soil, various evaporations, leaves starting to rot - all this is a green light for flies. Indoor insects are very resistant to chemical methods of controlling them, but it is also possible to eliminate them.
