Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibility. In some cases, a lot of nuisance pests. If you are a homeowner that loves growing fruits in your yard, then be prepared to deal with the insects that go with them. Various fruits will give off a vinegar by-product that will attract the fruit fly. Luckily, fruit flies prefer to feast on fermenting fruit. Can fruit flies bite? No, the common fruit fly in the genus Drosophila does not bite. They prefer fruit and not blood.
Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding the fruit fly.
What Do Fruit Flies Look Like?
Fruit flies are not very big insects. They average about 1/8 of an inch in size and have wings that allow them to flutter around. Homeowners will recognize them as more of a small housefly. The body color of the fruit fly is caramel-brown and they have blood-red eyes.
Are Fruit Flies Known To Carry Diseases?
Unfortunately, fruit flies are disease carriers. They feed on rotten foods and materials that provide an abundance of bacteria. When fruit decays, it is becoming a breeding ground for various bacteria. As the fruit fly feasts, the bacteria is transferred to the fly. Although there is a risk when coming into contact with fruit flies, it is not likely that contact will lead to a disease transfer from fly to human.
How Do Fruit Flies Eat?
Believe it or not, the fruit fly can eat without biting into actual food. Let’s take a look at the process involved with their life cycle to understand their eating capabilities better.
Fruit Fly Eggs
The female fruit fly lays her eggs and organic material with all of the nutrients will seep into the egg and feed the larvae. Once the larvae are released from the eggs, they can begin extracting juices on their own. This compiling of juices allows them to move on to the next phase in their life cycle.
Fruit Fly Pupae
The larvae from the fruit fly are tucked away in dry and dark places during the pupae stage of their life cycle. During this stage, the larvae are transformed into fully-formed adult fruit flies. Fruit fly pupae do not eat.
This developmental stage occurs in places far away from food sources. The food that was gathered during the larvae stage is what fuels the development during the pupae stage.
Adult Fruit Flies
During the pupae stage the fruit fly builds a cocoon. This is where their full development takes place. The moment they are released from the cocoon is the moment they get to search for new food sources.
Fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar scent that is released during the fermentation stage of fruits and vegetables. Fruit flies use their special apparatus in their mouths to suck the fruit juices from the organic matter of the decayed fruit and vegetables.
Recommended Maintenance
Now that you are aware that fruit flies do not bite, let’s review some other insects that might bite. As a homeowner, you are likely to come across a sugar and at some point in your home ownership. Additionally, now is a great time to read up on if sugar ants bite people.
Next, while you are researching the various biting or non-biting insects, it would be a great idea to learn more about termites. Termites love to devour your cellulose products which include the wood in your home. It would be a great idea to know how long termites live so that you can take immediate action to remove them.
Lastly, when coming across a cockroach or palmetto bug in your home, it is important to know if they fly. Also, understanding how palmetto bugs get around will allow you to trap them and remove them from your home in a more timely manner.
When to Call a Professional
Homeowners that grow fruit in their yards will often end up with an infestation of fruit flies. It is recommended that you notify your local pest control company to come out and assist with your fruit fly infestation. Additionally, they can eradicate fruit flies with environmentally friendly pest control.
Conclusion
Dealing with any pests or insects can be problematic. There is nothing fun or exciting about dealing with pests and insects. Enjoying your homegrown fruit should be exciting and not an annoyance. Also, getting rid of fruit flies and contaminated food is key. Consequently, be sure to reach out to your local pest control company for assistance. Reach out to All South Pest Control to determine your pest service needs in McDonough, GA, and the surrounding areas.
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