How to get rid of fruit flies from your home in hot and humid Singapore
Fruit flies are also attracted to garbage and trash around cans if enough food is present.
When it gets hot in Singapore, you'll notice little flies buzzing about in the kitchen as you're preparing your meals. These pesky pests are what you call fruit flies.
What is a fruit fly?
Fruit flies can reproduce at an alarming rate: a female fruit fly can lay up to 500 eggs at one go, on moist and rotting fruits like bananas, onions, and vegetables, thus producing wriggling larvae or maggots within 24 hours. Gross! When left alone, these larvae will grow into mature fruit flies within a week, kickstarting the reproduction cycle all over again.
Should I worry about fruit flies?
In a short word: Yes. Fruit flies are attracted to decaying food, and if you have rotting food lying around, you'll see an uncontrollable infestation in your home if you don't tend to it asap. Fruit flies are also attracted to garbage and trash around bins if enough food is present. Plus, they're so annoying, and you wouldn't want guests to feel uncomfortable in your home, right?
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How do I get rid of fruit flies?
Firstly, look out for the source of infestation:
Throw away rotting foods
Store fruits and vegetables in your fridge
Take out your garbage every night after dinner
Wipe down juice spills, especially fruit and alcohol
Then, set up a fruit fly trap in your kitchen immediately. There are a few methods to do this: the DIY homemade method and the store-bought method. I've tried both ways and tend to find the store-bought method more effective.
Natural remedies to remove fruit flies
1. Use apple cider vinegar in a jar
Try the apple cider vinegar method: Pour a little of the apple cider vinegar into a jar and cover the top with a plastic sheet. Poke mini holes big enough for the pesky flies to go in as they're attracted to the scent. You could also try to mix vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a bowl and leave it covered, as advised previously. The flies will fly in and immediately drown.
2. Use sticky tape or petroleum
There are these yellow sticky tapes you can get for cheap. Hang these tapes where your food source is; the flies will become stuck in the adhesive side. However, avoid touching the adhesive as they can be difficult to remove. You can also add petroleum jelly to a piece of paper; the flies will get stuck in the emulsion and die.
If all else fails, try the store-bought method
Personally, I prefer the store-bought method like the blue light bug zapper or a mosquito killer lamp. This is particularly satisfying as you can hear the zapping sounds as flies enter the zapper and get electrocuted. Fruit flies, houseflies and mosquitoes are attracted to the UV light which is emitted by the zapper.
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