Fruit flies set to invade Ireland this summer – how to get rid of them

Fruit flies are set to invade Ireland this summer.

The warmer temperatures and the abundance of food makes Ireland the perfect habitat for these annoying pests.

According to research carried out by Alliance Online Ireland, who supply insect control devices, there are an average of 1,600 searches for “how to get rid of fruit flies” each month in Ireland. Every year, searches for this question start to rise in July, before peaking in August, indicating that fruit flies increase in the home around this time.

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Alliance Online Ireland also explained that in 2024 Google searches for “how to get rid of fruit flies” are up 31 percent indicating that if the trend continues, 2024 will be the worst year to date for the pesky pests.

To help Irish people reduce the chances of having fruit flies in the home, John Girvan from Alliance Online Ireland has provided five preventative steps you can take now.

“Summer is just around the corner which means longer, brighter days for those itching for some glorious sunshine. However, when warmer weather arrives, insects are more likely to appear in the house and cause a nuisance, and pesky fruit flies prove to be the biggest culprit,” explained John.

“Thankfully, there are a number of preventative measures you can take to reduce the chance of infestation.”

1. Keep surfaces clean and sanitised

“Keep your surfaces clean and sanitised to prevent fruit flies, and any other unwanted insects, who will be attracted to any food remnants, however small they are. Fruit flies usually appear in the kitchen when food is being prepared and served, especially common during the summer months when the doors and windows tend to be left open.

“Take out the rubbish bin more often than usual ahead of fruit fly season, so food waste doesn’t end up rotting – the perfect attraction and breeding ground for fruit flies.”

2. Store fruit and vegetables properly

“Fruit flies are attracted to the ripeness of fruit and vegetables and the smell of fermentation, so seal and refrigerate food and keep it in an airtight container. There are numerous airtight containers currently on the market and, thankfully, they aren’t too expensive, so it’s worth investing if you’re sick of fruit flies.”

3. Traps and natural repellents

“The most used, and arguably the most successful, fruit fly prevention tactics are traps and repellents. Traps and repellents are easy to set up as you will likely already have all the ingredients ready at home. For a trap, fill a small bowl or jar with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of washing-up liquid. Cover the container with plastic wrap and poke some small holes to entice the flies – this works with red wine too!”

“Natural repellents are strong deterrents for fruit flies. The strong scent of dried basil, mint and bay leaves can be simply left where you tend to find fruit flies which should repel them from the area. Alternatively, mix water with essential oils like lemongrass, lavender, or eucalyptus which can be sprayed as a natural repellent.”

4. Keep drains clean

“Fruit flies can breed and lay eggs in the organic matter in damp areas like drains. Clean your drains with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate any buildup and deter fruit flies from breeding there. If you don’t have baking soda or vinegar, boiling water could work just as well.”

5. Use a fan

“Using a fan is another preventative measure to deter fruit flies. Fruit flies are weak fliers and dislike strong air currents. By placing a fan near where fruit flies congregate, you can create an environment with increased air circulation which makes it more difficult for the fruit flies to fly and land on surfaces.

“In addition to the benefit of a fan cooling down your home during hot weather, the constant movement of the air created by the fan can disorient fruit flies and makes it a challenge for them to navigate and find food sources.”

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