FRUIT FLIES
Consistent attention to sanitation
is the key to eliminating fruit flies!
Family
Drosophilidae
These common flies are
also called vinegar and pomace flies. They are widely distributed over
the world. The most common species encountered is Drosophila
melanogaster Meigen. These insects are of concern both as nuisance pests
and as contaminators of food. Large populations can build up quickly in
food service establishments. Food processing plants such as wineries,
pickle plants and canneries consider Drosophila to be their most
important pest.
Adults of this fly are about 3 mm.
Long. Their eyes are red, the thorax is tan, and the abdomen is black on top and
tray underneath.
Eggs are laid near the surface of
fermenting materials such as fruit, dirty garbage containers, rotten vegetables
or slime in drains. Minute larvae hatch from the eggs in about 30 hours and feed
near the surface of the fermenting mass on which the eggs were laid. When mature
the larvae move to a drier area and pupate.
Each adult female lays
approximately 500 eggs. Thus, with a period of only 9 to 12 days from egg to
adult, the reproductive potential of these flies is tremendous and very large
numbers of them may appear in a short time.
Adult flies are strong fliers,
having been known to travel as far as 6-1/2 miles within a 24-hour period.
Populations tend to build during the summer, becoming very abundant at harvest
time. Indoors, drosophila is frequently active at all times of the year. They
are readily attracted to any number of materials, including ripened fruit and
vegetables, fermenting products, empty bottles and cans, drains and garbage
disposal areas, and any area where moisture has collected including mops and
cleaning rags.
Control of Fruit Flies
Sanitation and habitat elimination are the keys to
controlling fruit flies. In many instances, locating the source of the
infestation may be difficult since they can be well concealed in and around
plumbing and just about any area where moisture may collect. When the source
cannot be found, the use of residual sprays and space sprays can be used to
control the adults, but repeat applications will be necessary as long as the
breeding source remains.
For the control of fruit and
vinegar flies, elimination of the attractants and breeding areas is the most
important control measure.
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