Fruit fly frenzy invades Hoosier homes
Weather is to blame for fruit fly boom in Indiana
Posted: 09/27/2012
Last Updated:
265 days ago
INDIANAPOLIS - The fruit fly population is booming in Indiana this harvest season.
"We didn't have a winter so things can develop faster. The winter did not kill off a lot of our pests," said Philip Marshall, the Indiana State Entomologist.
Marshall said the warm spring also made conditions ripe for fruit flies.
"Everything this year in the pest control world has been about a month early," said Greg Johns with Gold Seal Termite and Pest Control.
Johns explained the dry summer followed by all that recent rain is also making this season a fruit fly frenzy.
The tiny pests do not carry any human diseases, but they are annoying.
To get rid of them, Johns and Marshall recommend cleaning the bowls you put fruit in, your garbage disposal and your garbage cans and recycling bins.
"Make sure you don't leave any dishes out. They can be attracted to anything," Johns said.
Johns said you can also put your fruit and veggies in the refrigerator and make a vinegar trap to place near the fruit you leave out on the counter.
If all else fails, Marshall said to just wait a few weeks because fruit flies will die off when the first few freezes arrive.
For more information on Gold Seal Termite and Pest Control, visit the company's website.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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