Fruit Fly
Drosophila melanogaster
About the fruit fly
Fruit flies are the tiny tan-brown flies with bright red eyes that appear seemingly out of nowhere around bowls of fruit, recycling bins, and kitchen drains. Their lifecycle is just 8–10 days, so a small population becomes a swarm in under two weeks. They contaminate food and spread yeasts and bacteria. Control is mostly sanitation: discard overripe produce, clean drains, empty recycling bins, and use apple-cider vinegar traps to catch what's already flying.
Quick ID
3 mm tan-brown body with distinctive red eyes and slow, hovering flight.
In the Triangle
Universal nuisance year-round; especially bad in late summer when fruit ripens fast.
Think you have fruit flys?
Free inspection from a licensed Castle Exterminators technician — Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary & the Triangle. We'll confirm the species and recommend a treatment plan.
Request Free Inspection (919) 606-8686
