Are Fruit Flies Harmful to Humans?

Fruit flies are tiny winged insects that are attracted to sweet fermenting and rotting food items such as fruits and sweets. These tiny insects may seem harmless but do not underestimate them. Fruit flies can be very dangerous to your family and friends.

Why fruit flies are harmful to humans

Fruit flies cause disease-

Fruit Flies are not only attracted to sweet fruits and rotting vegetables, but they like to sit on every edible thing like soda bottles, trash bags, or spilt juices. Also, they are found in all kinds of unhygienic places. Because they have already visited many unsanitary places before making contact with your food, they are more likely to spread diseases. Their body hair can easily carry the disease bacteria and infect your surroundings.

Your garden can be devastated-

Everyone likes to own a garden to grow beautiful flowers and healthy vegetables. But, homes with gardens are more vulnerable to the attack of fruit flies. They can destroy your garden and you might not be able to grow them again. Not only this, but they also ruin your food by leaving behind their eggs in it. And this situation can be worse if you are a horticulturist or commercial producer. It is impossible to cope up with the pest-infested harvest.

They can ruin outdoor parties-

If you are having an outdoor party and you see a swarm of fruit flies it might become a chaotic situation. And if a fruit fly is successful to land on your food, you would have to throw your entire food because it is now infested with the diseases they carry. Flies may even lay eggs on your food which can lead to serious health issues.

How to identify fruit flies?

Fruit flies are small oval-shaped insects. The size of an adult is only 1/8 of an inch. The colour of their thorax is tan and their abdomen has black colour with a grey underbelly. But for general observation overall their appearance is tan. The colour of the Fruit fly’s eyes is often red, but some of them have darker colour eyes. Their antenna has tiny bristles, for their senses.

What season do fruit flies appear in the UK?

The fruit flies are very much like Bluebottle flies, and they generally hibernate during the winter season and are active in the spring and summer seasons. However, if they are able to locate a warm, comfortable location to stay, they start feeding and breeding there. They have little trouble entering the house through the open windows and doors. They can also enter through gaps in high roofs or fissures in the wall. They lay eggs and start looking for food right away when they enter your home. It’s hard to get rid of them once they infest your roof.

What causes a lot of fruit flies in the house?

Changes in the Weather

Extreme weather events can drastically increase the occurrence of flies. Fruit flies flourish during the summer months. Quite often, these warm durations of the year are when fruit fly larvae hatch.

The warm weather offers the ideal environment for their offspring to grow and multiply.
It’s the chief cause for the sudden appearance of a cluster of flies in your house in the summer. However, being mindful of these weather shifts can help you manage the frequency of insects. Due to the high temperatures in the summer, fruit flies can smell sweet and rotten things more effectively and attack.

Uncovered Garbage Cans

In the kitchen or anywhere else close to the house, it can be disastrous to leave trash cans exposed. This is more likely to happen if multiple residents in your neighbourhood use the same trash cans.
Leaving the cans open can result in a fruit fly infestation because fruit flies thrive in places like this. Hence, you must keep garbage cans tightly closed and keep them away from your property.

Animal Remains Around Your Society

Honey badgers, bats, rodents, and other animals may have made their way to these nearby areas of your property. To be more precise, rotting carcasses attract pests, and you must make sure your land is free of them. Contact a local home inspection company in the winter season for the inspection in your area.

Manure or Faeces and Dung Around Your Garden

It is well known that gardening is a great place for fresh and raw food items. The growth of fresh and healthy plants and crops requires organic sources for their nutrition. So, if you are using organic sources such as dung and pet faeces, ensure their maintenance and management. You should find someplace far away from your property for such things.


This is because fruit flies are attracted to faecal material and covering it would not be enough. These fruit flies have a strong sense of smell therefore they can easily track the location and hover there. Also, be mindful of the faecal disposal of your pet. It should be completely disposed of at some far away safe place.​

Undisposed Fresh and Fermenting Fruit

If you follow a balanced diet and are always in favour of eating fresh vegetables and fruits, you must have realised that these organic foods don't stay fresh for too long. Either eat your fruits when they are fresh or if they are rotten immediately get rid of them. Getting rid of them will help you prevent the attack of fruit flies. Some of the common fruits that are sensitive to rotting are mango, grapes, oranges, and avocados. Also, this situation is more likely to happen in winter.

Spilt Soda and Fruit Juices

Beverages are the life of any party, and beverages like coke, juices and other drinks of soda have a high level of sugar. Many insects and fruity flies are lured by these sweet fruity juices, that's why good management of these products and food items are important. We will advise you to ensure proper cleanliness and sanitation of your house once your guest leaves. Thus your home will be safe from fruit flies.

How to Get Rid of Flies Naturally

Cloves and Lemons

With this method, you can get rid of the flies and make the home smell fresh. This repellent method is good but you have to replace it once in a while. Preparation for this method is simple; cut a lemon in half. Then insert five to seven cloves into each half of the lemon. The final step is to place the lemon in each of the rooms or the areas which are prone to fruit flies.

How It Works:

Both the lemon and cloves have a strong fragrance. You might even like the refreshing smell of lemon, but this smell is too intense for sensitive insects like fruit flies. They hate this smell because it is very strong for the normal function of their senses. Therefore, they will avoid such areas. And, as you know these smells won't last, keep replacing them till there is no more danger.

Fresh Mint Jar Repellent

This fruit fly repellent is for aesthetic pleasing people. And one of the main benefits of this repellent is your company will never guess that it is a repellent you are using. It will look like just another beautiful candle jar or decorative piece near the window. In the jar, you have to put a cotton ball and add a little vanilla extract. Then add fresh mint and sage on the top of the seal with cheesecloth. You will have to replace this jar every week for its effectiveness.

How It Works:

Fruit flies despise sweet strong overwhelming scents. The mixture of mint, safe, and vanilla extract will numb their sense and make them stay away.

Fruit Fly Trap

This fruit fly trap is one of the most effective natural fly repellents. To set the fly trap, fill a small bowl with sweet juice and a small piece of fruit, such as a banana. Cover it securely with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band. Drill a couple of holes at the top and your fruit fly trap is complete.

How It Works:

Because of the stench of the rotting fruit, the fruit flies will be attracted to the device. Then they will eventually get trapped inside and drown. It is effective when trying to get rid of fruit fly swarms.

Essential Oil Spray

Essential oils make a great fly repellent and are good to keep away not only fruit flies but also spiders and mosquitoes. Good essential oils that repel flies are lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, neem, cinnamon or tea tree oil.

Add up to 5 drops of essential oil and up to 5 drops of natural dishwashing liquid. The dishwashing liquid breaks the essential oil molecules in the water, thus making the mixture more consistent. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake it well before use. Spray it near the entrance of your house for the best results.

Do fruit flies naturally go away

Once the food item has been harmed or infected with the disease the fruit flies are carrying, they will naturally leave. However, waiting till they naturally go away would not be a wise move. A fruit fly infestation might cause health problems. Fruit flies are well famous for flying around and carrying up bacteria, which they spread onto fresh meals. It is recommended to use an effective fruit fly repellent to safeguard your home and loved ones.

Do fruit fly traps work?

As mentioned above homemade fruit fly traps are one of the methods to repel a swarm of fruit flies. Adult flies are drawn to the vinegar and become trapped in it. This is useful for monitoring and reducing some individuals, but it will not remove the population. Furthermore, it would not prevent other fruit flies from entering your home and causing a nuisance.

Best Fly Repellent Fan

This device is design to repell flies without causing you any trouble. The soft rotating wings act as a threat to flies and make them stay away. It can be placed on the table or hung to any flies prone areas with the help of hook at its base.

Shop best repellent method to quickly get rid of fruit flies here!