Q: Rain season is back. So are fruit flies. We hear about flies making us sick. But Can fruit flies make people sick if they touch your food?
Krishna:
The scientific name for the fruit fly is Drosophila melanogaster. Adult fruit flies have the typical fly body plan – they’re just much smaller than many other fly species. The average adult is 0.12 inches long and 0.08 inches wide. The typical adult has a tan or black-brown body colour and a rounded head.
Fruit flies at all stages of development survive off of fruits. Adults also eat rotting plants. Freshly hatched larvae survive exclusively off of the food that they’re laid on. This is one of the main reasons they’re considered a common household pest. Even un-ripened fruit is vulnerable to fruit flies. In fact, they prefer to lay their eggs on un-ripened fruit. This way, it will last until the eggs hatch.
Fruits and vegetables – especially bananas, melon, tomatoes, squash, and apples– are their favourites. Rotten onions and potatoes are also a big draw.
An adult female fruit fly can lay up to 2,000 eggs on the surface of anything that's moist and rotting. The eggs hatch into larvae, which eat the decayed food. The larvae mature into adults within a couple of days. Two days after they emerge as adults, they're ready to mate, and the females can lay more eggs.
Several things influence the fruit fly life cycle, including the air temperature. Depending on conditions, an adult fruit fly can live as long as 30 days.
Yes, fruit flies can potentially make you sick. Research shows that fruit flies can transfer germs from a dirty surface onto a clean one. They can pick up and transfer harmful bacteria—such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria—which cause food poisoning. These three germs each cause food poisoning. Severe cases may put you in the hospital and can even be life-threatening. While they are primarily considered a nuisance, they can spread these germs onto your meals.
How the Contamination Happens
Their numbers increase during the rainy season.
They feed with enzymes: Fruit flies lack teeth and feed by regurgitating digestive juices onto food to liquefy it, which can spread bacteria in the process.
They transfer pathogens: Research shows that fruit flies are capable of accumulating and spreading dangerous microbes, cross-contaminating ready-to-eat foods very quickly.
Breeding grounds: The risk increases if the flies have been in unsanitary areas like garbage disposals, trash cans, or rotting produce.
According to standard food safety practices you should adjust your actions based on the food type.
Solid/Whole foods: You can usually wash whole, uncut fruit thoroughly or peel off the skin before eating.
Open or ready-to-eat foods: If fruit flies land on salads, soft cheeses, open beverages, or cut/prepped fruit, it is recommended to discard the food to avoid the risk of bacterial/viral infection.
If you touch any surface on which they gathered, wash your hands thoroughly before touching your food and water.
Q: Do fruit flies bite?
Krishna: Fruit flies don't bite humans. Their mouth parts are different from the biting ones.
Q: How can we get rid of fruit flies?
Krishna:
To eliminate fruit flies in your house, eliminate their food and breeding sources by throwing away overripe produce, cleaning spills, and taking out the trash. Then, set a trap using a small bowl or jar with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap.
Build an Apple Cider Vinegar Trap - Pour 1/2 inch of apple cider vinegar into a jar or bowl and add 3-5 drops of dish soap (like Vim or Dawn). The soap breaks the surface tension, causing the flies to sink.
The Funnel - Cover the top tightly with plastic wrap and poke a few tiny holes in the top, or roll a piece of paper into a funnel and tape it into the jar. This allows the flies to get in but traps them inside.
Alternatives - If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use old fruit juice, red wine, or a piece of overripe banana in a bit of water.
Identify & Eliminate Breeding Sources
Traps will only catch the adults; you must clean their breeding grounds to stop the cycle.
Produce - Immediately throw away or refrigerate overripe fruits and vegetables.
Trash & Compost - Take out organic waste, wet waste, and recycling daily.
Drains - Fruit flies love moist, rotting organic matter. Pour boiling water or a drain cleaner down your kitchen sinks to kill any lingering eggs. Try to keep the kitchen and toilet surfaces dry.
Once your house is clear, keep them from returning:
Storage - Store all fresh produce in the refrigerator or sealed airtight containers.
Cleanliness - Wash used dishes and utensils right away and wipe down damp or sticky kitchen surfaces.
Screens - Make sure the mesh screens on your windows and doors do not have any holes or tears.
If you see them in your immediate neighbourhood, keep your doors and windows closed during day time if you can't use meshes.
These fruit flies are tiny creatures but can make you sick if you are not careful.
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