Drosophilae-Fruit Flies

Drosophilae - sometimes called Fruit Flies, Vinegar Flies, Drain Flies, Sewer Flies - are one of the most aggravating and difficult pests associated with food establishments. They are small, pale, yellowish or tawny colored; usually identified by their habit of hovering in small circles, fairly close to their breeding sites.

Drosophilae are generally found around decaying or fermenting fruit or vegetables; they breed in fermenting, ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables, beer, wine, cider or vinegar residues. They are a serious economic problem around fruit processing plants and wineries. Thousands can emerge from an inefficient grease trap, hundreds from a few scraps of rotting fruit.

Drosophilae are produced in vast numbers whenever quantities of fruit waste are left exposed. When these small flies are taken into air conditioning systems they can cause considerable difficulties with delicate instruments.

Female Drosophilae can lay eggs during their first day of life, the larvae hatch in a few hours, developing rapidly maturing in 3 or 4 days; the pupal stage lasting 2 or 3 days. The life cycle for Drosophilae can be completed in as little as 6 days or as long as 14 days.

Common breeding sites for Drosophilae include:

* unrefrigerated fruits & vegetables,

* rotting food under counters and equipment,

* beer and wine dispensers,

* spilled fruit juice, wine or beer,

* dirty garbage containers,

* inefficient/stagnant drain traps,

* inefficient/leaking grease traps,

* rotting food particles in cracks and crevices,

* dishwashers,

* disposal units,

* dumb waiter pits,

* elevator pits,

* empty wine, beer, juice, sauce containers,

* dirty/sour cleaning cloths, dishcloths, mops,

There is no easy method of permanent control. Drosophilae are a symptom of other problems - solve the problems and the symptoms will disappear! Unfortunately, in most cases, there is no long term solution to the problem(s).

Continual inspection and remedial cleaning is the basis of a good Drosophila control program. This can be supplemented with chemical control, as applicable.

CONTROL

Supplemental controls include "Time Mist" Metered Aerosol Dispensers, PROFESSIONAL AEROSOLS, Fruit Fly Traps, residual sprays, misting, fogging.

MALATHION, PERMETHRIN and PYRETHRIN formulations are used in Drosophila control, depending on the situation and circumstances.