What Do Fruit Fly Bites Look Like?
Fruit flies can be one heck of a problem. They multiply quickly, and you might not even know you have them until you disturb a piece of fruit and a cloud of them fly up into your face. And if you’re starting to get little bites on your arms and legs at the same time, you might be wondering, do fruit flies bite? We’ll answer that and more in this guide.
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What Do Fruit Flies Look Like?
Fruit flies are small flying insects. Also known as drosophila melanogaster, they’re usually found around garbage and decaying fruits, vegetables, and other organic matter. They’re around 1/8-inch long (so very small), and their bodies are typically brownish-yellow in color (they’re almost golden). They also have bright red eyes, which can be too small for some folks to notice.
Adult fruit flies eat decaying matter like bananas, cucumbers, and other overripe fruits and vegetables. But, this is also the prime location for the female fruit fly to lay eggs. As the eggs hatch, the larvae emerge and begin to feed on the organic matter, starting the process over again. The same applies to trash cans and garbage disposal drains, where fermenting fruits, food scraps, and other food waste collects.
Are Fruit Flies Harmful if Eaten?
Fruit flies are gross, that’s for sure. But, there haven’t been any illnesses related to ingesting fruit flies or the food they touch. So other than being nasty, fruit flies pose very little human health hazard.
Do fruit flies bite humans, cats, or dogs?
No, fruit flies don’t bite people. They don’t have the biting mouthparts to piece human or animal skin. They don’t piece skin like mosquitoes or burrow like ticks. Your blood doesn’t attract them. This common household pest is simply trying to get its nasty little mouth on some overripe fruit.
There have been a handful of cases of geneticists and laboratory workers studying fruit flies having allergic reactions, but never to bites. There are some sites and blog posts out there claiming that fruit flies can cause skin irritation, red bumps, or even diarrhea. An allergic reaction is more likely to be a bit of itchiness. If you’re experiencing red bumps and marks from insect bites, it’s probably another type of pest, and we’ll get into the common pests that can be confused.
What Are the Signs of a Fruit Fly Infestation?
Fruit flies reproduce rapidly so there isn’t a lot of time to recognize behavior or signs with the naked eye before the fruit fly infestation is already established. However, there are a few things you can look for:
- Exposed food on the counter
- Tiny flies around the kitchen
- Fruits and vegetables left out
- Overfull trash bins with organic material inside
- Sinks or drains with decaying matter inside
If any of these conditions exist for more than a day or two, it’s almost a sure bet that fruit flies will be moving in. There’s a good chance there are already fruit fly eggs on those items by the time you notice them, making fruit fly infestations hard to avoid. These tiny insects work fast, and with a quick life cycle, they can infest a kitchen or home in a hurry.
How Do I Get Rid of Fruit Flies?
You don’t have to worry about fruit flies biting you, but you’d probably rather live without them. Here are some helpful fly control methods to get rid of fruit flies.
Use a Homemade Cider Vinegar Trap
Many folks swear by the homemade cider vinegar trap for fruit flies. With this method, all you need is a rotting piece of fruit, a boil, some apple cider vinegar, and some plastic wrap:
- Fill the bottom of the bowl with apple cider vinegar
- Place the rotting fruit in the middle of the bowl
- Wrap the bowl with plastic wrap
- Poke a few small holes in the plastic wrap
- Place the trap on the counter and let it do its thing
This is one of the most effective fruit fly traps. The flies will smell the fruit and climb into the bowl for a food source, but they won’t be able to find their way back out. Eventually, they’ll land in the vinegar and die, which is a very effective homemade pest control solution.
You can also use fruit juice by following the same steps, minus the fruit and vinegar. Another option is to use yeast traps, which are essentially the same but use a solution of sugar, yeast, and water to attract the fruit flies.
Store-Bought Products
There are store-bought products that can help get rid of fruit flies as well. Most commonly used are yellow sticky traps, which users place near their fruit or vegetables (or plants). Once fruit flies land on these stick traps, they get stuck and dehydrate.
We also recently started using the Zevo insect trap, and I’ll admit it does work really well. It catches everything from fruit flies to moths and spiders. If you have room on your counter, the Zevo is worth a shot (just understand that you do have to replace the sticky cartridges in a timely manner).
How To Prevent Fruit Fly Infestations
Rather than worrying about pest removal, get ahead of these nasty bugs to prevent a fruit fly infestation in the first place. Here are some fruit fly prevention tips and things you can do.
Regular surface cleaning
Make sure to clean counts and other food prep surfaces regularly. Wipe them down between meals, removing any crumbs, liquids, and spills. Disinfect them every night to prevent bacteria from growing and breaking fruit down faster.
Store Fruits and Vegetables in the Refrigerator
Fruit flies are mainly attracted to fruits and vegetables that have undergone fermentation. If they’re kept in the refrigerator, they’ll last longer and fruit flies will have a harder time reaching them. While some fruits and veggies don’t have to go in the fridge (bananas, we’re looking at you), most are better off stored away inside.
Cover Food
You can avoid a fruit fly problem by covering any food that needs to stay out. These don’t need to be airtight containers. A simple mesh dome like these on Amazon will do the trick.
What Looks Like a Fruit Fly, But Bites?
Since we know the answer to “Do fruit flies bite?” is a no, the question is, what’s biting you? These are some common household pests that might be nibbling:
- No-see-um bugs (biting midges or gnats)
- Fleas (tiny black bugs that bite and jump)
- Mosquitoes
- Black flies
- Sand flies
- Stable flies
If you’re experiencing bites from small, flying (or jumping) pests, these are most likely the insects causing your trouble.
Fruit Fly FAQs
Can fruit flies make you itch?
Yes, they can fruit fly allergies, but they’re rare and don’t pose serious health risks.
Can fruit flies or gnats bite you?
They’re different species, but fruit flies do not bite while gnats may bite, depending on the type.
What looks like a fruit fly but bites?
Insects that look like fruit flies but bite include no-see-ums, midges, gnats, mosquitoes, black flies, sand flies, and stable flies.
