Tips on how get rid of these pests and keep them out of your house forever.

Fruit Flies have a life-cycle of 10 days, which means that a few fruit flies buzzing around your apples can quickly turn into a very serious infestation. These pesky little insects find the perfect breeding ground in moist, rotting and organic materials left around the house. The only real way of preventing these pests from multiplying is cleanliness. Make sure to keep your house clean by throwing away any rotting fruits while also storing any other organic materials in the refrigerator. Some fruit fly favorites include raisins, dates, prunes, beer, wine, fruit juices and vinegar products. Remember, never procrastinate! It only takes two minutes to organize your things but it'll take hours to get rid of a colony of flies.

If you already have the beginnings of an infestation, here are just a couple of tips on how to get rid of these insects:

Lemongrass is an excellent insect repellent. It not only works on fruit flies but is also effective in killing ants, spiders and a variety of other insects. All you need is some diluted essential lemongrass oil to spray around the area that has the largest concentration of insects. To create the mixture, take 10 drops of the oil and dilute it in 2 drops of hot water.

You can create the perfect fruit fly trap with a shallow bowl and plastic wrap. Place a small amount of red wine, apple cider vinegar, beer, soda or juice into a shallow bowl. Then tightly cover the top of the bowl with the plastic wrap and poke a couple of small holes into the plastic. The fruit flies will make their way through the plastic towards the sweet smell but will not be able to escape. If you find that this trap isn't that effective, try adding dish soap or cooking oil to the concoction.

If you don't feel like killing them then try a catch and release method. Place a rotting piece of fruit in a jar. When the jar is filled with fruit flies quickly put a large plate over the opening so as to cut off their escape. Then take the container outside to release the flies back into the wild!

There are so many ways to keep your house fruit fly free. In the end, just use your common sense. Keep your house clean and your home will be free of creepy crawlers.

Yvonne Ivanescu
		About the author:
		A self-proclaimed travel fanatic, Yvonne has had the opportunity to travel to many amazing and exotic countries over the years. Her favorite spot overall was her unforgettable trip to Egypt. Her journey to Paris was particularly special, as it was the Journalism School at Sciences Po that reignited her passion for writing and journalism. Since returning from France, Yvonne has interned at Vervegirl Magazine and MTV Canada while freelancing for a number of other publications. She has an Honors B.Soc.Sc in International Studies with a minor in Spanish and French and is currently pursuing her Masters in International Development and Globalization with a Specialization in Women's Studies.
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