The crazy truth about why fruit flies never leave them alone – and what they should do about it

How many enthusiastic chefs I tend a little overboard in the farmer markets in the summer. I Schlepe with a selection from home Erbstschück tomatoesPresent Ripe stone fruitand more zucchini When I can handle. I do my best to cook through my transport in time, but it is not always out. If I don’t do it, the source of my joy (all these tomatoes!) Will be the source of my misery. And before I know it, fruit flies have risen in my kitchen.

I know I’m not alone; For many, fruit flies are a common annoyance, especially in the hot, damp summer months. What amazes me is that you Despite it Show despite my efforts to keep my kitchen as clean as possible. I clean my kitchen as I used to do when I worked in restaurants: I put all the food and dishes away, deviated all points and surfaces and used the garbage and recycling every evening. I scrub the sink, ring out my sponge and catch. And yet … fruit flies follow me.

What gives?

It turns out that fruit flies are everywhere. As a serious edge of the eating contribution Michael Y. Park Reported last year, most Fruit flies Either on the way to your kitchen by flying into or over the products we bought, which can carry eggs that finally hatch in your kitchen. Since these eggs are so tiny (what the entomologist Molly Keck Park “is probably the size of a grains of salt”), it is unlikely that you will notice it.

Although you cannot fully check how and when fruit flies enter your kitchen may Check your ability to thrive. It is crucial to ensure that there are no food sources lying around. This includes the obvious steps, e.g. B. the covering of fruit and vegetables, in a sealed paper bag or in cooling pieces and the disposal of food waste and wiping crumbs. But it also means attacking the less obvious places where fruit flies can do eggs, slipping and feeding: not only their worktops, but also their flows, rinsing of cans, glasses or bottles before they recycle them, and the disposal of garbage and compost very often. Without getting rid of all food sources and breeding grounds for fruit flies, your kitchen will continue to be a breeding ground for these annoying little guys, no matter how flawless it appears at first glance.

Ultimately, it’s not about keeping your kitchen in chess, but to maintain a much higher level of cleanliness. The good news is that it is possible with a little effort to keep it away.