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Just when you thought you were safe to enjoy your fall harvest, the fruit flies have decided to move in. You bring home one too many apples from the orchard, and suddenly your kitchen is swarming with a million tiny, winged roommates who are here to ruin your cozy vibe. Yes, they're back, and they seem to just magically appear out of thin air. But there's a real science to their invasion, and you don't have to live with them. We got tired of waving our hands in front of our faces, so we talked to an actual entomologist-a bug expert-to get the real strategy on how to kick them out for good. If you're done battling these swarming freeloaders, here's the expert-approved game plan to win the war. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. What's the cause of fruit fly infestations? The common name that entomologists give fruit flies is "vinegar flies." That's because they're naturally attracted to fermented liquid, and when fruit rots, it also ferments. But fruit flies don't thrive only on rotten fruit or vinegar. They also love sugary substances like soda, wine and beer, and you can find them at the bottom of your trash bin or any wet place with a substantial food source. "Substantial food source" may mean something different to you than to the small but mighty fruit fly, said Jody Green, an entomologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "It may not be the food you are wanting to eat, but fruit flies are so tiny it only takes a tiny microhabitat" -- like the residual soda in a can in your recycling bin or leftover bits and crumbs in a takeout container in your garbage, Green explained. Those are prime spots for fruit flies to breed. Once the weather warms, it takes less time for fruit fly eggs to turn into babies. Read more: Keep Bugs Out of Your Kitchen With These Common Houseplants How to prevent fruit fly infestation Cleaning is the key to preventing fruit flies from taking over your kitchen. Keeping your place as dry and free of food as possible prevents pests from continuing their life cycle. Throw away garbage and take out recycling frequently. Clean out the bottom of bins when liquid accumulates, wipe down counters after you're finished cooking and keep your sink and garbage disposal free of old food, empty of dishes and as dry as possible. Read more: This Magic Kitchen Bin Turns Chicken Bones and Food Scraps Into Dirt Overnight Storing fruits and vegetables in the fridge instead of on the counter will also make it harder for the fruit flies to find them. And because they're attracted to rotting fruit, you should carefully pick your produce at the store to make sure you aren't bringing any rotten or bruised pieces home, Green said. It's especially important to store foods that ferment quickly. Fruit flies thrive on the rot produced by cabbages, strawberries, bananas and other fruits and vegetables that can often break down before you notice them aging out of edibility. Sugary substances should also be stowed away, cups should be lidded or washed out and trash bags should be regularly switched out to prevent fruit fly infestations. She also added that you should recycle or compost cardboard boxes that hold produce as soon as possible because fruit flies could be breeding in them. Any place that catches water or is moist, like a wet kitchen rag or the rug beside the sink, could become a breeding ground for fruit flies. Try vinegar and dish soap to slow down an infestation Apart from consulting our experts, we also did some digging on the r/CleaningTips subreddit to see what other people experience. Some users found their issue wasn't fruit flies but fungus gnats. It's worth confirming the infestation by identifying the insect. Many users also noted that an apple cider vinegar and dish soap trap caught a lot of the flies and helped fight their infestations. To make a vinegar and soap fruit fly trap, put a few ounces of apple cider vinegar mixed with a few drops of dish soap in a small dish and cover with plastic wrap. Poke holes in the wrap so the fruit flies can get in but not out, and place the trap near your fruit fly infestation. What do fruit flies look like? Fruit flies are about an eighth of an inch long, have red eyes (though some species have darker eyes) and are light brown with dark rings around their abdomen. They also have two wings (many insects have four). For more home tips, here are the best air purifiers for clean air and the best cordless vacuums. Fruit fly FAQs
