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Warm weather speeds up fermentation, making overripe fruits and vegetables particularly attractive to fruit flies. Harvest season also means more fresh produce is kept on kitchen counters, in shopping bags and in compost bins, giving the insects more places to feed and breed.

Higher temperatures further accelerate their life cycle, shortening the time it takes for eggs to develop into adults and allowing populations to grow quickly.

Fruit flies can enter homes in several ways. Fruits and vegetables bought from supermarkets or farmers’ markets, or picked from gardens, may already carry eggs or larvae. Once brought indoors, they can develop quickly in warm conditions, according to Bugknow.

Adult fruit flies can also enter through open doors and windows, and even pass through standard window screens. Once inside, they are drawn to ripe, fermenting or decaying food, where they feed and lay eggs.

Casey Finn of The DIY Playbook recommends several practical ways to eliminate fruit flies and prevent them from coming back, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

Remove their food sources

Check fruits and vegetables as soon as you bring them home and discard anything that is bruised, overripe or starting to rot.

If fruit flies are already present, store produce in the refrigerator whenever possible. Cooler temperatures help slow both fruit ripening and the insects’ development.

Keep the kitchen clean

Even small amounts of food residue can attract fruit flies and provide places for them to breed.

Wipe countertops regularly, wash dishes soon after use, clean trash cans, remove crumbs and spills promptly, empty compost bins frequently and avoid leaving cut or ripe fruit uncovered.

Clean drains and other breeding areas

If fruit flies tend to gather around the sink, they may be breeding in drains or garbage disposals, where moisture and trapped food particles create favorable conditions.

Clean these areas thoroughly, paying particular attention to places where organic residue can build up. Garbage disposal cleaning tablets may also help remove food deposits and odors.

Make a homemade fruit fly trap

A simple trap can be made with apple cider vinegar, dish soap and a small bowl or jar.

Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into the container, add a few drops of dish soap and place it near areas where fruit flies are most active.

The vinegar attracts the insects, while the soap reduces the liquid’s surface tension, causing them to sink and become trapped.

Use commercial traps for larger infestations

For more serious infestations, commercial fruit fly traps can provide additional control. Place them near common hotspots such as kitchen sinks, fruit bowls, trash cans and compost bins.

Preventing fruit flies from returning mainly comes down to removing the conditions they need to breed. Store produce in the refrigerator when practical, throw away damaged or spoiled fruit promptly, clean food spills and crumbs as soon as possible, empty trash and compost bins regularly, and keep drains and garbage disposals free of food buildup.