Fruit Flies vs Drain Flies: How to Tell and Get Rid of Them

Fruit flies vs drain flies. Are you sure which type you have in your home? You may have noticed little flies in your kitchen or bathroom. Although they look similar they are different types of fly. Fruit flies are attracted to ripe fruit and food waste. Drain flies live around damp gooey drains. Once you can identify which you have it can easily be resolved. Let's take a look at how you can identify and eliminate these little pests.

Know More

fruit flies vs drain flies

Why are you seeing tiny flies?

This is the first thing to look for. Are you finding tiny flies in kitchen areas near your bin or fruit bowl? Flies need food, water and somewhere moist to lay their eggs and your kitchen and bathroom provide perfect conditions. Once you know what type of fly they are you’ll be able to solve the issue.


Look at the body and colour

If you look closely at one of the flies, fruit flies are a tan colour with red eyes. Drain flies will be a grey or dark colour and have fuzzy wings that look like little moths. This is the easiest way to tell fruit flies vs drain flies without using any tools.


Where do you find them?

Fruit flies will be attracted to ripe fruits, bins and sticky messes. Drain flies will be attracted to wet areas. If you have small flies in bathroom drain areas or near the shower then you're probably dealing with drain flies. They tend to jump around the wall rather than flying.


Fruit Flies vs Drain Flies: Key Differences

Here’s a simple table to help you determine which type of fly you have.



Fruit Flies

Drain Flies

Colour

Tan or brown

Grey or black

Appearance

Round body with red eyes

Fuzzy Wings like moths

Found Near

Fruits, Bins and Spills

Drains, Sinks and Showers

Attraction

Sweet rotten food

Slime in the pipes

Movement

Hovering

Weak short flights


How to get rid of fruit flies?

Toss the old fruit out. Clean your bin and remove bin waste every day. Create a trap by adding a little vinegar and one drop of dish soap into a bowl. The flies will fly into the bowl but won’t be able to escape. Wipe away any sticky areas.


How to get rid of drain flies?

The proper way to deal with drain flies is to clean the drain. Use a brush to clean the inside of the pipe. This will get rid of the slime. Flush with hot water. Do this every few days for a week. This will remove the slime, which is feeding the eggs.


Do the flies keep coming back?

Sometimes the problem is deeper inside the pipes, meaning you won’t be able to get the brush in. This means you may need to call a drain fly control Sharjah expert. This will ensure you get rid of the problem properly and save you weeks of trying.


When Should You Call Pest Control?

If, after cleaning properly, you are still seeing flies after 2 weeks or there are lots of flies every day, you should contact a professional. Good pest control services in Sharjah will find the breeding ground and treat it safely.


Keep your home fly-free

Flies breed quickly in warm temperatures. Contact us for the proper fly control Sharjah homes need. Ensure drains are kept clean, and bins are covered.



FAQs

Why are there small flies around my sink?

Probably because there is some food or slime nearby, clean your sink, drain and surrounding areas.

Do these flies bite?

No, they don’t bite, but they can spread germs from dirty areas.

Can I spray them?

Spraying will kill the flies you can see however, it won’t stop more from appearing. You need to clean the source.

How long do they live?

They only live for a couple of weeks however, they breed very quickly, so can go from one to many.

Summing Up

Now you know how to identify the differences and what to do next. Keep your kitchen dry and drains clean. If you’re struggling with persistent flies, give Al Atta Pest Control a call. We can come out to your home and resolve the issue at the source.