Fruit flies can be annoying when seen in the house, here are 5 scents that fruit flies hate which will help you repel them away from you and keep them out for good.
As you read on, you will learn about these scents that fruit flies hate and how to apply them.
Why Are There Fruit Flies in My House?
Drains, trash cans, garbage disposals, damp mops and rags, and bottles and cans with remaining liquid inside are all prime breeding grounds for fruit flies.
Fruit flies can enter your home in these ways, and you might not even notice it.
Many different kinds of flies are quite large, yet fruit flies are exceptionally tiny. Since they only measure about 1/8 of an inch in length, they aren’t often easy to spot.
Only by approaching them will you be able to see them buzzing about and hear them as well.
Eggs laid by fruit flies can be found near the surface of many different foods, as well as any other moist material.
A single female can lay up to 500 eggs. Because of this, if you see one fruit fly, chances are good that you’ll see a lot more shortly as the eggs will hatch.
Screen doors are another potential entry point for fruit flies; ensure they are securely fastened.
Likely, fruit flies have already laid eggs on any slightly overripe fruits or vegetables that were carried into the house as part of a supermarket shopping haul.
Read also: What Scents Repel Flies?
5 Scents That Fruit Flies Hate
Do you know the scents that fruit flies hate? Below are 5 scents that fruit flies hate.
1. Basil
Plant the basil near your kitchen and any windowsills where fruit flies are likely to congregate.
There’s a good possibility you use basil frequently if you enjoy cooking. Basil is a popular culinary herb that is used in many different dishes around the world.
While the aroma of basil may remind you of some of your favorite dishes, a fruit fly does not share your enthusiasm.
Basil might be the key to successfully using aromas to deter fruit flies.
Plants of basil are an attractive addition to any kitchen, and they should be situated near the focal points of the room, such as fruits and vegetables.
The fruit flies will not be attracted to the smell that you find so pleasant. The basil will not only look good in your home, but it will also stop pests from eating your fruits and veggies.
Remember that the allure of the fruit flies must be overcome by the aroma of the basil. This won’t help one bit if you leave a bowl of decaying fruit or veggies next to your basil plant on the counter.
Keep in mind that fruit flies can be tricked with the right fragrance. Take care of the root of the issue and use aromas to scare them away for a twofer that’s sure to work.
Read also: How Long Do Flies Live?
2. Lavender
It might smell good to you, but this is one of the 5 Scents that fruit flies hate cause of its repulsive scent.
Like many other pleasant fragrances, lavender is frequently used in a wide variety of products, from perfume and cologne to air fresheners for cars.
The essential oil of lavender is worth investigating. After that, you can mix a few drops of water in a spray bottle.
Be careful when applying it in the right places. It’s also possible to use the oil in a diffuser. Either approach can be expected to yield positive results.
Once again, success in masking the smell of fruit fly attractant depends on the potency of the lavender.
Over time, you’ll see that fruit flies have stopped congregating in the spots where they were previously most numerous.
Read also: Stable Flies: Facts and How to Get Rid
3. Citronella Oil
In the same way that the other listed odors successfully deter fruit flies and other pests, citronella does the same thing, but in a more natural way.
The Green Gobbler Fruit Fly Goodbye Gel is a wonderful product. In essence, this citronella will eliminate fruit flies from their breeding grounds. When compared to the other scents, this one stands out.
An effective dose of Green Gobbler gel is 1 cup (8 ounces), which you should slowly pour down the drain. Do this after you have finished using the drain for the last time.
Oil from citronella plants is contained in the gel, which will coat and adhere to the pipe interior.
This method will not only eradicate fruit flies but will also greatly aid in locating and eradicating the pests’ point of origin.
If you want to permanently get rid of the fruit flies, you need to do this every day.
Read also: What Do Dragon Flies Eat?
4. Citrus Oil or Lemongrass Oil
Leptospermum Petersonii (lemon-scented tea tree) was discovered, in the same study that found peppermint deters fruit flies, to have a similar effect, but for a shorter period (a few hours) than peppermint.
Of course, lemongrass and the lemon-scented tea tree are two very distinct plants. However, the aromas tend to blend.
Another study confirmed that when lemongrass oil was put on a surface, it successfully deterred both stable flies and mosquitoes.
Essential lemongrass oil is used to create the spray, so you know you’re getting the real deal.
To elaborate, it’s very much like the Wondercide peppermint oil spray we discussed earlier, only that lemongrass is used instead of peppermint.
To put it plainly, anything that flies doesn’t care for anything with a lemony aroma. Real lemongrass oil, or even tea tree oil flavored with lemon, can be tried out.
5. Peppermint
Some natural oils, like peppermint oil, were reported to deter fruit flies in a single research.
Peppermint’s fresh aroma is the first line of defense against fruit flies. Spearmint and water mint are the parents of peppermint.
Peppermint oil is extracted from the plant’s bloom and leaves. The oil is refined into a variety of products before being bottled and sold.
Peppermint oil can be used effectively to get rid of fruit flies. In case you’re interested in buying the oil by itself, you can do so.
When you finally get your hands on this product, you may put the oil in a spray bottle and use it to cover the surfaces in your home where fruit flies congregate.
Cedarwood oil and sesame oil serve as the spray’s foundational constituents. On the other hand, pure peppermint oil can be quite pricey.
Finally on 5 Scents that Fruit Flies Hate
Fruit flies rely on their keen sense of smell to locate readily available food supplies such as bananas, apples, sewers, rubbish, fruits, and vegetables.
Using peppermint, basil, lavender, lemongrass, and citronella oil—scents that fruit flies are very averse to—can help you take advantage of this feature.
For more queries on 5 Scents that Fruit Flies Hate, feel free to reach out to us by dropping of a comment in the comment section.
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