- Although many different species of fruit flies exist around the world, all types are small flies, ranging in length from 1/4-inch to 4/10-inch. They often have transparent wings. The telling sign of fruit flies is the damage their larvae cause when they eat the inside of forming fruit, causing it fill with small, white maggot-like worms and, later, to rot.
- When you purchase any houseplant, check it well for signs of any insects on the leaves and in the soil of the nursery pot. If you isolate a new plant from other plants for several weeks, insects can become more noticeable as they grow larger and reproduce. Check all plants you keep outdoors in the summer before you bring them indoors in the winter.
- Commercially available sticky traps are effective for capturing fruit flies. Hang two or three near your indoor fruit tree. You can also make traps from plastic soda bottles or a simple bowl. Pour about 1 inch of fruit juice or wine into your trap and hang it near your plant. Flies will be attracted, fall in and drown.
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