Thailand is usually hot and humid all year round, and this is the type of climate where  fruit flies  can live comfortably. Therefore, Thai people may encounter fruit flies quite often, especially in areas with hot and humid weather.

However, in addition to causing us annoyance, fruit flies are also vectors of many dangerous diseases.

Get to know “fruit flies”

Mrs. Nipa Benjapong, Medical Scientist 8, Insect Museum and Taxonomy Division. Institute of Health Science Research, gave information that fruit flies are small insects, approximately 3-4 mm long, usually yellow with red eyes. They are not medically important insects. But they may be economically important. Because they are often found on rotting vegetables and fruits. Fruits stored in our homes may always be disturbed by this insect. The larvae usually live in spoiled fruits that have mold growing on them.

Where are the flies?

The Food Sanitation Division, Bangkok Health Department  , stated that fruit flies are disease vectors commonly found. Especially in garbage piles. Food scraps, fruit peels, rotten fruit, rotten vegetables, fruit juice fermentation tanks, wine fermentation tanks, vinegar factories, pickled foods, aphids, sap from wounds on plant stems, and can also be found in forests, along roads, and in houses.

Why do flies fly?

Fruit flies tend to flock to sweet foods or fruits. As they are attracted. By the smell of sugar and fermented substances. As well as sources of sour odors from fermenting fruits. Fruit flies may also flock to sweat or oils from human skin. ยูฟ่าเบท as they are attracted by the smell of sweat and moisture.

Dangerous diseases from fruit flies

Because fruit flies breed in garbage, pickled vegetables, rotting fruits, fungi, waste, animal feces, and hairy bodies and legs, they can spread germs such as: 

• Typhoid fever can be transmitted through flies that land on food. Causing contamination of food with various pathogens. Which can then transmit gastrointestinal diseases to humans. 
  
• Pink eye : Fruit flies are small insects that like to fly in groups. Landing in moist areas such as human eyes, which can spread the pink eye disease.
  
• Pig mouth sores. Fruit flies are also vectors of pig mouth sores.

How to control and eliminate fruit flies

• Environmental sanitation improvement

1. Throw away food scraps, vegetable scraps, fruit scraps, and various types of garbage in a trash can with a tight lid that does not leak or seep water, and dispose of the garbage by burning, burying, composting, filling the area, or raising animals. The trash can must be clean.
   
2. Dispose of animal waste and waste by burying it, composting it to make fertilizer, or composting it in a biogas fermentation tank.
   
3. Vegetables, fruits. And pickle foods should be store in containers. Food storage cabinets, or covered with a fine-meshed lid to prevent flies from landing on them.
   
4. Areas where food is prepared, kitchens, restaurants. And food shops should be cover. With wire mesh screens to prevent flies from entering or landing on the food.

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Destruction of fruit fly larvae

• Expose animal waste to sunlight to destroy fruit fly eggs/larvae.
• Use chemicals to destroy fruit fly lice according to the label instructions, such as pyrethrin, diazemon, chlorpyrifos, and malathion.
• Destruction of fruit fly adults

Method: Use jackfruit latex or insect glue applied to a rope and hang it over rotting fruit to catch fruit flies.

Chemical method

– Use chemicals that are less harmful to humans, such as pyrethrin 0.1-0.4%, sprayed in houses and buildings.

– Use chemicals to spray on breeding grounds outside houses, such as:

• Malathion 2-5%
• Diazinon 0.5-1%
• Fenetrothion 0.5-1%
• Ronnel 1%
• Use fermented food such as pickled mango, pickled mustard greens or pineapple mixed with 0.1-2% Proproxur as bait to attract fruit flies. This must be done with caution.

Fruit flies are crawling on me. What should I do?

If flies are a common nuisance on your body, try using a natural insect repellent spray, such as a citronella spray, or wash your body and use a deodorant that contains essential oils to keep flies away.