Fruitfly Removal in Brielle, NJ
Challenge
Fruit flies aren’t just attracted to fruit. Anything with a sugar residue suits them just fine. Recently, I was sent a commercial establishment, a bar in Brielle, NJ, that had been battling a severe fruit fly infestation.
Upon arrival, I inspected the bar to determine the locations of the infestation and the breeding and harborage areas of these annoying gnats. The bartending staff had been covering up the drains behind the bar with rags, perhaps in an effort to keep them from flying out. Whatever they were doing, wasn’t working. These flies were all over. When I removed the rags, dozen upon dozen of fruit flies emerged like they were being shot out of a cannon. Inside the drains, there were piles of old beer bottle caps. Beer bottle caps are not squeaky clean. They often are coated with an alcohol residue. Beer is brewed from cereal grains, most often malted barley, and is loaded with carbohydrates, which are sugars. Fruit flies are not just attracted to ripe and rotting fruit. Old stale beer residue will suit them just fine. People aren’t the only ones who like their beer! Here, the combination of the drains being used as a collection bucket for bottle caps along with the dirty wet rage covering the drains created an ideal, out-of-control breeding environment for these tiny hovering bothersome flies.
Solution
To deal with this infestation, I applied a microbial foam cleaner into the drains that has enzymes to dissolve away the built-up grime that these flies use as a food source and breeding location. I also applied a fly bait in the bar areas to reduce and eventually eliminate the fly population. To keep fruit flies at bay (no customer wants a fruit fly in their beer!), I advised the staff that the bottle caps should be cleaned out of the drains and in the future, they should be thrown in the garbage, and that the drains should be periodically and thoroughly cleaned. The best way to prevent fruit flies and other pest infestations is to remove their food sources and potential breeding grounds. Bars and all commercial establishments that serve food and drink must have a thorough and consistent cleaning regiment in place.
