Local fruit fly information

Fruit Fly control in Arizona

Learn what to look for around your property, explore your city, and ask about an inspection or a quote.

Phoenix, Arizona — city-inspired illustration

Fruit Flies in Arizona: what to know

Around Arizona

Conditions vary across the state. Choose your city below, then describe what’s happening around your home or business.

What to note

Where you see fruit flies, how long it has been going on, and anything you’ve already tried are the most useful details to mention.

A useful next step

Ask about an inspection, what treatment would involve, and whether follow-up visits are included. You don’t need to identify the problem yourself before getting in touch.

Local research

Fruit Flies in Arizona: what the public record shows

Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which fruit flies actually live in Arizona, when they are busiest, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.

Arizona Cooperative Extension describes fruit flies as "small flies (about 1/8" long) with bright red eyes" that are "attracted to ripened or rotting fruit and are also drawn to moist organic matter," and notes "They also like sugars such as juices and sodas"

Fruit fly identification and attractants

In Arizona homes and bars the sugary-drink source matters as much as fruit: soda residue in a recycling bin or a floor mat will hold a population after the fruit is gone.

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

Arizona Cooperative Extension states the Drosophila life cycle "is relative fast and takes about 2 weeks at 25 degrees C"

Drosophila generation time

At typical Arizona indoor temperatures a missed breeding source produces a new generation of adults in roughly two weeks, which is why removing the source beats killing adults.

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

Moth or drain flies are "about 1/8" long," develop in "floor drains, sink overflows, buckets, and other containers that contain water and organic matter exposed to air," and Arizona Cooperative Extension states "They are a major pest in kitchens and food preparation areas"

Drain flies called a major kitchen pest

For an Arizona restaurant operator, small flies at a floor drain are a documented food-prep-area pest with a specific fix: unclog and scrub the drain rather than spray.

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

When fruit flies are busiest in Arizona

Arizona Cooperative Extension says only that flies "are especially active during warm summer months" statewide; it publishes no fruit-fly-specific season, and indoor breeding continues year-round wherever a source exists.

University of Arizona Cooperative Extension's AZ2052 puts prevention first: keep food prep surfaces, sinks, drains and utensils free of food residues; cover prepared food and bag ripening fruit; rinse cans, bottles and containers before recycling; clean sinks and drains regularly and keep them unclogged and free of organic matter; store mops head-up so they dry; and fix indoor leaks promptly.

For context, nationally

8 to 10 days egg to adult — Life cycle length. University of Maryland Extension
As few as 8 days — Fastest life cycle under optimum conditions. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; University of Maryland Extension; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources

Explore Arizona cities

Avondale

Hot Desert · suburban setting

Fruit Fly control in Arizona

Fruit Flies in Arizona: what to know

Around Arizona

What to note

A useful next step

Fruit Flies in Arizona: what the public record shows

When fruit flies are busiest in Arizona

For context, nationally

Explore Arizona cities

Avondale

Buckeye

Casa Grande

Chandler

Flagstaff

Gilbert

Glendale

Goodyear

Lake Havasu City

Mesa

Peoria

Phoenix

Prescott

Scottsdale

Sierra Vista

Surprise

Tempe

Tucson

Yuma

Queen Creek

Ask about fruit fly control in Arizona