Fruit flies are mainly a nuisance, and the extension fact sheets donāt describe them as biters. But theyāre not completely harmless around food: the University of Kentucky says they āhave the potential to contaminate food with bacteria and other disease-producing organisms,ā and Clemson Extension warns that eaten larvae may cause stomach distress or illness. So throw out fruit with larvae in it, wash produce, and keep ripe fruit covered or in the fridge.
Want them gone from the kitchen? The two traps Iād pick (why these two): TERRO Fruit Fly Trap 4-Pack Zevo plug-in trap (Amazon; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Do Fruit Flies Bite?
The fact sheets I used donāt describe fruit flies as biting insects: the University of Kentucky calls them āprimarily nuisance pests,ā and none of the sheets mentions bites. If something tiny is biting you in the kitchen, itās probably a different insect, so itās worth taking a closer look (see fruit flies vs gnats vs drain flies). The look-alike fungus gnats donāt bite either, according to UC IPM.
Can Fruit Flies Make You Sick?
Hereās where ājust a nuisanceā needs a footnote. Fruit flies breed in places like drains, trash cans and rotting fruit, and then land on your food. The University of Kentuckyās fact sheet says they āhave the potential to contaminate food with bacteria and other disease-producing organisms.ā Clemson Extension adds that if eaten, fruit fly larvae āmay cause stomach distress or illness,ā especially if the place they bred was contaminated.
That doesnāt mean every fly on a banana is a health emergency. It means the basic kitchen rules matter more when fruit flies are around.
A Fly Landed on My Food. Now What?
- Whole fruit with a peel or skinWash it before eating, as you would anyway (my advice).
- Overripe or damaged spotsLarvae feed near the surface, so the University of Kentucky says you can cut away damaged or overripe parts.
- Fruit with visible larvaeThrow it out. Clemson warns that eaten larvae may cause stomach distress or illness.
- Cut fruit or open food left out with flies on itWhen in doubt, throw it out (my advice). Cut fruit belongs in the fridge anyway.
Why You Might Feel Itchy
Plenty of people feel itchy after a few fruit flies buzz around their face. Since the fact sheets donāt describe fruit flies as biters, that feeling probably has another cause: a fly landing on your skin, or simply the idea of bugs (my explanation, not from a fact sheet). If you have bites or a rash, look for another insect or ask a doctor.
How to Keep Your Food Safe While You Get Rid of Them
- Refrigerate ripe produce. Itās the University of Kentuckyās first sanitation step. What goes in the fridge: how to store fruit to keep fruit flies away.
- Cover food on the counter, and put leftovers away instead of leaving them out (my advice).
- Wash fruit and vegetables before you eat them (my advice).
- Remove the source. As long as they breed in a drain or the trash, they keep landing on your food: how to get rid of fruit flies.
Safety First
Donāt spray insecticide over food or food surfaces to get rid of fruit flies. Washington State University lists no insecticide as recommended for fruit flies, and the University of Kentucky says a spray only helps after the breeding source is gone. A spray on the counter is a bigger risk to your food than the flies (my advice).
Your Questions
Are fruit flies harmful to humans?
Mostly they are a nuisance. But they can carry bacteria from drains and trash to your food, according to the University of Kentucky, and Clemson Extension says eaten larvae may cause stomach distress or illness.
Do fruit flies bite humans?
The extension fact sheets I used donāt describe them as biting. The University of Kentucky calls them primarily nuisance pests. If youāre being bitten, itās probably another insect.
Is it safe to eat fruit that fruit flies landed on?
Whole fruit can be washed and eaten. Cut away damaged or overripe spots. Throw out fruit with visible larvae, and be careful with cut fruit that was left out with flies on it.
What happens if you accidentally eat a fruit fly?
The fact sheets I used donāt address a single adult fly. Clemson does warn that eating larvae may cause stomach distress or illness, especially from a contaminated breeding site. If you feel unwell, contact a doctor.
Sources & Transparency
Nuisance pest, contamination with bacteria, cutting away damaged parts and refrigerating ripe produce: University of Kentucky Entomology, ENTFACT-621 āFruit Fliesā (Michael F. Potter). Larvae causing stomach distress or illness: Clemson Cooperative Extension, HGIC 2438 āNuisance Fliesā. Fungus gnats donāt bite: UC IPM Pest Notes: Fungus Gnats. Insecticides: Washington State University PestSense. This page is general information, not medical advice. Tips marked as mine are my own advice.
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