Can Fruit Flies Come From Soil?

In Soil

• Fruit flies are like any other insect -- they come from eggs. They do need a place to live, however, and one place may be warm, moist soil. They are only usually found in soil, however, if that soil is consistently moist and contains decaying organic matter, which they feed on. If this is the case, they may take up residence in the soil, feeding and breeding.

On Fruit

• Fermenting fruit provides a ripe environment for fruit flies to breed and feed, especially if that fruit is warm and moist. They can be brought home on fruit from the market, fly in an open window or move from one location to another in your home. The tiny pests lay their eggs directly on the soft, overripe parts of the fruit. When the larvae hatch, they feed on the organic matter. They usually stay pretty much in one place, so you can cut off the rotting part of a piece of fruit without worrying about larvae tainting other parts of the fruit.

Other Places

• Fruit flies, regardless of their common name, actually prefer to live in a seldom-used drain; one that has a layer of slime that sets directly above the water line. This moist, slimy layer of rarely disturbed organic matter is the perfect, private location for fruit flies to thrive, according to the Iowa State University Department of Entomology. Other areas that often have small, forgotten deposits of organic matter include empty soda cans, garbage disposals, trash bins and even rags used to clean up food.

Control

• The best way to combat fruit flies is to prevent them from breeding in the first place. Clean out slimy drains and don't let fruit become overripe. Juice spills should be cleaned up promptly, and garbage and recycling bins should be kept clean as well. Using insecticides to get rid of adult flies is not recommended, according to the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology. Instead, create a trap for adult flies by pouring a few ounces of cider vinegar into a jar, and then topping the jar with a paper funnel. The cider will attract the flies, which will fly down the funnel but be unable to exit the jar.