What are fruit flies? Fruit flies are about 1/8 inch long and commonly breed and feed on fermenting organic materials, including overripe fruits and vegetables, stagnant, standing water on a dirty mop or rag, the slime in drains, unrinsed beer or soda taps, and unemptied or dirty trash cans. Once these small flies find a harborage site, they can reproduce quickly and make an unsightly nuisance for you and your customers. What are drain flies? Drain flies (also called moth flies or phorid flies), may be found in your facility as well. Although these flies share some breeding sites with fruit flies, they also breed in sewers, septic tanks, and soil contaminated with sewage. Thus, the presence of these flies generally indicates significant sanitation and/or structural issues that you must resolve in order to assist in reducing these flies. See your Ecolab Service Specialist for specific sanitation recommendations to combat drain flies. | Where do they come from? Fruit flies are especially common in areas where food material and liquids mix to form a breeding site. Look in areas such as drink stations, salad stations, behind the bar, and in the dish room. Phorid and moth flies have breeding sites that are often hard to access, occurring in wall voids or subfloors. Contact your Ecolab Service Specialist to determine what species of small fly is in your facility. Why should I worry about small flies? Although small flies do not bite, they can breed in tremendous numbers. Not just a nuisance, these flies are a possible health threat because they breed and feed in unsanitary areas and can easily fall into foods and contact food-handling surfaces. | 
