Also known as gnats,  fruit flies are a two winged insect that feed off fruit. They have an enormous economic impact on fruit growers due to their ability to destroy crops.  

Fruit fly can lay up to 500 eggs at a time. These eggs are laid on fruit & as the larvae emerge they burrow through the fruit as they feed. This can result in fruit which looks fine on the outside, but is ruined on the inside. They feed on a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Fruit flies are much smaller than common household flies.

Preventing fruit flies:

Fruit flies require food & moisture, so you need to eliminate these to keep them at bay.

• Store  fruit & vegetables in the refrigerator. Discard over ripe fruit.

• Clean up spills such as juice as soon as they happen.

• Regularly wash out dishcloths & rags.

• Empty out garbage that contains fruit/vegetables frequently.

• Wipe down & dry kitchen bench tops & sinks.

How to get rid of fruit flies:

There are many different traps that are easy & inexpensive to make at home.  These traps should be placed close to areas you have seen fruit fly.

Funnel:

• Pour some cider vinegar or wine into the bottom of an old cup, jar or container.

• Make a cone out of a piece of paper, tape it to stop it unraveling, cut a hole around the size of a pea in the bottom.

• Tape the paper cone to the container, making sure there are no gaps between the paper & the side. The flies will fly in but can't get back out again.

Jar:

• Using an old jar or container,  add some cider vinegar &  a squirt of dishwashing liquid, mix together.

• Cover with cling film & secure with an elastic band.

• Poke a few holes in the top.

• Wine or an over ripe piece of fruit can be used instead.

Soft drink (soda) bottle:

• Using a plastic, narrow necked, soft drink bottle, cut off the top, around 1/4 of the way down.

• Pour in some cider vinegar, wine or over ripe fruit.

• Place the top 1/4 of the bottle upside down into the remainder of the bottle (so that the neck is inside the larger portion), and tape it down.

Other:

• There are commercially available fly zappers what you can try too.

• Fly paper is another method to trap fruit flies.

Also see:

How To Get Rid Of House Flies
How To Get Rid Of Gnats & Midges