Why Sheffield fruit fly population is surging in autumn - and what to do about them
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Fruit flies have been buzzing around kitchens for longer than usual
Sheffield residents are being warned of surging fruit fly populations after a prolonged period of warmer weather.
The pesky insects, known to congregate around decaying food and kitchen sinks, usually begin to thin out around October, according to The Telegraph.
However, they have hung around longer than usual this year due to the unusually warm beginning to autumn we are currently experiencing.
Without the usual cold snap of late September, the population hasn’t died off as usual, meaning they are still causing a nuisance in South Yorkshire homes.
Known as fruit flies, the tiny winged airborne insects are actually called vinegar flies.
They are known to lay their eggs on ripening fruit, meaning that every time new fruit is brought into a home, the cycle of new fruit flies continues.
After the hottest summer on record and a distinctly warmer autumn than usual, coupled with the suggestion that there are currently less predators for these flies, the mating season is prolonged and we see them for longer than usual in our homes.