Do Fruit Flies Bite?

People around the world wonder “do fruit flies bite?” or “can fruit flies bite?”. Nobody really likes fruit flies as they can be really annoying, especially when you are trying to prepare a meal or something special for the family. It can also be fairly embarrassing to have them flying around your home as it can give people the impression that you are not a clean person. But many people wonder if they are more then a nuisance and if they can actually bite. Many people have reported little red spots appearing on their skin when they have been around fruit flies, perhaps this is even the reason why you wanted to do the research required to find out if fruit flies really bite. Despite popular belief, the answer will surprise you as there are definitely risks involved when it comes to allowing these pests to invade your home. What are these risks and how can you protect yourself and your family? Most of the solutions we provide on this site are easy to follow and can really help you to solve your fruit fly problem. We will also discuss the potential health risks that are associated with these flies. In this specific article, we will learn more about these little pests and their habits so that we can provide an answer these questions and provide some insight into the reasons. I hope you will enjoy the article and I invite you ask any questions in the comment section below.

Do Fruit Flies Bite Skin?

do fruit flies bite

Do Fruit Flies Bite

The short answer is no, you do not run the risk of being bitten by a fruit fly. Fruit flies do NOT bite people. In fact, according to scientific research on the biological makeup of the insect, it turns out that fruit flies dont even have teeth. They eat their food by pushing out a catabolic fluid that helps break down their food. Once this has been completed, they suck it up with a special mouth piece that has been made for this purpose. So dispite popular belief, the reality is that you are not going to be bitten by a fruit fly so anyone who asks you this question, you can explain to them what you have just learnt. However, before you breath a sigh of relief, you need to remember that fruit flies pose a much greater risk, one that is often overlooked. What is this risk you may ask? Fruit flies can pose a serious health risk.

Due to the nature of their daily diet, fruit flies are often exposed to foods that are rotten, decaying or just things that are generally not sanatary. This can cause them to carry dangerous bacteria that is often found in garbage. So remember to take out your garbage or to make sure that its covered properly. Another idea is to put your offcuts (from vegatables, meat, etc) into a plastic shopping bag and put it in the freezer instead of putting it directly into your main kitchen bin. This will prevent it from attracting fruit flies. (see this website for additional info on the subject. Just like flies, its also important to note that fruit flies are often attracted to animal excrement, which can cause a serious health risk to the surrounding area. So when your pets leave behind their waste, try and get rid of it as soon as possible. If you have a weak stomach, at least try and cover it with sand if its outside.

The bacteria that is carried from these type of sources can often result in harmful diseases being spread in areas where fruit flies can be found.  So next time someone asks you “do fruit flies bite?”. you can tell them that they do not but rather pose a health risk instead. According to research, the two most common results of exposure to this bacteria is diarrhoea and dysentery. If you have any of the follow symtoms, it is highly recommended that you go and see your local doctor. These include frequent loose stools, stomach cramps and abdominal pain, hot fever, vomiting, lightheadedness or even dizziness. Although these can result from a number of sources, fruit flies are definitely one of the big causes of these types of problems.

Do Fruit Flies Bite? – Proof?

Although it has been proved that fruit flies do not have teeth, its interesting to note that people have reported getting red spots when having been in contact with fruit flies. If you have not had this experience yourself, then here is an image as to what it looks like:

fruit fly bites

Red Bite Marks Caused By Fruit Flies?

If you have had this type of a reaction, you might argue the fact that the statement “do fruit flies bite” is true. However, this rare occurrence is not due to bites, its actually because you have a allergic reaction to the bacteria that fluit flies carry on their body. This exposure creates small red dots where the fruit flies may have landed on your skin and gives the impression that you have been bitten. Before you start freaking out, its important to note that you do not need to go see a doctor if you deal with it quickly. Just go for a hot shower, give yourself a good scrubbing and you should be fine. If you are extra paranoid, just dab some apple cider vinegar on the red spots and they should disappear quickly. An anti-baterial cream also works well but is not necessary so you dont have to go running to the nearest shop to grab some. Do they bite? No, but as we can see, they can cause serious skin irritation. So there are no flies that bite.

If you are having a problem with fruit flies, you need to get rid of them as soon as possible. There are many ways to do this and despite popular belief, its rather easy to free yourself from these pests. If you would like to know how to get rid of fruit flies, you can find many informative articles on this site. In addition to answering questions like “do fruit flies bite”, there are many tips on how to remove fruit flies. However, the best way to protect yourself is to prevent the problem happening in the first place so keep your kitchen clean, especially during the summer months.

In summary, fruit flies do not bite. Although fruit flies can be really irritating, they do not pose a risk when it comes to physical bites. If you do get red marks, its just due to the exposure to bacteria and is easily resolved. However, it is important to get rid of fruit flies as soon as possible as they do pose long term health risks if they stick around too long. If you have any other questions such as where do fruit flies come from, this article is just for you. I hope that this article has been beneficial and I would like to thank you for reading it. If you enjoyed it, please share it with your friends and join me on Google+ for future updates!

  • Johnna Devlin

    Real great information can be found on blog, I am going to put this into use immediately.

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com Natasha Anderson

      Awesome, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

  • Elliander Eldridge

    Then why do I feel a sting when one lands on me? It feels really sharp, but there is never a bite mark, nor do I get those rashes. Isn’t it possible that the some people may have a reaction to the catabolic fluid itself? If it is a digestive enzyme capable of breaking down meat, what kind of effect can it have on our bodies?

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com/ Natasha Anderson

      Hey Elliander,
      Thanks for your comment. Yes, that is very possible as some peoples skin is extremely sensitive to those sort of things. The pain isnt usually sharp though, are you 100% sure that it was a fruit fly that landed on you? Although some have a reaction to it, its not dangerous to you. Of course, you should address your fruit fly problem as soon as possible because they can spread bacteria but don’t worry that you have had minimal contact with them.
      Hope that helps.
      Natasha

  • http://www.thebugsquad.com Natasha Anderson

    Hey Elliander,

    Thanks for your comment. Yes, that is very possible as some peoples skin is extremely sensitive to those sort of things. The pain isnt usually sharp though, are you 100% sure that it was a fruit fly that landed on you? Although some have a reaction to it, its not dangerous to you. Of course, you should address your fruit fly problem as soon as possible because they can spread bacteria but don’t worry that you have had minimal contact with them.

    Hope that helps.

    Natasha

  • Tapety Mitsubishi

    Very interesting info! Will put this to use :)

  • Tyler Coxen

    Very good information can be found here, I plan to put this information about fruit flies to use. Thank you!

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com Natasha Anderson

      Pleasure, glad you enjoyed it :)

  • Nowelowe w kinach

    I really appreciate the work that you are doing here Natasha, your instructions are clear and easy to follow.. Keep putting up!

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com Natasha Anderson

      Pleasure Nowelowe and thanks for bookmarking, I plan to write about 10 articles a month (time permitting) so stay tuned for more bug removal goodness!

  • Jeff Chaplin

    While I was washing the dishes I noticed that a fruit fly had landed on me and I suddenly had a scary feeling that they could bite me. Even though I didn’t feel a bite, I did some research and your info clarified it for me :)

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com Natasha Anderson

      Hey Jeff, yeah there is nothing really to worry about. Just be aware though that they can carry bacteria which can sometimes result in red dots or even a mild allergic reaction but they definitely cant actually bite you :)

  • Lomeems

    Thank you so much! I had the exact same “bite” marks and had no idea where they came from. This info was very helpful.

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com/ Natasha Anderson

       Good stuff, its quite a relief hey, I was quite stressed the first time I saw them first as well!

  • laura

    I have simular red marks but they itch are they fruit flies? does anyone have the same problem they itch like crazy

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com/ Natasha Anderson

      Hey Laura. Its possible that it may be from another insect, especially if you do not have a fruit fly problem. Did you wake up in the morning with the marks? It may be caused by bed bugs, they often leave a rather itchy bite mark, depending on the sensitivity of the skin. Also, how many bite marks do you have? If its only one or two, perhaps its just mosquito bites? Let me know :)

  • Ilovemybooduh

    Thank god I thought It was Fleas Id Rather it be flies then fleas  They were biting my baby and I.

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com/ Natasha Anderson

      Hey! I am glad you found the article useful. If you like, you can send me a picture of the bugs that are biting you two and I will tell you exactly what they are :)

  • Bobby

    My girlfriend and son have itchy red bumps on there backs and arms and they say that they itch really bad.

  • ProudMommy

    Hi Natasha, My daughter got a bunch of marks that looked JUST LIKE the above picture. Took her to the Doc Time #1, was told Viral. Doc time #2, was told Folliculitis, given antibiotic cream and anti-biotics… no help.. Doc#3, Alas, Big bites (or the actual contact rash from them). The earliest bumps are now about 2 weeks old, and are finally starting to heal.. They are now flesh colored and the bump is almost flush with her arm, but she has some that are on her face now.. and we just set up the vinegar traps yesterday. My dauighter doesn’t seem to be itching like crazy *she’s 4, but only a litle. If you ask her if they itch she says no. I just wanted to know if you think this is normal? The Doc just said bug bites… said it didn’t look lile “bed” bug bites, but we have had fruit flies in our house.. and thats’ what made me look this up. I just wasn’t sure how long I should wait for ehr current spots to heal before panicing and takling her back to the doc for trip#4! Thanks for any opinion you can give

    • http://www.thebugsquad.com/ Natasha Anderson

      Hey! Sorry for the late response, somehow your comment slipped past me and I didn’t mark it for follow up. I am sorry to hear about your daughter. I have found that some people get allergic reactions to fruit flies bacteria, not because of any bites. From what it sounds like, it is probably bed bugs which I highly recommend investigating immediately, especially considering her age. Its nothing to panic about, just follow the steps outlined in this article: www.thebugsquad.com/bed-bugs/get-rid-of-bed-bugs – If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me!