Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Tiny black flying bugs in the house, are they fruit flies?

8 replies

MoonShimmer · 13/05/2026 14:19

Over the last week ive been invaded by these tiny black bugs, flying all round my house and they are driving me crazy! I thought they might be fruit flies even tho I have no plants and no fruit in the house, then I thought they might be from outside? So ive bleached and cleaned the bin, wiped over all the kitchen, covered the vents to outside inside a cupboard,hoovered every where, sprayed peppermint oil around, used those sticky things on the windows, cleaned the sink and plug hole as well as putting a cover over it...I had a day or two where I saw no bugs...then again 4-5 appeared so i thought maybe they were coming from inside so I got bugs nets for thr doors...got up this morning and one was in my bathroom!So can someone please help me identify if this IS a fruit fly so I know if I should be bleaching and cleaning every single inch of my kitchen please? I really thought i had solved the problem when I did have any bugs for a couple of days 🙃 I was looking forward to a lovely summer with the windows open but if this is happening already I might just move instead 😂😂 Pictures attached for help?

Tiny black flying bugs in the house, are they fruit flies?
Tiny black flying bugs in the house, are they fruit flies?
OP posts:
Astra53 · 13/05/2026 16:07

Are the flies definitely black? I think fruit flies are brown.

Valhalla17 · 13/05/2026 16:09

Fungus gnats? Check your plants or anywhere that could be damp, drains....they thrive in drains.

swapsicles · 13/05/2026 16:31

I've the same or very similar, the two places I've found them is the coffee machine and the bathroom hot tap.
Bit gross to open the top where I pop the coffee pod in and things fly out! It's had a thorough clean now which has helped.
Only 3 maximum at a time though seemingly.

24Dogcuddler · 13/05/2026 16:35

They do look too big and dark for fruit flies. Fruit fly traps are easy to make. Put some wine or cider vinegar in a small shallow pot and add a few drops of washing up liquid. They are attracted but can’t get out again. Worth a try.

AllTheChaos · 13/05/2026 16:37

Vinegar flies? The traps suggested by @24Dogcuddler work well for them,
too. Even better if you stretch some clingfilm over the bowl and pierce it several times with a fork so they are more likely
to to go into the liquid.

sunnydisaster · 13/05/2026 17:00

Fruit flies love old coffee grounds - I found this out when I used to recycle my Nespresso pods! Then I once stayed in a small premier inn and they were all around the coffee machine 🤢
leave a saucer of apple cider vinegar with a drop of washing up liquid - it’ll catch them if they’re fruit flies.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 13/05/2026 17:32

Have you got houseplants? I get them in my houseplants from time to time usually if the soil is too wet.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page