On Monday, May 26th, at around 9:30 AM an thick black cloud of fruit flies appeared to emerge from the area of Porto de Mos and head towards the main town. It’s unclear the true origin of the flies.
Locals have reported thousands of flies entering their home and covering their windows, walls, and even bedrooms. They appear to be fruit flies.
The average lifespan of a fruit fly (specifically Drosophila Melanogaster) is 40 to 50 days under optimal laboratory conditions.
However, this can vary depending on factors like:
- Temperature (higher temps shorten lifespan)
- Diet
- Genetic factors
- Environmental stressors
In the wild, their lifespan is typically shorter due to predators and harsher conditions—often only a few days to a couple of weeks.
To mitigate this issue, homeowners are advised to close all doors and windows.
To remove the flies from the home, it’s best to use a vacuum cleaner. If not available, standard fruit fly traps or a DIY fruit fly catcher involving balsamic or apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a cup with cling wrap overtop and small toothpick-sized holes poked through.
This is an uncommon occurrence but a natural phenomenon with no inherent danger or risk aside from the displeasure of having thousands of flies all over your home.
