You can get rid of fruit flies fast effectively—and naturally—with things you probably already have in your kitchen.

Entomologist Jody Green at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln gave me insight into the main causes of fruit fly infestations and, most importantly, how to keep these pests from lingering in your home.

As Napa County’s olive harvest gets underway over the next two months, growers are predicting a leaner haul than 2012’s yield, with infestations of the olive fruit fly largely to blame.

Having a fruit flies infestation in your house is one of the common kitchen problems you will encounter. Fruit flies are small flies which are attracted to the smell of fermenting or spoilt food.

Fruit flies are small yellow-to-light-brown flies ... You must never pour pesticides down drains if you think you have an infestation, as this is illegal and unsafe as it can pollute waterways.