These insects do not transmit disease, but can make many foods unusable. They may also be attracted to food that contains yeast, such as vinegar, beer, wine and cider. They may congregate around any area where there is garbage or food-contaminated water. Some can carry disease from human and animal excrement to foods. To control vinegar flies, concentrate on eliminating sites where larvae feed and adult flies breed.
Sanitation is critical to control.
Fact Sheet 2109 gives details on preferred foods, sites and sanitation measures for control. It also provides a homemade trap and suggests appropriate insecticides. They can be very persistent pests once populations become established in a dwelling. This happens because roaches can live long periods without food. The most common roach in urban areas is the German cockroach.