Latest news with #Theye
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
How to keep fruit flies out of your home
They might be small, but according to research by Bruno van Swinderen, a professor at the University of Queensland, fruit flies have selective attention. This means they choose which visual stimuli to pay attention to, and thus that they have the potential for consciousness, which means they could feel pain. To be honest, when I rummage in my fruit bowl for a lemon and disturb a flurry of the little blighters, whether or not they feel pain isn't the first thing I think of. But, as with most pests, it's better to prevent fruit flies from getting into the home in the first place, rather than having to deal with them once they're in – particularly as they can carry germs from one surface to another. Here's how to stave off an invasion, and how to get rid of them if they're already there. Use natural scents Fruit flies, just like us, prefer some scents over others, and they hate some scents so much a mere whiff can stop them from coming near. Nick Barker, founder of natural insect repellent company Theye, says, 'scents, such as citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and lavender are natural fruit-fly deterrents. Use them in a diffuser or mix a few drops with water in a spray bottle to spritz around doorways and windows.' I always prefer to use natural remedies where I can, so I like the sound of this. It's cheaper than using chemicals and safer. But you can also keep fruit flies from getting near your home in the first place. 'Planting basil, mint, or rosemary near open windows or doors not only smells great,' says Nick, 'but it deters fruit flies who dislike these strong scents.' Seal entry points It's more difficult to stop flies from getting into the home in summer, when our windows and doors are open, but for most of the year, fruit flies find their way in through small gaps. 'Fruit flies can sneak into your home through the tiniest of cracks in your walls,' says pest control expert Jonathan Nicholls, from 'Ensure that your windows and doors are in good condition, and consider installing draught excluders. Regularly check and seal any gaps that could allow these small invaders access to your home.' Keep drains clean As disgusting as it is to think about, understanding the life cycle of the fruit fly can help us to keep on top of keeping them out of our homes. The female flies lay hundreds of eggs on the surface of fruit and other food debris that attracts them, and in our drains where bits of food collect. These eggs hatch into larvae within just a day. Gross. To deal with this, advises Girvan, 'Clean your drains with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate any buildup of food and deter fruit flies from breeding there. If you don't have baking soda or vinegar, boiling water could work just as well.' Keep surfaces clean and sanitised It's easier said than done when you're preparing food, especially in the summer, but keeping surfaces clean and sanitised will help prevent fruit flies and any other unwanted insects from congregating in your kitchen. Insects are attracted to food remnants, however small they are. 'Start by removing any overripe fruits or vegetables that have started to ferment, and dispose of them properly,' says Jonathan. 'Wipe down surfaces, especially places where sticky residues from food and drinks may accumulate, such as countertops, tables, and the interiors of your cupboards. Lastly, don't forget to regularly deep-clean your sink, as food particles can often hide there, providing a perfect breeding ground for fruit flies.' Store fruit and vegetables properly As their name suggests, fruit flies love fruit. But so do we, and most of us like to keep a bowl of fruit handy for grazing on, somewhere in the kitchen or dining room. But if we want to keep fruit flies out, this might have to change. 'Fruit flies are attracted to the ripeness of fruit and vegetables and the smell of fermentation,' says John Girvan from Alliance Online Ireland, which supplies insect control devices. 'Sealing and refrigerating food and keeping it in an airtight container will help to keep fruit flies away.' Set a trap Prevention is definitely better than the cure, but if you have a fruit-fly infestation in your house, you're going to want to get rid of them. As much as I hate killing living creatures, I can't deal with the critters living in my kitchen and laying their eggs where I prepare food. 'The most used, and arguably the most successful fruit-fly prevention tactics are traps,' says Girvan. ' Traps are easy to set up, as you will likely already have all the ingredients at home. For a trap, fill a small bowl or jar with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of washing-up liquid. Cover the container with plastic wrap and poke some small holes to entice the flies. This works with red wine too.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Rochester man accused of raping 15-year-old, facilitating others to assault her
Apr. 25—ROCHESTER — A Rochester man is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl multiple times and enabling other men to also assault her. Matthew Albert Theye, 40, was charged on Thursday, April 24, in Olmsted County District Court. Theye is facing three counts of criminal sexual conduct, one count of soliciting a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct and one count of engaging in electronic communication describing sexual conduct with a child. Bail was set at $100,000 for no conditions and $10,000 with conditions. Theye's next appearance is scheduled for May 7. According to the criminal complaint, a girl reported on March 16 that she was assaulted by two men multiple times from June 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024. A witness told police she saw the girl's Snapchat messages exchanged with Theye, which included nude photos of the girl and other messages. The girl spoke with police on March 26 and said she met Theye on an adult dating website and they began communicating over Snapchat, the complaint said. Though the girl initially said she was 18, she told him her real age was 15 when they met. Theye told her he didn't care. In late June or early July, Theye picked the girl up from her northwest Rochester home and brought her to his residence. After they engaged in sexual conduct, Theye told her three of his friends were coming to his home, according to the complaint. The three men arrived and all engaged in sexual acts with the 15-year-old while Theye watched. The complaint said the men made the girl use marijuana and cocaine with them. "She felt like she had to go along with what Theye said," according to the complaint. The girl described nine other incidents where Theye snuck into her bedroom through a window to sexually assault her. There was one occasion where she woke up to Theye assaulting her. According to the complaint, Theye told her not to tell anyone. A search warrant was sent to Snapchat, and law enforcement noted Theye asked the girl for nude photos and talked about having intercourse. Police found that his Snapchat photos matched the photo on his driver's license. Police executed a search warrant on Tuesday, April 22, for Theye's residence located on County Road 19 Southeast in Olmsted County. Officers found 9.35 pounds of marijuana located in "multiple baggies and buckets" throughout the house. Those experiencing sexual exploitation can call a 24-hour crisis line at 507-289-0636 to speak to someone who can direct you towards help.
