Why do i have fruit flies in my bedroom


The 10 Most Common Fruit Fly Questions Answered

It’s not fun dealing with fruit flies in your kitchen – or anywhere else for that matter.

These bugs seem to be present at all times of the year and are a frustrating pest to battle. For one thing, their small size makes them difficult to see until they’re buzzing by your face. They also seem to reappear even after you’ve cleaned everything you can think of that might attract them.

Get Rid of Fruit Flies Today

Of course, the best way to defeat an enemy is to understand him. With that in mind, we’ve assembled a list of the most common questions people have about fruit flies, their habits and the best ways to get rid of fruit flies.

1 – WHAT ARE FRUIT FLIES ATTRACTED TO?

Fruit flies are attracted to the scent of ripened fruits and vegetables, both of which are commonly found in your kitchen. Alcohol and sugary drinks are also on the menu for hungry fruit flies.

Those are the most obvious attractants, but non-food items can also draw in fruit flies, especially cleaning supplies. Don’t be surprised if fruit flies feed on the residue remaining on damp mops, moist cleaning rags and sponges, or near buckets of wastewater.

Most of all, it’s important to know they only need a thin layer of fermenting material to thrive and lay eggs, so extreme cleanliness is vital.

2 – CAN FRUIT FLIES MAKE YOU SICK?

Unfortunately, fruit flies can easily pick up filth and contaminants from the objects they land on – especially since many of their favorite food items are found in our waste receptacles.

Further, their larvae, which develop in the fermenting fruit they prefer to eat, can cause stomach distress or illness when unintentionally consumed by people. Even larvae can transfer contaminants from their parents’ breeding site to fruits and vegetables.

3 – WHERE DO FRUIT FLIES LAY EGGS?

Fruits and vegetables are the primary places where adult fruit flies lay their eggs. To do so, the produce needs to be overripe or rotting – they won’t try to burrow into food that is not yet fermenting. Once conditions are right, the adult fruit fly breaches the outer portion of the fruit or vegetable and deposits eggs inside.

Overripe produce is not the only place where fruit flies can lay their eggs, though. Look for small accumulations of sludge that fruit flies can utilize for laying eggs. This sludge is best described as a goopy solution of debris and liquid that collects in the bottom of trash cans, inside garbage disposals, inside plumbing and in the seams of appliances. Even a small amount of sludge can host a few fruit fly eggs.

4 – CAN FRUIT FLIES LIVE IN DRAINS?

Fruit flies eagerly live and breed inside drains, where they can often find the food and moisture they need. Though it may seem like they would get washed away whenever you run your faucet, they often survive this flood of water.

Also be aware that the bugs you think are fruit flies may actually be drain flies, so determine what you are dealing with before taking further action. Get rid of drain flies, which look more like tiny, fuzzy moths with TERRO® products.

5 – DO FRUIT FLIES DIE IN THE WINTER?

Winter weather doesn’t kill off fruit fly populations – after all, winter in many areas can be quite warm. Cold temperatures, however, will stunt the development of new generations of fruit flies.

Scientists have found that at 60°F, the lifespan of fruit flies decreases. When the temperatures fall below 53°F, these flies stop developing entirely.

Still, adult fruit flies have the ability to “overwinter” when conditions get too extreme for them. This allows a fruit fly population to survive frigid temperatures and start the next generation when favorable conditions return.

6 – CAN FRUIT FLIES GET THROUGH SCREENS?

There’s some debate on whether fruit flies can wiggle their way through window and door screens. Part of the problem is that not all screens are made the same way, so one screen may keep fruit flies out, while another may not. Further, screens aren’t the only opening that may be letting fruit flies into a home. Opening and closing doors, gaps in the structure, and plumbing could all be allowing fruit flies to enter a home.

7 – WHY ARE FRUIT FLIES IN MY ROOM?

Fruit flies don’t discriminate about where they get their nourishment – if they can find something to eat in your bedroom, bathroom or living room, they’ll stick around.

If an area not normally associated with food storage or food consumption has a fruit fly problem, do a thorough cleaning of the room. Look for food that may have been dropped or spilled. Carpets may harbor some moisture from spilled wine, beer or soda. All of these items are major fruit fly attractants.

In a bathroom, check drains and garbage cans for sludge that may be attracting fruit flies.

8 – WILL FRUIT FLIES DIE ON THEIR OWN?

If you’re willing to wait a long time and keep an area absolutely spotless, then yes, a fruit fly population will eventually deplete its food sources (which also serve as their breeding site).

This is easier said than done, of course. After all, who wants to wait out such an infestation when there are simple steps to take to eliminate these pests? If you do not want to wait, TERRO® has you covered, place one of our TERRO® Fruit Fly Traps and take care of these unwanted pests.

9 – WHY ARE FRUIT FLIES IN MY HOUSE PLANTS?

We mentioned earlier that insects in your drains could actually be drain flies. Similarly, if you’re seeing a haze of flies lingering around a potted plant, then you may have fungus gnats, not fruit flies. Fungus gnats live and breed in the soil, and rarely travel far from it.

Further, fungus gnats are shaped more like a mosquito, while fruit flies bear a certain resemblance to house flies; the main differences being that fruit flies are smaller and tan-colored with red eyes.

10 – HOW CAN I GET RID OF FRUIT FLIES?

To properly battle fruit flies in your household, you should start by placing fruit fly traps in problem areas. You can make your own trap, but it’s easier and far more pleasant to use a pre-manufactured trap.

Next, clean the problem room thoroughly:

With those chores done, keep your fruit fly traps on your counter for several weeks and replace them as necessary.

YOUR FRUIT FLY BATTLE PLAN

Now that you have more information on what makes fruit flies tick, we want to hear from you about your efforts to eliminate your fruit fly problem. Let us know in the comments below or when you visit TERRO® on Facebook. You can also learn more about fruit flies and other insects on our YouTube channel and the TERRO® Insect Library.

For more ideas on the TERRO® products that can help you keep your home and business pest-free, subscribe to our eNewsletter, which offers helpful articles and exclusive updates on the products you need!

Recommended Fruit Fly Solutions

How to Get Rid of Gnats in the Bedroom & Bathroom | Home Guides

By Kimberley McGee Updated October 30, 2019

Those tiny unwanted guests that take over bedrooms and bathrooms can become an annoying nuisance. Gnats and fruit flies can be removed from the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or any other living area that has become infested with the insects. A well-made flying insect trap can significantly cut down on the minuscule germ carriers that have made your house their home.

How a Gnat Trap Works

A gnat infestation can be brought down quickly with a simple trap. Setting out the right bait in the correct way can draw the tiny buggers away from your space and to their early demise.

Gnats are drawn to the scent of rotting food or sweet scents, such as banana pieces, a rotten apple, ripe berries and fleshy stone fruits. Place a small piece of bait in a bowl and cover it with water or apple cider vinegar. Cover it with plastic wrap and poke small holes with a toothpick into the top of the wrap. The gnats will be drawn to the sweet scent and drown in the liquid, unable to find their way out of the small holes in the top of the homemade trap.

Place a small gnat trap around houseplants to control the bug population. Spray the plant down with a mist of water to further dampen their control over your living space. You can also place double-sided tape on windows and areas where the gnats are most prevalent.

Creating a Gnat Trap

You can use an empty liter or pint soda or water bottle to create a gnat trap from household items. It takes just a few minutes, and it immediately will begin to remove those pesky flying invaders from your bedroom, bathroom and connected areas. The flying pests are attracted to the whiff of the sweetened bait and travel down the narrow opening of the water bottle and drown before they can find their way out.

Fill a used plastic water or soda bottle with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Shake the bottle with the cap on to coat the inside with the soapy liquid. The apple cider vinegar will attract the gnats, and they will drown in the liquid. The soap on the insides of the bottle will attach to their wings and otherwise debilitate the gnats.

This type of trap works for most unwanted winged pests, including fruit flies and white flies that can come with new houseplants. It can also work well on houseflies if the opening is wide enough and the bait sweet enough. Change the bait often because gnats and fruit flies can get bored with the original source of their attraction and resist a homemade trap.

Gnats in My Room

Fruit flies in the bedroom are annoying space invaders. They make a cozy and chill space into a war zone as they dip and dive over your face. Gnats or fruit flies may have gathered in your bedroom for a few reasons, including:

If no forgotten food is lying about, you may have a water issue. Check for leaks in a nearby bathroom or along the roof line.  Houseplants can also host hundreds of tiny gnats. They live in the soil and hide in the foliage, making themselves known only when they become a nuisance and fly through that sacred sleeping space.  Hampers can hold moisture and possibly create a space in the seams or ridges where gnats can congregate. Sinks and tubs that aren’t used can also become an ideal environment for the flitting pests.

References

Writer Bio

Kimberley McGee is an award-winning journalist with 20+ years of experience writing for a variety of clients, including The New York Times, Las Vegas Review-Journal Home section and other national publications. As a professional writer she has researched, interviewed sources and written about home improvement, interior design and related business trends. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her full bio and clips can be viewed at www.vegaswriter.com.

Where do fruit flies come from and how to get rid of them? Drosophila fruit fly. Photo — Botanichka

One has only to spoil some vegetable or fruit in our kitchen, they are right there. Yesterday there was not a single one, and today there is a whole flock. Fruit flies appear so fast that it seems as if they materialize out of thin air. But, as we know, this is hardly possible. I propose in this article to figure out where fruit flies come from and, most importantly, to consider options for getting rid of these inappropriate neighbors. nine0003 Where do fruit flies come from and how do you get rid of them?

What are fruit flies?

What we consider fruit flies include a number of small flies of the family Drosophila ( Drosophilidae ). The common fruit fly ( Drosophila melanogaster ) is most often found in our kitchens , but sometimes you can also find the Asian fruit fly ( Drosophila suzukii ). True, she usually lives to the south.

These insects are very small, 2 to 4 millimeters in length. They vary in color and can range from yellow to brown and even black. Males are slightly smaller than females and have a darker back. These are insects with brick-red eyes and transverse black rings on the abdomen. nine0003

Drosophila are found throughout the world, but are most common in humid tropical regions. The lifespan of a fruit fly is about 50 days (from hatching to death). The fruit fly has a hairy body and sticky legs that promote the spread of bacteria and which can be harmful to human health.

Interestingly, although Drosophila has only 4 chromosomes, its genes are similar to those of humans. 75% of human genetically related diseases can be caused and studied in the fruit fly. For example, Drosophila is used in the study of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, aging problems, cancer, low immunity, and even the effects of alcohol and drug abuse. Fruit flies are convenient to breed in the lab as they have a short generation time so multiple generations can be studied over the course of a few weeks. nine0003

How do fruit flies get into our house?

Despite their small size, Drosophila can smell ripe fruits and vegetables from a very long distance. Fermenting fruits are vital for fruit flies, and their whole body is tuned to capture the subtlest smell of fruits and vegetables that begin to overripe, which a person may not yet smell. So be aware that if you have a fruit platter on your table, it's likely that a few fruit flies are already looking for their way into your home to get to it. nine0003

Since they are tiny insects, they can even enter a room through mosquito nets or cracks in windows or doors that are slightly open. Once inside, the females lay their eggs on the peel of the most ripe or fermenting fruit. The breeding process has begun, but before you know it, your home will already be colonized by the fruit fly.

Sometimes fruit flies can make their way to our home on fruits or vegetables from the market or our own garden. It is likely that those bananas or peaches that you brought home from the grocery store are already home to a new generation of fruit flies in the form of eggs that are invisible to the eye. And if you let the tomatoes slightly overripe before picking, you are more likely to pick fruit fly eggs along with the harvest. It must be understood that absolutely all unrefrigerated fruits and vegetables, whether they are in the grocery store, still in the garden, or already on a platter on the kitchen table, can attract fruit flies. nine0003 Common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)

Why are fruit flies on the rise?

Sometimes it seems that fruit flies have called all their friends to a feast, because a couple of flies in the kitchen very quickly turn into almost a cloud of midges. This is mainly due to the fact that fruit flies have a very short life cycle. So, they go from egg to adult in just eight days. This means that one too-ripe peach or tomato left on your table can cause fruit fly swarms in as little as a week. nine0003

Fruit flies are also known to be resilient and can be difficult to completely remove from the house. Although an adult female Drosophila will live, at best, for about a month, during this time she is able to lay 500 eggs, and such a female is not alone in the room. The hatched larvae grow for about 4 days. During this time, they feed on microorganisms that decompose overripe vegetables or fruits, as well as sugar in fruits.

The most annoying thing is that insects do not even need fruits or vegetables to continue breeding. Have you noticed that fruit flies take off in flocks from a doormat? Of course, they are not sitting there by chance, because fruit flies can safely breed in a layer of mucus inside the sewer or on an old mop, or a sour sponge. That's why even if you get rid of all fruits and vegetables, you may still find your home infested with fruit flies. nine0003

Read also our article Carpenter bees - why are they dangerous and how to get rid of them?

How to completely get rid of fruit flies?

To get rid of a fruit fly, the first step is to eliminate all possible food sources for the fruit fly and make your home unsuitable for breeding adult fruit flies. That is:

  • throw away all stale fruits and vegetables,
  • clean trash cans,
  • replace old sponges and rags,
  • clean the drain of the sink with a special tool (you can also pour boiling water into problematic drains),
  • Thoroughly wash the sink itself and dishes.

Most people store potatoes, onions, and other root vegetables in a container in their closet. If fruit flies continue to linger in the kitchen, be sure to check these storage areas for rotting food as well. After that, you can proceed to the destruction of already existing insects, for example, spray insect spray indoors (dichlorvos-m and others), but this, of course, is not the most environmentally friendly way, so it is better to make special traps. nine0003 To get rid of a fruit fly, the first step is to eliminate all possible food sources for the fruit fly.

Vinegar Fruit Fly Trap

One of the best ways to quickly catch adult fruit flies is to make a vinegar trap. Fruit flies are not very intelligent and can be easily outwitted. Their main purpose of existence is to find spoiled and fermented products, and they fly to their goal without worrying about safety. Apple cider vinegar has exactly the aroma of rotting fruit that attracts the attention of fruit flies. nine0003

To make a vinegar trap, you will need a few items, most of which you probably already have at home. Namely:

  • glass or cup,
  • plastic bag, large enough to fit over glass,
  • rubber band,
  • scissors,
  • apple cider vinegar.

Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a glass. Cut off the corner of the plastic bag with scissors. The hole should be large enough for the fruit flies to enter through, but not so wide that it is easy for them to escape. nine0003

Place the bag on the glass and position the cut hole over the center so that the bag forms a funnel but does not touch the vinegar. Attach the bag to the glass with a rubber band. Alternatively, a paper cone can also be used.

To make the vinegar trap even more effective, add a few drops of liquid soap or dishwashing liquid to the vinegar to make it less likely for fruit flies to get out before drowning in the vinegar.

Set up the vinegar trap where you most often see fruit flies (next to a trash can, on a table, or anywhere there is food, organic waste, or standing water). If you have a large number of fruit flies in your home, you can make several vinegar traps and place them in the kitchen and other rooms where fruit flies live. nine0003

Attracted by the sweet, fruity smell of the vinegar, the fruit flies will fly into the glass, pass through the hole in the bag, and become trapped. After a few days, you should replace the trap by simply pouring out the cluster of dead flies floating in the vinegar. Pour fresh apple cider vinegar into the glass, if needed. A few well-placed vinegar traps, as well as proper housekeeping practices to avoid attracting fruit flies further, will help get them under control quickly.

Read also our article How black wasps helped us in the fight against pest larvae.

Special traps are better for catching fruit flies

Paper trap for fruit flies

If the "vinegar method" seems inhumane to you, then there is an alternative method that will keep the flies alive and can be released into the street.

To make a homemade fruit fly trap you will need:

  • piece of paper,
  • jar or cup with small opening,
  • tape,
  • fruit as bait.

Roll paper into a tight cone with a hole at the tip of about 2-3 mm. At the same time, the cone needs to be quite wide, you do not need to fold it too much. Secure the resulting cone with tape. Cut off the wide end of the cone so that it is about 10-15 cm high.

Now place a small piece of fruit (such as a banana or peach) in the bottom of the jar or cup. Place the paper cone in the jar. The top of the paper cone should rise slightly above the top of the jar, and the tip of the cone should be higher than the fruit or the bottom of the jar. Attach the cone to the jar with two pieces of tape. nine0003

Before setting up the trap, make sure there are no other sources in the room that attract fruit flies. A fruit dish, for example, can be hidden in the refrigerator for this time. Set the trap on a table, next to a trash can, or where you saw fruit flies.

Fruit flies will follow the scent of the fruit into the hole at the bottom of the cone, but once inside they will not be able to escape. After a couple of hours, you will most likely find many fruit flies in your trap. Then you can take the trap outside, take out the paper cone and release the insects. nine0003

Attention! Don't let the trap stay longer than one night. If you keep fruit flies in the trap for too long, new flies will start to hatch from the eggs laid on the bait.

You probably won't be able to catch all the flies in the first couple of hours, so you'll have to reset the trap several times. To restart the trap, replace the bait with new fruit, then replace the paper cone.

If your trap does not attract fruit flies, make sure there are no other objects of interest (food leftovers, trash, dirty dishes, etc.) nearby. You can also try other fruits as bait. nine0003

If the fruit flies fly freely out of the trap, the hole in the bottom of the cone is too large. Release any insects in your trap, then make a paper cone with a smaller hole (slightly larger than a fruit fly). Another problem may be that the paper cone is wrinkled and does not fit snugly into the opening of the can. In this case, make a new cone and insert it carefully so as not to wrinkle the paper.

where they come from, what means to use, the most effective ways

Illustration, midge bite mark

Causes of

Small fruit flies (Drosophila) in nature feed on any organic matter, such as fruits and rotting plant debris. They lay their eggs on fruits, vegetables and even mushrooms. Together with the fruits of plants, as well as on animal hair, on clothes or shoes, Drosophila eggs and larvae get into houses and apartments. During the day, the female can lay from several hundred to one and a half thousand eggs. Therefore, even a couple of insects can literally "occupy" the premises in a few days. nine0003

The main food of midges is perishable foods and other organic matter.

At home, this is:

  • ripe, overripe or rotten fruit;

  • water, dirt and grease;

  • leftover food in pet bowls;

  • spilled fermented milk products;

  • wine and juice residues.

Sciarids (earth midges), which can be found near pots with indoor plants, are also distinguished by good fertility. They penetrate into apartments in the absence of nets on the windows, through cracks and the ventilation system from the entrance, basement or from neighbors. Also, larvae of earth midges can be brought into the room in a pot along with an infected plant. nine0003

"Water midges" breed in damp places (in aquariums, showers, sinks or bathrooms), and clothes get into houses on dirty hands or clothes.

Species of midges

In nature, there are more than 2 thousand varieties of winged insects. In everyday life, this group includes flies and other small midges (including microscopic ones), which scientists do not classify as midges. Despite the diversity of species, only a few inhabit the human dwelling. Some of them deliver only aesthetic discomfort only by the fact of their presence. Others are capable of inflicting bites, especially dangerous for sensitive people and those suffering from allergies. nine0003

In the house and apartment most often appear:

  • Drosophila are fruit flies that look like very small flies. They cannot physically bite through human skin, but the eggs they lay in food can cause food poisoning. Therefore, at the first sign of their presence, it is important to immediately get rid of pests.
  • Sciarids are soil (leaf) mosquitoes that lay their eggs in plant roots. They can be carriers of diseases, and their larvae take nutrients from the soil and eat the root system. This slows down growth and interferes with flowering. nine0050
  • Sewer midges (humpbacks) are small insects that have something similar to hairline. They are dangerous because they carry pathogenic bacteria.
  • Whiteflies are insects 1.5-3 mm long, covered with white mealy pollen. Their presence is easily identified by a white sticky coating on the shoots. Whiteflies feed on plant sap and lay scale-like larvae on the underside of leaves.
  • Clothes midges prefer to live among stale or damp clothes in a wardrobe. There you can find both adults and larvae. nine0050

Elimination of causes depending on the type of midges

Prevent the appearance of pests by destroying their food supply and eliminating comfortable conditions for the midges to live. Control methods depend on the specific type of insect.

Drosophila in fruit

To get rid of food pests, food contaminated with them should be removed. Best in the refrigerator. Most often, these are rotten fruits or vegetables in the trash can or pantry. It is enough to throw out the rotten fruits so that after a couple of days the fruit flies disappear from your home. nine0003

Another food fly feeder is spoiled grits. Checking for pests is simple: pour the product from one container to another and look at its condition. Throw away the rotten cereals, and close the high-quality ones tightly and put them in a dry place. After that, it remains to do the cleaning using detergents.

Humps in pipes

These insects love moisture. You can prevent the appearance of humpbacks if you monitor the condition of water supply systems and prevent blockages and water leaks. Repair or replace leaking pipes, clear clogged siphons with drain cleaners. The water seal must function and prevent the appearance of insects. nine0003

Treat plums regularly with disinfectants for prevention, and use insecticidal sprays to kill pests.

Fungal midges in houseplants

These insects appear in excessively moist soil. Therefore, you need to follow the watering schedule and control the soil moisture in pots with indoor plants. It is also important to properly organize drainage and use mineral fertilizers in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. nine0003

Prevention of mushroom midges consists in the regular treatment of indoor plants with special preparations. If insects are found, it is necessary to replace the soil (partially or completely) and treat it with a fungicide.

Little-known species of midges

Much less often you have to deal with clothes midges. You can prevent their appearance with the help of lavender twigs. The smell of this plant repels insects and prevents them from settling in the closet. Of course, the clothes stored there must be dry and clean. nine0003

To protect against the entry of midges, fruit flies, and any other insects, install a net treated with repellents on windows and ventilation ducts. If you need to get rid of insects, use traps and insecticides. Not bad help folk remedies to scare away a variety of midges. Essential oils, ground cloves, garlic and horseradish are most effective. In addition to them, they use geranium, lemon or tomatoes, which can be planted in flower pots.

nine0004 Methods for getting rid of midges

The main rule in the fight against midges in an apartment and in food production is to remove all fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator and do not leave them on the table for a long time

Against midges, many adhesive decorative traps are produced, which are glued, for example, to window glass.

There were problems with insects long before the invention of modern chemicals. Then there were "folk" methods of struggle and home-made traps that were as safe as possible for people. nine0003

It often helps to treat the ground in flower pots with any insecticide in a minimum concentration. For this, both dusts and solutions of insecticides can be used.

There are special insecticides for flying insects, such as Bayer's Fly Bite and Quick Bite, as well as Agita.

Mosquitoes are very sensitive to certain odors. This weakness of theirs is successfully used to get rid of uninvited "guests". At home, such remedies are popular: nine0003

  • Geranium. The smell of this indoor flower is not tolerated by midges, as well as flies and mosquitoes.
  • Tomatoes (tomatoes). Seedlings or adult plants in pots have a characteristic aroma that repels insects.
  • Garlic or horseradish. The smell of garlic cloves will help get rid of many insects. The midges are no exception. The same applies to chopped horseradish roots.
  • Carnation. Pour 5 grams of ground cloves with a glass of boiling water and hold over low heat for 2 hours. The rich smell of the resulting broth quickly expels midges from the room. nine0050

The aroma of room lemon, hellebore water and a variety of essential oils (tansy, camphor, cloves, vanilla, pine, lavender fir and some others) repels insects. The best result can be achieved by choosing a mixture of 3-4 oils.

From folk remedies, traps made from glass jars, plastic bottles or an ordinary plastic bag are also effective.

For bait use wine or apple cider vinegar, juice, beer or a little honey. You can get rid of midges with a solution of milk and formalin (or milk with black pepper), poured into a small container. As an alternative, you can try to catch insects with a vacuum cleaner, smoke, or simply ventilate the room so that they are taken out by drafts. nine0003

Better yet, take advantage of the latest advances in science. Hardware stores sell aerosols, fumigators, glue and light traps, and a variety of insect repellants.

Professional wrestling

Midges lack resistance to insecticides and die from the minimum concentration of the drug. Therefore, the main method of control is the spraying of areas where they can breed. These can be garbage containers, buckets, flower pots (don't worry, nothing will happen to the plants), sewers (drains) in the floor. In restaurants 90% occurrence of flies and midges due to dirty drains. It is enough just to shed them with an insecticide solution from a bucket. Fly extermination is a professional service that includes a full range of methods to combat any flying insects with the provision of a guarantee.

In 90% of cases, the problem with flying insects in food production is associated with local breeding in the drains (sewer drains) in the floor. In this case, the ladders are spilled with an insecticide solution and the problem is solved.


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