Fruit fly

Worldwide, primarily in kitchens, grocery stores, and food processing plants near fermenting organic matter.

Larvae and adults feed on yeast and sugars found in overripe or decaying fruits, vegetables, and other organic material.

Drawn to the smell of fermentation; they have a very rapid life cycle (approx. 8-10 days) and often swarm near windows or light sources when indoors.

Generally considered a nuisance pest that can contaminate food with bacteria. In science, they are highly beneficial as a primary model organism for genetic research.