Bug Identifier
Fruit Fly
Community identification

Fruit Fly

Drosophila melanogaster

Order & Family
Order: Diptera; Family: Drosophilidae
Size
3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 inches) long.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Worldwide, particularly in proximity to decaying fruit, vegetables, and organic waste.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae and adults feed on microorganisms like yeast and bacteria growing on fermenting organic matter and sugar-rich fruits.

Behavior Patterns

They exhibit a rapid life cycle (about 10 days), are active during the day, and use powerful olfactory senses to locate food sources from a distance.

Risks & Benefits

They are a common household nuisance but are extremely beneficial to science as a primary model organism for genetics and biological research.