
Community identification
Fruit Fly
Drosophila melanogaster
- Order & Family
- Order: Diptera; Family: Drosophilidae
- Size
- 3 to 4 mm (0.12 to 0.16 inches) long.
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.