Fruit Fly (Vinegar Fly)

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in homes, restaurants, and grocery stores, especially around overripe fruit, vegetables, and moist organic matter.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on fermenting plant materials, yeasts, and bacteria growth on decaying organic matter.

Behavior Patterns

Attracted to the smell of acetic acid (vinegar) and fermentation. Rapid life cycle with eggs hatching into larvae within 24 hours.

Risks & Benefits

Generally considered a nuisance pest that can contaminate food with bacteria. Highly beneficial to science as a primary model organism for genetic research.

Identified on: 12/31/2025