Fruit fly

Typically found in homes, grocery stores, and restaurants, especially near overripe fruit or fermenting organic matter.

Feeds primarily on rotting or fermenting fruits and vegetables as well as the fungal growth (yeast) on them.

Active year-round but most prevalent during harvest time. They exhibit high reproductive rates, laying hundreds of eggs in a very short lifespan (typically 8-15 days).

Generally considered a nuisance pest in homes. They do not bite but can contaminate food with bacteria and pathogens. In science, they are highly beneficial as a model organism for genetic and developmental research.