
Community identification
Fruit Fly / Vinegar Fly
Drosophila melanogaster
- Order & Family
- Diptera: Drosophilidae
- Size
- 2 - 4 mm
Natural Habitat
Indoors near kitchens, pantries, garbage cans, compost, and decaying organic matter
Diet & Feeding
Fermenting fruits, vegetables, sugary liquids, yeasts, and organic debris
Behavior Patterns
Attracted to ripe or rotting produce and moisture; rapidly reproduces in humid indoor environments
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless nuisance pest; can contaminate food surfaces with bacteria from fermenting organic waste