Fruit Fly

Found globally, especially in kitchens, grocery stores, and areas with ripening or decaying fruit

Primarily feeds on yeast found on fermenting or overly ripe fruits and vegetables

Very short life cycle (~1 week); active year-round indoors; attracted to light and fermentation-related odors

Generally considered a nuisance pest; can contaminate food with bacteria (e.g., E. coli or Salmonella) but are widely used as a beneficial model organism in biological research