Fruit Fly (Vinegar Fly)

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide in association with human dwellings, kitchens, grocery stores, and agricultural areas with rotting vegetation.

Diet & Feeding

Primarily feeds on yeast growing on fermenting organic matter and overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables.

Behavior Patterns

Active year-round indoors; they are attracted to the smell of fermentation. Females lay eggs on moist organic material, and the life cycle can be completed in as little as 8 to 10 days.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite or sting but are significant nuisance pests and can mechanically transport bacteria to food surfaces. In ecosystems, they aid in decomposition; in science, they are vital model organisms for genetic research.

Identified on: 2/16/2026