Fruit Fly

Widely distributed worldwide; commonly found in kitchens, gardens, compost piles, and near fermenting organic matter.

Larvae and adults feed on microorganisms (like yeast) associated with decaying fruit and other fermenting organic materials.

Attracted to the smell of fermentation. They have an extremely rapid life cycle, often developing from egg to adult in about a week. They are most active at dawn and dusk.

While not directly harmful to humans through bites or stings, they are significant nuisance pests and can mechanically transfer bacteria (like Salmonella) or fungi to food. In science, they are highly beneficial as primary model organisms for genetic and developmental research.