Fruit Fly

Worldwide distribution, commonly found in homes, restaurants, kitchens, and agricultural areas near ripening or rotting fruit.

Larvae eat sugary substances and yeast from fermenting fruit or decaying organic matter; adults feed on the surface of similar items.

Attracted to light and fermented scents; they have a very rapid life cycle, maturing from egg to adult in about 8-10 days under warm conditions.

Primarily a nuisance pest; they can contaminate food with bacteria. However, they are essential in scientific research as model organisms for genetics and biology.