Fruit Fly (Common Fruit Fly)

Natural Habitat

Commonly found in kitchens, restaurants, and grocery stores where decaying organic matter is present; also found in gardens and orchards.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on decaying or fermenting fruit and vegetables, as well as the yeast and bacteria growing on these substances.

Behavior Patterns

Attracted to the smell of fermentation; and they exhibit rapid breeding cycles. Females can lay hundreds of eggs in a very short time.

Risks & Benefits

Primarily considered a nuisance pest in homes. They can potentially contaminate food with bacteria they carry, but they are highly beneficial to science as a major model organism in genetic research.

Identified on: 5/23/2026